WHITEWATER RAFTING

Marc Goddard and Laurence Alvarez-Roos, Owners

Marc started his rafting and kayaking career while in Colorado and deepened his passion over the next ten years as he worked as a guide and led expeditions in the United States, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Africa, Chile, Turkey, and Siberia. In 1991, Marc was selected to be a member of Team California who won the World Championships of rafting in Costa Rica (‘92), Turkey (‘93) and 4th place in Africa (‘95).

In 1992, after years spent as a guide, trip leader, and manager on rivers around the world, Marc made his dream a reality by founding, with his close friend and business partner Laurence Alvarez-Roos, Bio Bio Expeditions. For 13 years Marc has worked very hard, both in the office and in the field to create a first-rate international adventure travel business. Marc also shared his love for teaching by spending three years teaching high school geography. Over the years Marc has seen his business grow to one of the most well-respected adventure travel companies in the industry – selected to provide safety for the 2000 International Whitewater Championships, featured in National Geographic Adventure and Outside Magazines. Marc himself was featured in Paddler Magazine as one of the world’s top 10 most active river guides.

When not working in the office or in the field, Marc can be found backcountry skiing in his home mountains, the Sierra Nevadas, kayaking year round, mountain biking, or pouring over maps looking for his next great adventure. Marc summited Aconcagua (22,800 ft) in 2001 and Russia’s Mt. Elbrus in 2005. Fondly known as the “Wizard of Whitewater”, he lives in Truckee, CA with his wife Damara, son Quinn, and dog Mosi.

Laurence was born in Mexico to Mexican and Dutch parents, raised in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States in 1978. After graduating from San Francisco University High School, he attended University of California at Berkeley for four years to earn a B.A. in Political Economy of Industrial Societies. His focus was trade relations with Latin America and a minor in Spanish Literature.

Laurence started his rafting career at age 17 on the mighty South Fork of the American River in California. Since 1986 he has been an expedition leader, river guide, safety kayaker, dutch oven chef, self taught ecologist and adventure videographer in New Zealand, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Siberia, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and the United States of America.

From 1993 till 1999, Laurence was the USA Men’s Whitewater Rafting Team captain, competing both in national and international raft race championships. The competition in 1999 included a first raft descent of the Orange River in the green Kalahari in South Africa. At the 2000 World Rafting Championships, Laurence was “safety team” captain on the Futaleufu River in Patagonia, Chile.

Laurence’s fluency in Spanish, Dutch and English make him an invaluable asset on all our South American expeditions. He is an enthusiastic and talented cook who bakes breads on the open fire, makes dutch oven desserts and other exotic river meals. He rock climbs, mountain bikes, gives massages and does all the water sports you can imagine – snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and swimming. He has run over 50 rivers on six continents with thousands of actual river miles traveled. When not in his second home of Chile, Laurence lives in the mountain playground of Truckee, CA with Nicole and their newborn daughter Sabine, and beloved dog Inca.