6 Ways to Make Every Guest Feel Valued

So what distinguishes that paddler in the front left from 1/6 of your guide wages plus a $20 tip and a real person who has thoughts, dreams, and desires? How do you show everyone in your boat that you truly value their time and who they are? Here are 6 tips that can help elevate your interactions and help prevent guests from feeling alienated in such an intimate setting.

Trip Report - San Juan River

In February, I received an email letting me know I had scored a permit for the San Juan River for May 6-8, 2017 from Sand Island to Mexican Hat. Every overnight float I’ve ever been on has been a life changing experience and I hope to share that experience with as many people as I can.

Critical Skills To Evaluate Risk Assessment

Why does understanding risk assessment improve your outdoor skills? Two key psychological factors in evaluating risk are the Self-Serving or Attribution Bias. Understanding these issues is a skill that is critical to master for success in the outdoors.

The Ubaye River - Gem of the French Alps

Nestled in the southern alps of France lies the incredible Ubaye Valley and one of France’s premiere rafting destinations. The Ubaye River is located just 4 hours from the Marseille and makes an excellent getaway from the summer heat of the French Riviera. The town of Le Lauzet-Ubaye in the Alpes de Haute Provence hosts all of the major rafting companies on the Ubaye river

Rafting Team Profile - USA Women's Rafting Team

With spring rafting in full swing and the start of runoff season in the United States now is the prime time for the US women's team to step up their game for the 2017 racing circuit. We caught up with some of the ladies from team USA to get their thoughts on this season, World Championships in Japan, and the competition.

April on the Middle Cosumnes

The Middle fork of the Cosumnes River is one of the coolest free flowing rivers in California. The team Got out to paddle this awesome stretch on a rainy April day. While access issues generally plague this river, however the Middle Fork is one of the easier parts of the watershed to access. 

Finding Confidence On The River

The lessons in confidence that the river tries to teach are often harsh in the outdoors. But the message of lesson is that you must take a good hard look at yourself and understand what that the river is trying to teach you.

Rubber Boats vs. Plastic Rafts

Rafts come in all shapes sizes colors and textures; however the composition of their materials is a hotly debated topic in the river community. There are a wide variety of whitewater rafts for sale today. We are going to look at the two basic compositions for whitewater rafts: rubber or plastic.

Grounded in the Past, Looking to the Future

Established in 2011, the Warrior Institute is currently an affiliate member of the not-for-profit Seventh Generation Fund. The institute has built an curriculum on "embracing the wisdom of the old and best of the new, while integrating physical, mental, and spiritual practices that cultivate true warriors with the drive, skills, and inspiration to lead us forward in a good way.

River Of Healing

For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath; Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Florence Williams sets out to uncover the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain.

Oroville Dam Disaster - What Really Happened?

There is a lot of conjecture relating to the disaster at the Oroville Dam recently so Rafting Magazine reached out to Dave Steindorf from American Whitewater to help get the facts straight on what happened and what the implications are for the future of the dam.

7 Qualities of Great Guides

Being a good guide takes more than just an great ability to navigate rivers. It takes a person who dedicates a portion of their life to living as a guide. More than anything else guiding is a lifestyle. So what exactly does it take to not just make it as a guide, but to thrive as a guide?

Understanding Fear and Anxiety on the Water

How you are affected by fear and anxiety? We also examine how these powerful emotions alter your state of mind and how they influence your decision making process. The long-term affects of fear and anxiety issues can illicit extremely unexpected behaviors even in the most veteran of boaters.