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If you haven’t been on the river it’s hard to know what to expect whitewater rafting. Friends will try to convince you to go telling you it’s “hardcore” or super fun, but they rarely elaborate on why they feel that way. Whitewater rafting can seem like a scary experience for some at first, but beyond the fear and hype of the adrenaline rush, there is a truly world changing experience that rivers and remote canyons have to offer.
It doesn’t matter what craft you choose to enjoy on the water from a raft to a kayak, SUP, or inflatable pizza wedge holes are probably one of the most feared and talked about hazards on the river. While sieves and strainers may harbor the greatest danger on the water it is the ubiquitous hole that is most often faced as a serious challenge to any boater.
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.
The Commodore reviews the 5.10 River Tennie. We put this shoe to the test during a cold November day on the North Fork of the American.
Winter boating is without a doubt an incredible experience. Biting cold, freezing sleet, frozen over eddies, blinding windy rain, or thick fog obscuring what lies downriver are all serious hazards for winter paddlers. The drysuit is critical to thriving in this environment, but how do you get the most out of this essential piece of equipment?
As the wife of a river guide in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Anna Bagley sees the cycle of life in a rafting company every year. You can't stop fall, but you can write a poem.
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.
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.
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.
22 countries will be represented In the World Rafting Championships, each with individual strategies. There will be four events teams of six compete in come October 2nd; sprint, head-to-head, slalom and downriver. Teams can place in individual events, with their points also contributing to their overall score.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
