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Your skill may encompass a wide range, but it is defined by what you can do consistently. Saying you are Class IV or Class V boater is an oversimplification. As an athlete’s skill increases so too do the degrees of specificity needed to define everything you interact with. Your skill level is a spectrum. That spectrum covers a broad range however there are some things you run consistently and some things you run inconsistently.
Ego plays a major role in stifling a paddler's ability. There is a powerful premise on the water that we want to dispel with this simple idea: Running everything clean all the time and never having carnage does NOT make you a good boater, it makes you a liability.
International rescue guru Mark Hirst is bringing rafting helmet color to the forefront. Seldom talked about, but a critically important discussion is how visible are you to your rafting or kayaking partners in an accident. If you swim, can you see the other people on your trip? Mark shares some great safety tips to make sure you are visible through choosing the proper color of whitewater helmet.
Flip line, Carabiners, pulley, snacks, throw bag, a spice rack, the kitchen sink… boaters often end up being covered in gear. How does a boater get at their gear safely and still keep a everything easily at hand? Enter….THE UTILITY BELT.
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.
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.
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
Big winters create big runoff. Whitewater rafters are looking at epically high water! Because increased flows dramatically change rivers and require a redoubling of our ongoing efforts to keep our trips safe, I thought I would share some thoughts about high-water safety
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.
Becoming a good guide is all about starting with the basics. Make sure you learn these 5 things from your guide school to get the most of your time.
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.
Transitioning from a slow water year to a high water year has been a concern for many boaters across Western North America. Rafting Magazine takes a hard look at what this transition really means for commercial guides and private boaters.
Trip leading can be a daunting task for even experienced boaters, but when you break down the seemingly endless amount of factors you can get a better picture of if you are leading trips properly.
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.
Accidents don’t just happen they are caused. All too often unseen variables are the true cause and can shed some deep insight on what truly has happened to cause the accident.
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.
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?
This adventure was the most challenging yet rewarding trip I have ever been on and would recommend anyone who gets lucky enough to either win a permit or get invited drop everything and go at least once.
Queenstown, on New Zealand’s South Island, is often hailed as the ‘adventure capital of the world’ and what better place for one of the world's most beautiful class 3-5 rivers. The Shotover River is ideally suited to this wonderful tourism mecca in the heart of New Zealand.
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.
