Meet Gabe White
Gabe joined the Agua Verde crew right when we needed an extra set of capable hands the most—and as summer winds down, his dependability, easygoing nature and willingness to tackle just about anything have made him indispensable.
A lifelong Ballard resident and recent graduate of Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood, Gabe White has been a terrific addition to the Agua Verde Paddle Club team this summer. His can-do attitude and willingness to work hard—especially now, as our season winds down and many of his fellow crew members head back to college—make Gabe our Employee of the Week.
Learning the Ropes in the Heart of Summer
Gabe was the last member of this year’s summer dock crew to come aboard, joining us mid-season when sunny Seattle days had the docks buzzing and we could definitely use the help. Despite arriving after the rest of the team, he wasted little time getting up to speed.
Before long, Gabe was doing just about everything that keeps a day at Agua Verde running smoothly: opening the shop first thing in the morning, getting customers fitted and launched in kayaks and paddleboards, washing and organizing boats, inventorying equipment, handling customer check-outs and helping close everything down at the end of the day.
Customers and co-workers alike quickly came to appreciate Gabe’s calm, low-key demeanor—and the dry, droll sense of humor that tends to surface while he’s quietly taking care of whatever needs to be done.
Sticking With Us to the Finish
Gabe may have joined this year’s crew later than most, but he’s making up for it at the other end of the season. While many of his colleagues are already heading back to school, Gabe doesn’t begin his freshman year at the University of Oregon until late September.
That makes him especially valuable during these final busy weeks, when there are still plenty of paddlers to get out on the water—and plenty of less-visible end-of-season work to be done behind the scenes.
From Portage Bay to Eugene
Later this month, Gabe will trade Portage Bay for Eugene as he begins his first year at the University of Oregon. An artist at heart and a talented drawer, he plans to major in Design while minoring in Environmental Studies—a combination that seems particularly fitting for someone who spent his summer working outside on the water.
College is a big next step, but we’re happy to have Gabe with us for as long as we can before he heads south to become a Duck.
Thank You, Gabe!
There is a lot to do at Agua Verde as another paddling season comes to a close, and we’re glad Gabe is here to help us finish strong. It will be a sad day when he punches out for the last time in 2026—but we’re hoping this isn’t goodbye. We’d love to see Gabe back on the docks in 2027, helping make another summer of paddling on Portage Bay a great one.