William McGinnis (Rafter)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" McGinnis is an internationally recognized and respected pioneer of the sport of whitewater
rafting
, and has authored several books on the subject.
Born and raised in Richmond, California
, McGinnis started training as a river guide at age 16 with one of California's first river rafting outfitters. He earned a Masters degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University
in 1970.
McGinnis has numerous U.S. and international first raft descents to his name. He founded Whitewater Voyages in 1975 with a loan from a family member and a borrowed raft. He successfully built this company into the largest rafting company in California
, having taken more people down California rivers than any other outfitter.
Several books about Whitewater rafting have been authored by McGinnis. These books helped set standards for the sport of Whitewater rafting, and are used in Whitewater Voyages' guide training programs, as well as by guides, outfitters, and governments throughout the world. He is also a frequent magazine contributor, and often lends his expert testimony to environmental causes.
McGinnis remains active in the river running and outfitter communities. He takes an active role in managing his company, training new guides through guide school programs, and guiding rafting trips.
McGinnis resides at his company headquarters in El Sobrante, California, where he balances his time between managing his company, writing and raising his two adolescent children, William McGinnis Jr and Alexandra McGinnis.
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, and has authored several books on the subject.
Born and raised in Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, McGinnis started training as a river guide at age 16 with one of California's first river rafting outfitters. He earned a Masters degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
in 1970.
McGinnis has numerous U.S. and international first raft descents to his name. He founded Whitewater Voyages in 1975 with a loan from a family member and a borrowed raft. He successfully built this company into the largest rafting company in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, having taken more people down California rivers than any other outfitter.
Several books about Whitewater rafting have been authored by McGinnis. These books helped set standards for the sport of Whitewater rafting, and are used in Whitewater Voyages' guide training programs, as well as by guides, outfitters, and governments throughout the world. He is also a frequent magazine contributor, and often lends his expert testimony to environmental causes.
McGinnis remains active in the river running and outfitter communities. He takes an active role in managing his company, training new guides through guide school programs, and guiding rafting trips.
McGinnis resides at his company headquarters in El Sobrante, California, where he balances his time between managing his company, writing and raising his two adolescent children, William McGinnis Jr and Alexandra McGinnis.
Paddler of the Century
In recognition of his many contributions to the sport of rafting McGinnis was named in 2000 as one of the Top 100 Paddlers of the Century by Paddler Magazine, the sport's leading national paddle sport publication.Published titles
- Whitewater rafting (1975)
- The Guide's Guide (1981)
- The Class V Briefing (1985)
- River Signals (2000)
- The Guide's Guide Augmented (2006)