If you love outdoor adventure, at some point in your life you may feel that you need to participate in some sort of extreme sport. In this context, white water rafting may appear to you a quite exciting outdoor event. However, if you ever involve in white water adventure and want to get a thrilling experience, reading this article will be quite helpful for you as here I have discussed 7 useful tips for white water rafting. So, don’t miss reading the article.
Water Rafting Tips: 10 Pro Backed Tips for Beginners
- Choose an Ideal Raft for Your Adventure
Whether you are going to take part in the adventure for the first time in life or a regular white water adventurer, keep in mind that owning a raft is not a bad decision. Owning a personal raft means you can choose the river and time of your adventurer. It is also found that many adventurer enthusiasts after completing the first adventure trip, it does take much time for them to go for another trip pretty soon. So, owning a raft will give them full freedom to enjoy the adventure whenever they like.
Now, when it comes to purchasing a raft, you need to consider several factors with much importance. The first factor is how many people will likely participate in the adventure? The second factor If you like to go alone can you use a fishing float tube instead of a white water raft there? Let’s address the first question that is how many people will likely share the excitement?
This question is quite important since the answer to the question will determine the size of the watercraft. If you use large watercraft, it will let more people board on it and more gear to carry. But, maneuvering the boat will be difficult. If the watercraft is small, though it will let less number of people to board on it, but maneuvering it will be easier in the rapid river current.
Now, the second question. Can you replace a white craft with a fishing float tube? Though there are a few structural similarities between fishing float tubes and white watercraft, but in no way you can replace them with one another. Fishing float tubes are ideal for several fishing activities like these fishing watercraft are suitable for shallow water fishing and they offer anglers easy maneuvering. But they are not ideal for an outdoor adventure like white water rafting.
- Always Put on Life Jacket and Helmet
You may see on television how whitewater rafting is a risky and dangerous activity. There are many submerged boulders in the river water, particularly where the stream is quite rapid. So, to protect your head from a head injury, you must wear a helmet as well as a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket is also essential since in the event you fell from the watercraft, the life jacket will help you from drowning. Before boarding into the watercraft, make sure that both helmet and life jacket fit with your head and body comfortably.
- Gather a List of Essential Things
You know it’s an adventurous trip. So, you need to collect a list of items. Collect below things and packed them in a fishing backpack. Though you will find many other different types of backpacks in the market, but fishing backpacks are quite useful for storing and carrying essential items. The list of items that need to be stuffed in the fishing backpack is
- Bathing suit
- Sunscreen
- A pair of sunglasses with a strap
- Comfortable and secure footwear
- Water bottle
- Dry clothing (to wear after the trip)
- Wet suit or water shoes
- Wear Sunscreen
Though it’s an aquatic adventure, under the intense sunlight, you may experience sunburns. The good news is there are waterproof sunscreens in the market. Wearing the lotion will protect you from raging sun rays.
- Hydrate
White water rafting also means passing some breathtaking moments against the strong river current. The activity will also take a huge toll on your body. At the end of the trip, you may feel pretty exhausted. The warm weather may accelerate your exhaustion process. To alleviate your tiresome feelings, drink a lot of water to keep you hydrated and fit.
- Get a Firm Grasp on the T-Grip
The end of a paddle is called a T-grip. While participating in a whitewater rafting with a group of other rafters, it is immensely important that you hold the T-grip with one of your hands firmly. It is because if the paddle slipped out of your hand when negotiating with a strong current, the paddle will hit one of your fellow rafters leaving him with injury and pain.
- Don’t Let Panic Seize You
River is a natural thing that you don’t have any control over. At times, the river current may turn so ferocious and violent. After all, white water rafting is all about embracing the extremely fast river current. Another likely incident of the adventure is your watercraft may be stuck with the rock. In any of these incidents, don’t be panicked. Stay calm and listen to the command of your tour guide.
- Know the Proper Swimming Technique
Knowing the proper swimming technique is one of the primary concerns while swimming in the river, no matter you jump in for having fun or fall out. There are two types of river swimming techniques. The downriver swim is when you swim on your back facing to the sky. This is how you’ll be able to see where you’re going and to use your feet and legs as shock absorbers if rocks come in contact.
The other technique is widely popular. Just point out where you want to go and keep going until you’re out of the river.
- Know The Commands
Before starting a session, pay extra attention to the guide’s safety talk especially to the high-siding part. High-siding is such a command called by your guide as the last ditch effort to save your boat from turning over. No fear! The situation is prone to stress but easy to execute. If your boat is hit by a rock or gets in a hydraulic, it goes in a sideways position in the river and the pressure of water built on the upstream side can flip your boat over. So, when your guide will call out “high-side”, go to the downstream part of your boat according to the direction of the water flow.
- Check Local Regulations
Before heading out to a rafting session, check the local report and regulation well. Some of the states have age regulations to raft. If you’re below 12, you may not be eligible to raft on those places. Remember- never go for rafting alone! If you’re a beginner, going with an experienced guide is advised. You can also go along with other rafters but never alone!
Hopefully these tips will help you make your rafting session safe and enjoyable. Be smart to avoid any kind of potential accidents.
