Any discussion about the river will inevitably evoke the most common river term “the line”. If you are new to boating the line is most often described as the path a boat takes through a rapid. Unfortunately there is no real empirical standard on why a guide selects a line since lines are so subjective. Thus I advocate for the option principal.

Taureau - Quebec's Class V Beast

The Taureau Section of the Jacques-Cartier River is one Quebec's toughest sections of whitewater and this Class V beast certainly lives up to the hype. Checkout the adventure as out the adventures as Pascal Girard and his crew take on some incredible drops.

The Gear Shed - Wetsuits

Selecting the correct gear for the correct paddling conditions is essential to staying warm and happy in the shoulder seasons. Take time to look over your current equipment and figure out where you are in terms of your gear and consider replacing your suit so you can enjoy some happier and toastier days on the water.

How defining your ability level is essential to becoming a better paddler

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.

Is the Color of Your Helmet Important?

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.

The Gear Shed - The Utility Belt

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.

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.

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

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.

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.