{"id":36968,"date":"2025-08-20T00:00:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T07:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/?p=36968"},"modified":"2025-08-19T06:48:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:48:52","slug":"meet-the-cast-of-characters-behind-about-damn-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2025\/08\/20\/meet-the-cast-of-characters-behind-about-damn-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Cast of Characters Behind \u201cAbout Damn Time\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the latest film by Director Dana Romanoff, <\/span>About Damn Time: The Dory Women of Grand Canyon<\/span><\/i><\/a>, viewers are introduced to a powerhouse group of women river guides from OARS who are redefining what leadership, grit, and community look like on the water. These women aren\u2019t just steering boats\u2014they\u2019re steering change, <\/span>honoring decades of history<\/span><\/a> while carving out space for the next generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From seasoned pioneers like Cindell Dale, whose dory has run more rapids than most guides dream of, to rising stars like Mary Kruse, whose passion for people and rivers shines through every trip, each guide featured in the film brings a unique story to the current. Meet the remarkable women behind the oars.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cindell Dale \u2014 <\/span>Started Guiding: 1983<\/span><\/h4>\n

Cindell \u201cDellie\u201d Dale is a pioneering river guide whose legacy is etched into the currents of the Colorado River and the heart of Grand Canyon. Since embarking on her first commercial river trip in the early 1980s, Dellie has become one of OARS\u2019 most respected dory guides.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Now based in Colorado, Cindell was introduced to river life through her husband, Roger Dale, and the extended Dale family, who began their careers with Martin Litton\u2019s Grand Canyon Dories. Her initial role as an assistant cook on Grand Canyon trips was one of the few avenues available to women at the time. Cindell\u2019s determination and skill propelled her from the kitchen to the oars, where she has since logged over 40 seasons navigating the canyon\u2019s formidable rapids. She\u2019s rowed her favorite dory, the Ticaboo, for more than 25 years, and looks forward to passing on the oars someday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides my husband, the Ticaboo is my soulmate,\u201d Cindell says in <\/span>About Damn Time<\/span><\/i>. \u201cShe\u2019s my best friend. She has a soul. Her spirit is as hardheaded as I am\u2026My hope for the Ticaboo is that she gets passed on to a person who has the same desire, tenacity, confidence that I did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the river, Cindell is a farmer, rancher, and co-owner of Fenceline Cider, working alongside her husband in their hot glass studio. Her multifaceted life reflects a blend of artistry, adventure, and a commitment to paving the way for future generations of river guides.<\/span><\/p>\n