You've been invited to go whitewater rafting, congratulations! What?
You're nervous. You can't swim. You don't know what to do. Are you going off waterfalls? Are you fit enough? Are you old enough? Are you young enough? What do you wear? How do you wear it? Do you need special shoes?
Okay, okay... it's healthy to have question but don't fret, you're going to be alright. The South Fork of the American river in Northern California hosts more than 60,000 people a year to its whitewater delight. If they can do it, so can you. Questions are good, but don't let your trepidation stop you from such an excellent adventure.
Here are some considerations to for making your trip the best it can be:
1. TRUST in the people running your trip. If you're rafting with a professional company, you're rafting with people who have many years of training and a reputation on the line.
2. Be POSITIVE. Nerves are normal, this is something new, something exciting but don't be a whiny baby. Breathe, listen and enjoy.
3. Rafting has two distinct seasons, what to WEAR is largely dictated by the season:
* SPRING rafting ~ a wetsuit may be necessary as the weather can be considerably cooler during spring. It's not uncommon to wear wetsuit booties or wool socks with your STRAP on sandals or old tennis shoes (more on foot ware below), shorts, wool sweater, splash jacket or dry top, possible wool cap. (this is all for cooler weather rafting).
* SUMMER rafting ~ Strap on sandal or old tennis shoes, shorts (you can wear a bathing suit but trunks/shorts are recommended for you're sitting on rubber and bathing suits tend to get moved off the bottom and you end up flashing the people behind you. Hey, we're not judging, this may be your intention but we just wanted to let you know), t-shirt, hat and sunglasses. Some companies wear helmets and you may or may not be able to wear a hat while rafting.
4. SUNBLOCK! You might want to think about an natural / biodegradable sunblock as research ties damaged ocean reefs to the more conventional chemical ones, so we might as well keep the river clean, if possible. Some ingredients to avoid: PABA, octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and the preservative butylparaben.
5. SHOES - You need shoes that bind to the foot. This is important, without proper shoes you can be denied onto the raft. Old tennis shoes are good because you can tie them. Name brand examples you can Google: Teva, Chaco, & Keen all make sandals that bind to the foot. Water booties with a sole are fine. No one wants you swimming without your consent but if you do swim you want something on your feet.
6. Every company is going to provide you with the proper gear: Trust the GEAR. You'll be wearing top of the line personal flotation devices, in nearly all instances these are Class V coast guard approved flotation devices, the highest rating. The rafts are some of the toughest boats on the water, they're made to commercial standards with commercial quality materials.
7. GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT ALL. If you're offered the opportunity to swim a rapid, do it! This is an incredible place to be (the river canyon), you ought to experience everything it has to offer.
8. Unless you like to be harassed, there are some things you should know NOT to do. Please, do not come to the trip with a towel in hand. Towels do not go down the river. This is not a day of sun on the sandy beaches of Southern California. This is whitewater rafting man, this is fun, adventure and we AIR DRY on the river! (okay, that was a bit extreme, but you get the idea) A towel in your car, for a shower after your trip, sure, but not to the trip itself. Don't wear suntan oil. Oil + Skin + Rubber = you swimming a lot. Don't consume drugs or alcohol prior to your trip. Your participation is required to get the raft down the river, this can prove difficult if you're under the influence. Alcohol and rafting don't mix. The water is cold, alcohol lowers body temperature, long swims while inebriated are dangerous. Don't bring cigarettes down the river.
9. Most all professional rafting companies will provide a quality trip but there are different attitudes and energies to each company.There are plenty of rafting companies to choose. On the South Fork of the American, 33. Pick someone you feel comfortable. Most all prices are going to be within $10 of each other, so the importance for you, is comfort.
10. You will not be going off WATERFALLS!
11. Yes, chances are you're FIT enough. This is not an Olympic paddle crew time trial. You'll be pulling your weight along with 5 or 6 other people.
12. Most every professional trip includes a competent GUIDE, to ensure the safest trip possible.
13. Concerned with AGE limits, check with the company you're rafting before you book the trip.
14. Finally, don't disqualify yourself based on unfounded PRECONCEPTIONS. You're going to love this adventure. We raft young kids to grandparents, you can do this! - 16887
You're nervous. You can't swim. You don't know what to do. Are you going off waterfalls? Are you fit enough? Are you old enough? Are you young enough? What do you wear? How do you wear it? Do you need special shoes?
Okay, okay... it's healthy to have question but don't fret, you're going to be alright. The South Fork of the American river in Northern California hosts more than 60,000 people a year to its whitewater delight. If they can do it, so can you. Questions are good, but don't let your trepidation stop you from such an excellent adventure.
Here are some considerations to for making your trip the best it can be:
1. TRUST in the people running your trip. If you're rafting with a professional company, you're rafting with people who have many years of training and a reputation on the line.
2. Be POSITIVE. Nerves are normal, this is something new, something exciting but don't be a whiny baby. Breathe, listen and enjoy.
3. Rafting has two distinct seasons, what to WEAR is largely dictated by the season:
* SPRING rafting ~ a wetsuit may be necessary as the weather can be considerably cooler during spring. It's not uncommon to wear wetsuit booties or wool socks with your STRAP on sandals or old tennis shoes (more on foot ware below), shorts, wool sweater, splash jacket or dry top, possible wool cap. (this is all for cooler weather rafting).
* SUMMER rafting ~ Strap on sandal or old tennis shoes, shorts (you can wear a bathing suit but trunks/shorts are recommended for you're sitting on rubber and bathing suits tend to get moved off the bottom and you end up flashing the people behind you. Hey, we're not judging, this may be your intention but we just wanted to let you know), t-shirt, hat and sunglasses. Some companies wear helmets and you may or may not be able to wear a hat while rafting.
4. SUNBLOCK! You might want to think about an natural / biodegradable sunblock as research ties damaged ocean reefs to the more conventional chemical ones, so we might as well keep the river clean, if possible. Some ingredients to avoid: PABA, octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and the preservative butylparaben.
5. SHOES - You need shoes that bind to the foot. This is important, without proper shoes you can be denied onto the raft. Old tennis shoes are good because you can tie them. Name brand examples you can Google: Teva, Chaco, & Keen all make sandals that bind to the foot. Water booties with a sole are fine. No one wants you swimming without your consent but if you do swim you want something on your feet.
6. Every company is going to provide you with the proper gear: Trust the GEAR. You'll be wearing top of the line personal flotation devices, in nearly all instances these are Class V coast guard approved flotation devices, the highest rating. The rafts are some of the toughest boats on the water, they're made to commercial standards with commercial quality materials.
7. GO FOR IT, GO FOR IT ALL. If you're offered the opportunity to swim a rapid, do it! This is an incredible place to be (the river canyon), you ought to experience everything it has to offer.
8. Unless you like to be harassed, there are some things you should know NOT to do. Please, do not come to the trip with a towel in hand. Towels do not go down the river. This is not a day of sun on the sandy beaches of Southern California. This is whitewater rafting man, this is fun, adventure and we AIR DRY on the river! (okay, that was a bit extreme, but you get the idea) A towel in your car, for a shower after your trip, sure, but not to the trip itself. Don't wear suntan oil. Oil + Skin + Rubber = you swimming a lot. Don't consume drugs or alcohol prior to your trip. Your participation is required to get the raft down the river, this can prove difficult if you're under the influence. Alcohol and rafting don't mix. The water is cold, alcohol lowers body temperature, long swims while inebriated are dangerous. Don't bring cigarettes down the river.
9. Most all professional rafting companies will provide a quality trip but there are different attitudes and energies to each company.There are plenty of rafting companies to choose. On the South Fork of the American, 33. Pick someone you feel comfortable. Most all prices are going to be within $10 of each other, so the importance for you, is comfort.
10. You will not be going off WATERFALLS!
11. Yes, chances are you're FIT enough. This is not an Olympic paddle crew time trial. You'll be pulling your weight along with 5 or 6 other people.
12. Most every professional trip includes a competent GUIDE, to ensure the safest trip possible.
13. Concerned with AGE limits, check with the company you're rafting before you book the trip.
14. Finally, don't disqualify yourself based on unfounded PRECONCEPTIONS. You're going to love this adventure. We raft young kids to grandparents, you can do this! - 16887
About the Author:
Christopher Pyle has more than 20-years experience in the outdoors and whitewater rafting. He's a former residential youth counselor. His passion and focus is on youth and aims at building better people thought better experience.
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