Marc A Goddard

Marc was born in San Francisco and graduated from San Francisco University High School in 1984 before earning a degree in Geography and Economics from the University of Colorado. It was in Colorado that Marc first discovered his passion for whitewater, launching a lifelong career in rafting and kayaking.

Over the next decade, Marc guided and led expeditions in the U.S., New Zealand, Costa Rica, Africa, Chile, Turkey, and Siberia. In 1991, he was selected for Team California, which went on to win the World Rafting Championships in Costa Rica (1992) and Turkey (1993), and placed fourth in Africa (1995).

In 1992, Marc co-founded Bio Bio Expeditions with longtime friend Laurence Alvarez-Roos, turning a dream into one of the most respected names in international adventure travel. Over the past 30 years, Marc has helped grow Bio Bio into an award-winning company, featured in National Geographic Adventure, Outside, and Paddler magazines. He was honored in Paddler as one of the world’s top 10 most active river guides and helped lead safety operations for the 2000 International Whitewater Championships.

Marc also spent three years teaching high school geography, sharing his love of exploration and learning. A tireless adventurer, he led Bio Bio’s first descent of Bhutan’s Drangme Chu in 2009 and has summited both Aconcagua (22,800 ft) in 2001 and Russia’s Mt. Elbrus in 2005.

Affectionately known as the “Wizard of Whitewater,” Marc lives in Truckee, California, right on the Truckee river with his son Quinn, daughter Lilian, and loyal dog Finn. When not guiding or working in the office, you’ll find him backcountry skiing in the Sierra, kayaking year-round, mountain biking, or studying maps in search of the next big expedition.