Here are a few beginner whitewater rafting tips to help you know what to expect on your first trip! The guide will sit in the stern and steer. Shoulder strain is a common whitewater rafting injury, and proper stretching will keep you loose. At least when I fall into the frigid water I’ll be oxygen deprived. https://newrivergorgecvb.com › beginner-whitewater-raftingtips Whitewater swim position All reputable rafting companies will teach you what we call the whitewater swim position. These terms are only a few of the most important terms to know when whitewater rafting. That late in the rafting season the water is nice and mellow. Tennessee has a fairly lengthy whitewater season; with some exceptions, April to September is a great window. See how long they have been in business under the current ownership. White water rafters can choose either an oar boat or a paddle raft. Sort by. Riding the bull means to sit on the front of the raft and hold the perimeter line between your legs. By following these basic tips and listening to your guide during your white water rafting adventure, you can safely experience the beauty of nature, the roaring rush of water as you ride the river's flow and the memorable thrill of whitewater rafting. That purely recreational purpose is what defines white water rafting. Sitting in the raft. On this trip, you get to be in charge of your own boat! Never let go of the T-grip, this is the top T shaped portion of the paddle. Stay up-to-date on current specials we’re running in order to help friends and family get out and enjoy Colorado’s Premier Whitewater. Although just because you wear a life jacket, it doesn’t mean it will save your life. Oregon – Whitewater Rafting. To make sure you're safe and prepared for a whitewater rafting holiday, we'll take you through the Do's and Don'ts. This will let you know that you are working with a professional outfitter. Cancellation Policy We have a 48-hour cancellation policy for all of our trips and a 7-day cancellation policy for groups of 10 people or more. Home / Whitewater / Whitewater Equipment / Whitewater PFD's. If you choose to swim to the shore, swim all the way to the shore. It’s the breaker of noses/destroyer of smiles. Each whitewater trip generally runs around 3.5 hours. Demonstrate defensive and aggressive swimming positions as … In a paddle raft, everybody on board has a paddle. If you are panicking you won’t think about getting back to the boat and the rescue becomes more difficult. Again your guide will explain when it is best to use which swimming position. This should keep you in the boat. Demonstrate defensive and aggressive swimming positions as possible. Combination Whitewater Rafting/Fishing Trip April – November Class I, II, III+ ages 6+ This can be a full day family or fly fishing seeker adventure on the world class Clark Fork River. Sunburns or hypothermia are no fun. This will insure a perfect fit. A metal frame is secured to the raft with rigging straps. Here are 9 whitewater rafting tips to make your trip a success. The Basics on How to Read Whitewater. The guide will sit in the stern and steer. Take a look at our raft rental rates, equipment list and prices. Sit in a raft as a paddler with proper foot position. It is worn on the left side of the swim trunks. 18 foot Gear Raft on Multi-day Trip. (see picture above). The second swimmers position is becoming more popular and more excepted in rescue situations. It’s the safest way to navigate whitewater when you aren’t sitting in a raft. When you sit in your raft (don’t worry your guide will demonstrate this to you before your trip), sit with your whole body on the outer tube with both legs inside the raft. We also need to be warned of any recent surgeries, broken bones, torn ligaments or heart issues. Proper footwear would be any shoe with a heel and toe straps. NEVER stand up in moving current. Our standard boat is probably the best boat for you as you can sit in the middle and be in the front of the boat and get soaked, or you can sit in the back of the boat closer to the guide (the closer to the guide, the drier you will be!) It can sit two average, adult-sized paddlers even though it feels cramped to do so. Showing all 17 results . It also adds to the thrill and excitement of the whole experience even in cold weather and water. Can he run for president? If you sit with your butt low in the water, you will find a rock and bring home some interesting bruises. Aside from the Snake River in the immediate vicinity, there are several others within an hour-drive or so to look into as well for whitewater rafting trips. Our training program encompasses a number of different safety and practical aspects. This trip combines the serene beauty of the 8 mile scenic float with the excitement of paddling through another 8 miles of rapids in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River, with a short break in between and lunch alongside the Snake River to finish of the day. Make sure your gear is in good working order. In an oar boat, the guide does all of the paddling, while the client enjoys the view. Boats with a higher volume will sit higher in the water and resurface faster than smaller boats, making high-volume boats ideal for larger paddlers and those paddling big water or dropping waterfalls. White water rafting with mates gives you epic stories to share – Photo: iStockphoto.com. Crab Apple Whitewater in Maine and Massachusetts provides helmets ready to go for GoPro users. This is just a term for how we rig the raft. Your guide will go over this in great detail during the safety talk before the trip. You have a life vest that will keep you above water. If you have specific medical needs, please notify your guide before getting on the water. Most guides never walk in water over their shins. What do water levels really mean, and how do they affect whitewater rafting? In the event we question whether a customer meets these requirements, we may need to ensure their ability to sit properly in a raft and fit into our PFD (life jacket). However, the newer rafts with three thwarts making it easier for all 6 paddlers. Point to where you want to go and go. 4. “ There is no romance for a couple of weeks afterwards. Easy peasy! Oregon – Whitewater Rafting. You will want to sit further down in the cockpit to lower your center of gravity for whitewater stretches. Don’t go whitewater rafting in Honduras without a dry bag! Whitewater rafting season arrives in Colorado every spring. This is the most dangerous thing you can do in moving water. By following a couple of safety rules it can be even more enjoyable. There are many options available such as a hike-in or hike-out adventure or a long adventure with the motorized raft. Best whitewater rafting in Jackson Hole. Remember: don’t panic! The raft is equipped with a metal frame and is self-bailing in nature. It must be worn correctly. High-siding is a command that your guide may call out as a last ditch effort to keep the boat from capsizing. Virtual Full River Whitewater Rafting Trip. We go over every possible scenario that could arise, from problems with the boat to ill or injured rafters to weather-related calamities. Every spring, snowmelt spills out of the mountains near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and rushes downstream into multi-colored canyons rich in whitewater, archaeology, and wonder. Know … Unless your guide instructs you that it is a safe place to swim, don’t get out, or push anyone else out! If you pop up and you are far from the boat, look for other rescue options, other boats or the riverbank. Raft Masters is a long-time member of the Colorado River Outfitters Association (CROA), America Outdoors (AO), and All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting. In Colorado, the water … Just met Ecuador’s first whitewater guide. All of our guides know this and go over a very detailed safety speech in which they will personally go around and show you how to sit and the best ways to keep yourself in the boat. This situation tends to stress both guides and clients out but really it is a super easy command to execute. This sounds like common sense, but it can happen. Some people who start this way may go on to paddle closed cockpit kayaks or canoes and others will stick to SOT’s so either way they are introducing people to paddling and that is what counts. The rear paddler has it easier in this regard as the rear cockpit is larger. Always wear a helmet no matter what level of rafting you are participating in. All reputable rafting companies will teach you what we call the whitewater swim position. Roughly half of our customers that we take down the river have never been whitewater rafting. 18 foot Rafts. The Whitewater Rafting, BSA Patch is NOT be worn on the Uniform. Idaho Springs, CO. and not get as wet. Winter rafting isn’t quite the same as the summertime Michigan river floats you’ve probably done. But if your guide is Johnny on the spot and calls out, “High-side!” you need to go to the downstream part of the boat (the way the water is moving) by getting up and throwing your weight to the downstream tube of the raft. Give them the gift of adventure with a Raft Masters gift card! When it rains and snows a lot in April and May, Mother Nature will provide an early start to the whitewater season. Arkansas River Location The first is the “Down River Swimmers Position”. b. Some outfitters rent this gear. Lift, carry, launch and land an inflatable raft, with help, on calm or slow moving water. 1. Best whitewater rafting in Ottawa. A helpful hint here: keep your butt up. Lastly, our guides are very well trained and watch kids in the rafts closely. Brace Yourself in the Raft. Ask them what kind of training their guides have and what government entity manages their outfitters permit and training practices. White water rafting is not just for the crazy hard core mountain people anymore. Furthermore, the raft guides will usually let you jump in and swim at some point during the trip so you’ll want to be ready for that. Please don’t participate in drinking alcohol or taking any non-prescribed medications before putting on the river. Make sure you still keep your hand over the grip. We are going to be rafting at poconos class III. When whitewater rafting, there are certainly moments when you are paddling hard to ensure your raft takes the right path down a section of river, or when you need to avoid some obstacle. Water Rafting: Know Where To Sit On a river raft, there's no such thing as a dry or secure seat. Tuck the toes of one foot forward underneath of the cross tube or foot cup in front of you and press up. If they see that your child is excited and loves getting wet, then they will move them up so that they are sitting … This lets us better accommodate you while providing a safe environment. If you have never gone rafting, you should educate yourself on the sport. Before purchasing your own whitewater raft, you may consider renting the equipment as an option. Lift, carry, launch, and land an inflatable raft, with help, on calm or slow moving water. Even if you’ve rafted the White Salmon River with Wet Planet 100 times, sit-on-top kayaking is a fun change of pace from whitewater rafting. Please call to verify hours. The power of water can be intimidating, especially fast moving whitewater. Most times when someone falls out of the boat they pop up right next to the boat. D iscover some of the year’s best inflatable whitewater kayaks and rafts from Advanced Elements, AIRE, Cronin and Kokopelli.Perfect for day trips and whitewater, each of these boats boasts comfort, versatility and efficiency. When you are listing to your guide’s safety talk before the trip, pay extra attention to the part about high-siding. You’ll get to sit back and take in the beauty. Order Firewood Conditions. Paddling whitewater in a sit on top kayak is no problem, as long as the rapids are not Grade 3 or above. By Terri Weeks; Leave A Comment; February 11, 2014; When I was planning our trip to Oregon, I turned to fellow Family Travel Blogger and Oregon resident, Amy Whitley of Pit Stops for Kids, for recommendations.I specifically asked for quintessential Oregon experiences. Call them at 307-733-6295 for more details. What is it like to Raft the Upper Ocoee River? By Terri Weeks; Leave A Comment; February 11, 2014; When I was planning our trip to Oregon, I turned to fellow Family Travel Blogger and Oregon resident, Amy Whitley of Pit Stops for Kids, for recommendations. Whitewater Rafting, Camps, Tubing and Rentals in beautiful Richmond VA. 804-560-0068. Keeping your hand over the “T” grip will keep control of the paddle and cushion the blow if it should happen. These dry suits and helmets make even Patagonia models look like dorks. This means fasten all the buckles and adjust the straps for a secure fit to maximize its effectiveness. If the paddlers on one side of the raft are exerting more force than the paddlers on the other, the raft will veer to the right or to the left.