White Water Rafting

White water rafting is a huge growth sport with many different variations and degrees of difficulty. For some it is enough to sweep along the river and feel the speed and power of the water, others want to be part of a team paddling when told to in order to clear obstructions and get round bends. More extreme rafters are after a full-on slalom experience, preferably tumbling down a few waterfalls on the way.

Because there are so many different approaches to it there is an international grading system for rapids to try and help you understand what you are letting yourself in for.

Rapid grading

Grade 1: easy - fast water with waves but no real obstructions.
Grade 2: easy, but challenging for newbies. Rapids require some manoeuvring.
Grade 3: not easy - needs coordination and/or a decent skipper. Rapids tend to be noisy and may have a mix of rocks, currents and bends to negotiate.
Grade 4: difficult - wild water with surprises in store.
Grade 5: expert - long, violent and unpredictable with genuine dangers.
Grade 6: almost impossible - extreme water with a high risk of death or serious injury.

Be careful about the above, however, since grading something as variable as water is hit and miss. What seems like an easy course can turn into real danger if the paddlers make a stupid mistake and get caught in backwash; a difficult course can be made simple with a little local instruction. Any can be affected by variations in visibility or water level. Until you can truly consider yourself an expert it makes sense to stick with local operators and ask their advice. You can also get a pretty fair hint from the type of craft they use to get down the rivers.

Rigs

A rig is a huge raft consisting of a number of inflatable pontoons held together with frames and often equipped with an outboard motor. If the operator uses a 'rig' then

you're probably in the Grand Canyon or Fraser River of the US ; you're not going to tip over no matter what and you're not going to learn a huge amount about rafting since frankly whatever you do personally will make little difference.

Paddle raft

These are seen pretty much anywhere fresh water manages to raise a ripple. The crew (that's you) sit along the sides, usually with a couple of stronger paddlers in the bows, while the skipper sits in the stern and steers with an oar. Your job is to be the engine, paddling when told to. Aside from stopping and starting, the main skills you're likely to learn are how to lean forwards to throw the raft's weight front on into waves, and lean sideways to 'high side' as you take on waves side on.

Inflatable canoes/kayaks

These can be one or two man, and are highly buoyant sit-in canoes either open, in the case of canoes, or with a sealed deck in the case of kayaks. The canoes are excellent for longer river trips or touring where white water is expected. The kayaks have a reputation for being able to take pretty much whatever is thrown at them and are increasingly popular for the hairy stuff. In both you are much lower on the water and will be able to see its behaviour close up.

Body boards and hydrospeeds

Body boards are small surfboards, hydrospeeds are a sort of water-borne bobsled invented by the French. These mean you are going to get seriously wet and will probably be spat down a rockless flume like a very high speed water slide.

Inflatable inner tubes

Fun, easy, and a huge laugh for the lower grade rapids. No skills required.

Hydro-bronc

You're going rafting in hydro-broncs? Wow. Also known as wheelfrafts, these are basically big balls of inflated tubes piloted by running and leaning inside like an outsized hamster in a beach ball. They are really hard work but naturally protect their occupants. Hydro-broncs are about the only thing that can safely take on Grade 6 rapids safely.


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