Grant "Woody" Woodruff

There are whitewater professionals, and then there is Woody. Grant 'Woody' Woodruff is the kind of river man who has forgotten more about moving water than most people will ever learn — a quietly legendary figure in the Western North Carolina outdoor community whose influence stretches from the rapids of the Nantahala Gorge to the wild rivers of Chile to the thundering corridors of the Grand Canyon. Over more than three decades, Woody has built a reputation as one of the most skilled and respected river professionals in the country.

Woody's expertise covers virtually every discipline of rivercraft. For over 30 years, he has instructed clinics in all types of river craft and taught river rescue throughout Western North Carolina — equipping guides, instructors, and everyday paddlers with the skills and confidence to handle whatever a river throws at them. His certifications reflect the depth of that commitment: Woody holds credentials as a Certified River Rescue and Rafting Instructor in both Oar and Paddle disciplines.

Since the mid-1980s, Woody has led adventure travel trips to some of the most remote and spectacular river destinations on earth — from the rushing rivers of Chile to the iconic grandeur of the Grand Canyon. These are not casual excursions. They are serious expeditions requiring serious leadership, and Woody has navigated every one of them with the calm, competent authority of someone who has seen it all and handled it gracefully.

Off the river, Woody brings that same expertise and passion to the broader outdoor industry. He serves as Marketing Director for Wildwater Adventure Centers and previously held the position of Vice President and Board of Directors member at the Nantahala Outdoor Center — two of the most prominent names in American whitewater. His influence on the industry at an organizational level has been as significant as his impact on the water.

When he's not on the job, you'll find Woody near his home on the Chattooga River in South Carolina doing what he loves most — fly fishing the mountain streams of the Carolinas with the same quiet precision he brings to everything else.