Sport of River Kayaking
The sport of river kayaking has received much attention recently in different areas of the country. Kayaking is a tremendously exciting sport but one must raise the bar for being cautious in difficult runs. The "drops" can be very intense in certain river areas of the land and attention to safety is of utmost importance. Runs can be super fun and exciting with many moments of concern, but runs can be very manageable with good decision making and focus.
Preparation and planning is of utmost importance especially when one is going to take on an inaccessible river. A group must know the strengths and weaknesses of all its members. If there is any concern about one of the members, then it needs to be addressed beforehand with the focus on safety, not ego. Always plan for the what ifs and be prepared to respond to any given situation. A good example would be a shattered wood paddle so be prepared with a spare one on hand. Also, safety gear, like dressings and bandages for scrapes and bruises come in handy.
Experienced river kayakers will "fly" the route of the most challenging runs when planning to navigate an area for the first time. Always take the time to scout your route. They will evaluate the strainers and other hazards to help predict problems that might arise along the way. Certain areas of rivers can change drastically from year to year depending on weather conditions such as rainfall and snowpack. Logjams can have a tremendous impact on the navigation of the river.
Before launching always agree on the run order and what paddle and hand signals to use. Communication is critical and shouting is useless in noisy rapids. In areas of tight, blind turns, hand signals can be essential. If you agree to point to a safe run, never forget and point to a bad hole. If you do, those following may assume you are pointing at a good route and the result could be a real problem!
On some parts of the river you will be forced to run the drops but the communication on what is ahead is of utmost importance. There will be some nasty rides and tense moments, but the key is to keep one person dropping at a time, leaving the others to act as backups. Again, it is crucial to plan the run and run the plan. There will be changes depending on the river, but you should have members ready to respond to any unanticipated sticky hole.
There will have to be a decision made on certain runs. Which runs to go for and which runs to walk needs to be a group decision. If someone insists on going for a certain run and the rest of the group are not in favor, the result can be a disaster. If only part of the group decides to run, and the others want to walk, make sure those on shore have time to get in position to help.
Kayaking is like many other activities we do that involve balancing ability and risk. Part of this is the thrill of individual actions and part of it is an appreciation for collective efforts. Always focus on team spirit and helping each other. Stay alert and keep exploring the rapids!