Maine Whitewater Rafting Guide Matt Gambino
Name: Matt Gambino
Hometown: Easton, PA
Age of First Rafting Trip: 14
Year you started guiding at Northern Outdoors: 2023
What type of guiding do you do? Whitewater Rafting
What do you enjoy most about working at Northern Outdoors?
I love to meet new folks and share with them an experience of a lifetime. Being a part of a community with a common love for my greatest passion, rivers, revives my soul and allows me to begin each river trip with renewed excitement and joy for this sport.
What is your favorite river to guide, and your favorite rapid on that river?
The wave train of The Alleyway on the Kennebec River at high water!
What’s your classic Northern Outdoors memory?
My first high water lap on the Kennebec during training. We had already rafted 3 laps that day and had been wet and exhausted since the early morning. At the dam we ran down to our boats to save time for an additional high water lap before dark. We reached the bottom of the stairs and I watched as the water flew past us behind the raindrops dripping off my helmet. Once we were in our boat it felt as if we were off to war. We were zooming through the gorge, riding over huge waves I had never seen before and I knew there was no stopping until we made it through the first 4 rapids and reached the safety of Cathedral Eddy. We made it through just fine and had a great Maytag hit thanks to our instructor’s screams of encouragement, commands, and the excellent performance of my fellow trainee guiding the boat. This gave me the confidence to guide the next lap which was legendary!
Where do you adventure when you are not working?
Anywhere that allows me room to roam and play. My best adventures usually take place on a river, a wooded trail, my bike, a rock wall, or a snow covered mountain.
What do you do in the off-season when you’re not guiding for Northern Outdoors?
Impatiently count down the days until it’s rafting season again.
Tell us about any certifications, special talents, guide awards.
In 2023, I was awarded Rookie of the Year at Northern Outdoors, following my first season in Maine. In addition to having my WFR and Swift Water Rescue certs, my special talent is that I can play the jaw harp, which luckily fits in the pocket of my lifejacket!
What rivers have you run outside of Maine?
Hudson River, NY
Salt River, AZ
Winnipesaukee River, NH
Lehigh River, PA
Youghiogheny, PA
Colorado River, AZ
Deschutes River, OR
North Umpqua, OR
White Salmon, WA
Peshtigo, WI
Fave beverage after a day on the river?
Chocolate Milk!
2 Responses
Had an awesome run down Kennebec with guide Conor Doherty. You aren’t going to find a better guide and all around great person to spend the day with. Surfing was a first for everyone. Thanks Conor, great job!!
Day two on the river was high water with Matt Gambino as our guide. Double Trouble allowed us to run the high water twice in the same day which was awesome. Matt had his hands full with 9 in the raft but steered us perfectly into every wave. The splash and air on Maytag was epic and had to be twice the size of Trevor D’s group (haha). Another great person who loves helping people experience the river. Nailing the wave train of The Alleyway was a highlight. Thanks Matt, great job!!
Hey Robert! Great to hear you had a blast rafting with Matt on our new Double Trouble Trip on the Kennebec River! Matt’s a pro in a raft or hard boat – we’re lucky to have him as a guide and video boater! Thanks for rafting with us!