The Montana Surf Company is a division of Montana River Guides, a river outfitter based on the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge. Montana RIver Guides has set the standard for professionalism on the Alberton Gorge since 1995. The Gorge's leading outfitter and the only rafting company headquartered right on the Clark Fork River at the put-in for the Alberton Gorge, Montana River Guides is owned by Mike and Bernice Johnston and has been a regional leader and innovator in whitewater safety, swiftwater rescue and whitewater rafting.

Mike got his start in both riverboarding and Swiftwater Rescue back in 1986 when he was a patrol and backcountry ranger for the National Park Service in Yellowstone, Acadia and Glacier National Parks. After working as a ranger, as a pro patroller and OEC Instructor for the National Ski Patrol, Mike founded Montana River Guides in 1994 and has been affiliated with Rescue 3 International since 1996. Bernice grew up surfing the south shore of Oahu and introduced Mike to bodyboarding south shore waves in 1986. That same year Mike riverboarded some Northern California rivers during rescue training for the National Park Service. We introduced Riverboarding to Montana back in 1995 and continue to be the only Riverboard Guide Service in Montana and one of just a few in North America

Over the years we've provided rescue and safety instruction for thousands of boaters, guides and rescue professionals from over 200 different agencies and organizations. Riverboards are an important part of our swiftwater rescue curriculum. Professional firefighters and search and rescue teams are integrating the boards into their rescue programs as another way to access victims or provide downstream safety. As we travel the region training different agencies and organizations, we are lucky to be able to riverboard some of the greatest rivers with some of the greatest guides and rescuers in the west.

And here's a secret--Riverboarding involves much more than just adrenaline and whitewater (tho those are the ingredients we give the most attention). You'll appreciate the relaxing Class I water between rapids and discover an incredible way to share an adventure with friends. Sometimes face-level with a family of otters is just as much of an adventure as being face-level with a school bus sized wave. In any case, we have had more fun with riverboarding with our friends and guides over the years than we can begin to express. Our guests come from all over the world to experience the whitewater of the Alberton Gorge where we've introduced thousands of people to the thrill of riverboarding. The mission of The Montana Surf Company is to provide you with the ultimate whitewater thrill. Come catch a mountain wave and surf Montana with us!