aBOUT
The Early Days
our family & river roots
I’ve been selling canoes, kayaks, and rafts since 1979, when I first started my company in Bozeman. For 34 years, I operated a full-service outdoor specialty business, offering a wide range of outdoor sporting goods. In 2015, I closed one of my locations and made the decision to focus exclusively on water sports, which has always been my true passion.
With that shift, I added the tagline Rivers Lakes & Oceans to the Northern Lights name to reflect our focus. It represents what we’re all about: water in every form, whether it’s rivers, lakes, or the ocean.
At Northern Lights Rivers Lakes & Oceans, you’ll find one of the largest selections of canoes, kayaks, and rafts anywhere in the western U.S., along with all the accessories you need to make the most of your time on the water. We live this lifestyle year-round, and Northern Lights is proudly run by the Garcia family, my wife Sara, and me.
Family First
Our three sons — Ian, Evan, and Nathan — are all well known in the paddling world. Ian is our partner and runs our paddlesports business in Chile, where Rivers, Lakes & Oceans has operated out of Pucón since 2009. Evan recently opened his own shop in Bingen, Washington called Whitewater Bodega, where he carries kayaks, rafts, canoes, and packrafts along with a full showroom of accessories. Nathan is finishing a nursing program and still running many of the local rivers.
If you need good river beta, track one of us down. We love talking rivers.
Whitewater Bodega
Evan recently opened his own shop in Bingen, Washington, Whitewater Bodega, bringing everything you need for your river adventures to one place. From rafts and packrafts to kayaks, canoes, and essential river accessories, this new location is built for paddlers of all levels. Stop by, gear up, and get ready to hit the water with the best selection around.
Chile Location
If you’re heading to Chile, be sure to check out our son Ian’s store, Rivers Lakes & Oceans, located in Pucón, one of the country’s top destinations for kayaking.
Ian has been based there full-time since 2009, when we started the business, and it has grown into the leading source for rafting and kayaking equipment in Chile. He’s also one of the most knowledgeable resources when it comes to river running in the region.
Chile is packed with incredible places to paddle, from rivers to lakes to the ocean, and Rivers Lakes & Oceans truly reflects that. It’s where the name came from, and it couldn’t be more fitting.
