Whitewater Rescue Skill: How To Use A Throw Bag

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Spending time in whitewater? Whether you are rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing, a swiftwater rescue class is absolutely essential. Instructors will teach you how use a throw bag and provide an opportunity to practice this key rescue technique. Doing so could save your own life or that of another paddler, so sign up today and don’t shirk your duty to paddle safely. We provide some tips below to help you prepare for class.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all safety and rescue gear ]

How to use a rescue throw bag

A throw bag is a necessary piece of safety equipment that should be carried on the river at all times. It is essentially 70 feet (or around that length) of rope stuffed into a bag, with the end of the rope attached to the bag. The bag is thrown to a person in need who is swimming in whitewater. The swimmer then grabs the rope and their rescuer pulls them to shore.

An ideal throw will hit the victim straight in the face with the throw line bag, so the victim has no choice but to grab the rope. | Photo: John Rathwell

Important: Take a swiftwater rescue class!

This cannot be stressed enough. A water rescue throw bag is useless if you haven’t received the proper training for how to use it and haven’t practiced with it. Not only will a swiftwater rescue class teach you the proper techniques for using throw bags, but you will get lots of practice with rescue scenarios of all types.

[ Plan your next whitewater rescue course with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Practice, practice, practice

If you are practicing rescue scenarios, the best place to do so is in swift, moving current without any notable hazards. You will want at least three people in the scenario: one victim and two rescuers.

With the two rescuers on shore, have the victim begin swimming down the current. Make sure to tell them to swim on their back with their feet up and facing downstream. This is the defensive whitewater swimming position, which will allow them to push off any rocks with their feet rather than their head. One of the rescuers on shore will be handling the throw bag, while the other rescuer is there as backup.

The rescuer with the throw bag will open up the throw bag, take out a few meters rope to keep as slack (just in case), hold the rope with their non-dominant hand, and throw the bag (with the rest of the rope stuffed inside it) to the victim. As the bag is thrown, the rope will release from the bag, and provide a throw bag rescue line from the rescuer to the victim.

Aim to throw the throw bag past the swimmer so the rope lands on the victim between their head and the hip, ideally right on their chest. Practice your aim so you’re a good shot.

The victim will grab the rope, not the bag. If the victim grabs the bag, they will keep floating for 30 to 40 more feet as the rope continues to release from the bag.

The victim grabs the rope with their hands, turns on their back with the rope swung over their shoulder, and is towed to shore by the rescuer.

The backup rescuer will wrap their hands around the main rescuer’s PFD, and hold on tight, so the main rescuer does not get pulled into the water by the rope. This is important, as the main rescuer will be pulling the victim’s weight plus the extra force added by the current in the river.

Important throw bag notes

If you are the rescuer, make sure you have a wide, solid stance, so you don’t get pulled into the water yourself. The most important thing in a rescue situation is keeping yourself safe and not creating more victims.
Neither the rescuer nor the victim should ever wrap the rope around themselves. Never around your wrist or body. Simply hold it in your hands. This is so that in the event that the rope becomes tangled around a hazard in the river, the victim can escape and does not also get tangled in the hazard.
The rescuer can throw the bag overhand or underhand. Just make sure to practice both techniques to find out what works best for you!
If the rescuer misses the victim on the first throw, it is advisable to quickly coil the rope up in one-foot diameter coils, and throw the coils at the victim for a second try. This is quicker than re-packing the bag, but still allows for a long length of rope to be thrown.
Practice using the particular throw bag you will be taking with you on the water. Kayak rescue throw bags are smaller than rafting throw bags, so plan and practice accordingly!

How to pack a throw bag

The goal with packing a throw bag is to make it as simple a process as possible. You want to stuff the rope in the bag in small bits at a time, stacking the rope on top of itself as you go, to reduce the possibility of any knots or tangles forming.

To do this, hold the throw rope bag with the last three fingers of both hands. Place the rope over your shoulder so the remaining rope is laying on the ground behind you. Use your thumb and forefinger on each hand to gently stuff the throw bag, one hand on top of the other.

Once all the rope is back in the bag, secure it with the buckle (or whatever securing device is included). Make sure to leave the end of the rope out, so you can access it as quickly as possible.

[ Watch: Top 10 Scariest Paddling Rescue Videos Of All Time ]

How to make a throw bag

Yes, it is possible to make your own throw bag, and yes, it will be cheaper. However, it is not advisable to do so.

A throw bag is a vital piece of safety equipment for any whitewater paddler. It is not a piece of equipment where you can cut corners to save money. Buy the best throw bag out there and be there for your paddling partners.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

It’s essential to take a swiftwater rescue course so you know how to properly use a throw bag. | Feature photo: Yellowstone National Park/Flickr

How To Tie Down Your Canoe With And Without Racks

Skills

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

a jeep with a wooden canoe tied to the roof — Master how to tie a canoe to your car and keep you and others safe on the road. | Feature photo: Quinn Nietfeld/Unsplash

Putting a canoe on your car is an important step for successfully making it to the put-in. Whether you are renting a canoe from an outfitter or you have your own gear, you are going to want to learn how to tie a canoe to your car. Read on for simple steps to follow whether you have a roof rack or not.

How to tie a canoe to a car

When it comes to tying a canoe to a car, there are a few different options—it all depends on whether or not you have a roof rack. A roof rack is ideal, because it provides the most secure tie-down. It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle. If you don’t have a roof rack there are still other options out there for you.

person demonstrates how to tie a canoe on a car roof — A roof rack is ideal, because it provides the most secure tie-down. | Photo: Kaydi Pyette

10 steps to tie a canoe to a roof rack

If your vehicle has a roof rack, you have one of the best situations for tying down a canoe. Follow the steps below to safely secure a canoe to a roof rack.

1 Lift canoe onto rack

Lift the canoe up and onto the rack on the vehicle. This can be done with one person for lower vehicles, but it is always easier and safer when you have two people.

2 Protect the gunwales

If you want to protect the gunwales on the canoe, you can put either foam blocks or cloth between the gunwales and racks of your vehicle.

3 Balance the canoe

Balance the canoe on the crossbars so it does not tip forwards or backwards. Usually, this means the yoke is resting equally between the crossbars. Position the canoe so it is straight and perfectly in line with your vehicle. If it is slightly off-line, the wind will put uneven pressure on one side of your boat the entire drive.

4 Toss cam straps over top

Standing on the passenger side of the vehicle, throw the non-buckle end of your cam strap to the other side of the vehicle. This step can be done for both the front and back strap of the canoe (one for each roof rack bar).

5 Wrap the straps and toss back

On the driver’s side of the vehicle, wrap the strap around your roof rack bars and send the non-buckle side of the cam strap back overtop to the passenger side again. Do this for both the front and back strap.

6 Wrap and buckle the straps

Take the non-buckle end of the cam strap and wrap it underneath the bar on the passenger side and up and through the buckle of the cam strap to begin the tightening process.

7 Tighten the straps

Start with the buckle close to the bottom of the canoe (the highest point when the canoe is upside down) so that you have lots of room to pull the strap tight before the buckle hits the bar. Repeat for both back and front straps.

8 Tie off loose ends

Once these straps are tight, tie off the loose ends so they are not flapping in the wind.

9 Tie bow and stern lines

Finally, you want to secure both the front and back of the canoe with a bow and stern line. Every vehicle is going to have different spots to connect. Many vehicles have built-in attachment points under the front and back of the vehicle. If you don’t, you might want to consider purchasing hood/trunk tie-down loops which can be found at your local paddling shop or on Amazon.

10 Final check

Do one final check to make sure the canoe is well connected to the car and you are all set to go. Try shaking the canoe with two hands—the vehicle should move with it.

5 steps to transport a canoe without a roof rack

If your vehicle does not have a roof rack, there are other ways to secure the canoe to your vehicle. One of the best options is to use foam blocks that can be purchased at your local paddling shop.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all canoe transport, storage & launching accessories ]

1 Add foam blocks to gunwales

While the canoe is on the ground, secure the foam blocks to each end of the canoe halfway between the yoke and the thwarts. Ideally they will be sitting close to the balance points of the canoe.

2 Lift and place canoe

Next, either by yourself or with the help of a friend, lift the canoe up and place it on top of your vehicle. You may need to play around with the location of the foam blocks and the position of the canoe on the top of the vehicle. You do not want it too far forwards or backwards and ideally, it is perfectly balanced on the centre of your roof. This also means looking from the back of the vehicle to ensure the canoe is straight down the middle of your vehicle. If it is slightly off-line, the wind will be putting uneven pressure on one side of your boat the entire drive.

3 Strap it down

Many people will use either cam straps or ratchet straps to secure the canoe to the roof by opening all car doors and actually doing a full wrap inside the vehicle and overtop of the canoe. This can cause damage to the padding around the outside of your door frame. Another option is to use rope and tie a trucker’s hitch knot in order to get the extra leverage to pull the canoe tight to the top of your vehicle.

4 Tie bow and stern lines

Finally, you want to secure both the front and back of the canoe. Many vehicles have built-in attachment points under the front and back bumpers, but using these can cause the rope to rub or scratch your paint. You might want to consider purchasing hood/trunk tie-down loops which can be found at your local paddling shop or on Amazon.

Scratchproof, indestructible and almost free. | Photo: Brian Shields — Create your own tie-down points for a bow line. | Photo: Brian Shields

Or, create your own tie-down points by bolting a loop of webbing to the inside skirt of your vehicle’s front quarter panel. Fold a 10-inch piece of webbing in half, burn a hole through both ends—I use a butane torch to heat a large spike for the burning operation—and then fasten it to the forward bolt which secures the quarter panel frame.

5 Final check

Do one final check to make sure the canoe is well connected to the car and you are all set to go. Try shaking the canoe with two hands—the vehicle should move with it.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Master how to tie a canoe to your car and keep you and others safe on the road. | Feature photo: Quinn Nietfeld/Unsplash

Yoga For Paddlers With Benny Marr (Video)

By

Ben Marr

When I was 22, my lower back often flared up to the point I struggled to stand up straight. Sometimes first thing in the morning, I crawled around my room to warm up enough just to stand. Then, I started doing yoga in secret while working on drilling rigs in Alberta. I wanted to ease my pain and not trade my health for the money I was earning to go on kayaking trips.

Yoga is an excellent way to challenge your strength and balance, and increase your flexibility. It can prepare you for a day of paddling, or help you recover from one. A paddler’s core is constantly engaged, whether sitting or standing. The hip flexors, pelvis, groin and glutes get taxed constantly but are often forgotten until they scream in discomfort. Combine these postures with smooth, relaxed nose inhalations and exhalations to mobilize and strengthen the body while relieving tension. I still get sore, but now I know what to do to care for and even prevent it.

3 yoga poses for balance

1 Tree pose

From standing, fix your gaze on a spot on the ground 10 feet in front of you. Bring your left heel above your right ankle, toes touching the mat (1). Reach arms straight above you or open a little wider like branches. Challenge the posture by placing your left foot on your right calf (2) or above the knee (3). Or, just close your eyes. Take five breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.

2 One-legged chair pose

From standing, keep your back as straight as possible while bending both knees and sitting back into an invisible chair. Fix your gaze 10 feet in front of you. Bring the left ankle above the right knee and continue to sit into the posture. Reach arms above your head. Take five breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.

3 Triangle pose

From standing at the top of the mat, take a three-foot step back with your left foot, raise your arms shoulder height with palms open, and rotate your upper body 90 degrees, so arms and legs are parallel. Open the left foot 90 degrees, so your left heel is in perpendicular alignment to the right. Attempt to keep the arms in a straight line while lowering your right hand to your shin, or fingers to the ground on the inside of your right ankle. Look up to the sky and take five breaths. Use your core to come up and return to the front of the mat, facing the same direction you started. Repeat on the opposite side.

3 yoga poses for strength

1 Warrior 2 pose

From a standing position, take a five-foot step back with your left leg—maybe more if you’re leggy. Turn the left foot out 90 degrees, so it’s parallel to the back of the mat, and so the middle of the left foot lines up with the right heel. Turn chest and hips to the left while reaching right arm straight over the right leg and left arm straight back over the left leg, parallel to the floor. Bend into the right knee, aiming for 90 degrees. Sink into it. Look past your right hand’s fingers. Try to keep your spine vertically stacked over hips. Take five breaths. Pivot your feet to the opposite direction to perform the same pose looking over your left hand. Take five breaths. Return to your wide stance, then return to standing.

2 Boat pose

From your back, bend your knees and place flat feet on the ground close to your butt. Use your hands below your knees to pull your straight spine off the ground. Stay here or extend your arms, palms facing each other, parallel to the floor. Stay here or lift both legs so your calves also parallel the floor. Stay here or extend your legs out at a 45-degree angle for five breaths. Lower and repeat five times. This core exercise is excellent for boat control.

3 Plank

Start with hands under shoulders, knees under hips, and toes tucked under heels. Straighten your knees, so your legs are straight and engage the core more by bringing your navel closer to your spine. Take five breaths, or hold for 30, 45 or 60 seconds. Relax by returning to the four-point base. Repeat three to five times.

3 yoga poses for flexibility

1 Frog pose

From the hands and knees position, create a greater distance between your knees and feet. Open the ankles so the inside of your feet are on the ground. Look at your legs; aim for a 90-degree bend in each leg. Attempt to keep the back level and hips from coming forward or back. Take 10 breaths. To come out, slowly move the hips forward first and return to the hands and knees position.

2 Shoulder drops

From your hands and knees, extend both arms out to the side while still supporting your torso. Drop the right shoulder and right cheek to the ground, then alternate sides. Exhale down, inhale up. Repeat as many times as you want. Be gentle.

3 Child’s pose and prayer hands

From hands and knees position, untuck toes, so the tops of feet connect with the ground. Sit back on your heels, then bring your forehead to your mat. Reach the arms forward for a stretch. Adjust the distance between your knees for comfort. For an added stretch, bend your elbows, point your fingers straight up, and bring your palms together. Take five breaths. Return to child’s pose and repeat three times.

benny marr yoga for kayakers — Photo: Tom Poole

Benny Marr’s yoga routines for paddlers

40-minute follow-along routine

Whether it’s for rehab or prehab, these tailored-to-paddlers stretches will help prevent soreness and injury.

5-minute paddling warm-up routine

Professional whitewater kayaker Benny Marr reveals his ultimate pre-paddle routine to get you loose, limber, and ready for a great day out on the water. Just as you wouldn’t drive on the highway without performing some regular oil changes, you shouldn’t take to the water without giving your paddling muscles some regular tune-ups, too.

[ Browse the widest selection of boats and gear in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

These simple, beginner-friendly movements will not only help warm up your hips, shoulders, and core—they will also reduce your risk of injury or muscle soreness. You’re going to want to bookmark this one!

Yoga is an excellent way for paddlers to build strength and balance and increase flexibility. | Feature photo: Tom Poole

Pyranha On Track To Raise £120,000 For Ukraine Fundraiser

Paddling Business

By

PRESS RELEASE Pyranha Mouldings Ltd

Pyranha Mouldings Ltd., who manufacture canoes and kayaks in both Cheshire and Derbyshire, England, are a small company with two world-renowned brands; Pyranha and P&H. Motivated by their relationships with specialist canoe and kayak retailers in Ukraine, Pyranha recently launched a fundraiser to support relief efforts in the country, receiving a humbling response.

[ Discover the year’s best kayaks in the online Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

In just two days, Pyranha successfully raised more than £60,000 through producing a limited number of their market-leading kayak models, the P&H Virgo and Pyranha Scorch, in a custom blue/yellow colorway to match the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with the nation, which has been unjustly invaded by Russian forces. One-hundred percent of the revenue from this special production run will be donated to The Disasters Emergency Committee, which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities, raising funds to quickly and effectively respond to overseas disasters, such as that in Ukraine.

Photo Courtesy of Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.

Managing Director, Graham Mackereth says of the situation, “We are lucky to live in a stable and peaceful democracy, whilst millions live with the harsh reality of the many dreadful wars around the world. This war in Europe, in an area where some of our staff come from, where our customers are being bombed, brings that reality far too close to home.”

This effort has been made possible by a number of Pyranha’s staff donating their time, as well as coordination with their suppliers and fellow North West based companies, Stirling Moulded Composites, Gordon Products, and Resinex, who have donated materials to produce these kayaks. Pyranha’s worldwide network of dealers have also contributed their time and logistical support to make these limited edition Flag of Ukraine kayaks available to consumers as far as New Zealand and North America.

[ Discover the best gear of the year from Pyranha in the online Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

In addition, Pyranha is raising funds through pre-orders of two, limited edition t-shirt designs bearing the slogans ‘Launch Kayaks, Not Missiles’, and ‘Drop Waterfalls, Not Bombs’, as well as raffling off several Flag of Ukraine kayaks.

“We’re on track to raise over £120,000, which is almost double what we were aiming for,” says Mat Wilkinson, marketing manager. It is a true showing of the far-reaching community spirit amongst paddlesports enthusiasts that Pyranha is already over halfway towards this goal.

If you’d like to contribute to the fundraiser, limited edition Flag of Ukraine t-shirts and kayaks are available to purchase at pyranha.com.

The US National Whitewater Center Took St Patrick’s Day Celebrations To The Next Level (Video)

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

st-patricks-day-1068x713px (1) — This whitewater course went from Gatorade to Mountain Dew in just 24 hours. Photo: Evy Leibfarth

No one celebrates St Patrick’s Day harder than the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Every year, a “leprechaun” transforms their whitewater course from blue to green. The event is known as the Green River Revival and is accompanied by many other festivities on and off the water.

[ View all Whitewater Kayaks in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

The organizers use a special non-staining, non-toxic, biodegradable dye that breaks down via sunlight and their built-in filtration system. While the water will be bright green starting at 1 pm on March 14, it will be clear again by the next day.

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ICF Announces 2022 Canoe Super Cup, World Cup to Move from Russia to OKC

Paddling Business

By

The International Canoe Federation

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK United States (March 17, 2022) – The International Canoe Federation (ICF) today announced that the 2022 Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup previously awarded to Moscow, Russia, will be relocated to Oklahoma City, OK, USA. The events will occur in August, and the final dates will be announced in early April.

The move comes in response to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) directive to move international competition out of Russia in the wake of the Russian invasion and the war in Ukraine.

[ Discover the best canoes of the year in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

“The ICF and paddlesports family are fortunate and immensely grateful to our friends at the ACA and RIVERSPORT in Oklahoma City, USA, who offered to organize a high-level competition on short notice in these difficult times for the sports in the wake of the war in Ukraine. RIVERSPORT hosted the 2021 ICF Super Cup event and has the infrastructure and community support to host the 2022 event successfully,” said Thomas Konietzko, ICF President.

The ICF reached out to the American Canoe Association (ACA) late last week to explore the possibility of moving both events to Oklahoma City.

“Even before the ICF approached us, we were exploring options to help Ukrainian athletes. Reallocation of events from Russia to the USA is equally a challenge and an opportunity, and we look forward to welcoming our Ukrainian friends and other international athletes in Oklahoma City this summer,” said Rok Sribar, ACA General Manager High-Performance Programs.

[ Also Read: Pyranha On Track To Raise £120,000 For Ukraine Fundraiser ]

“When we were approached about stepping up to host the displaced events, it was a resounding yes from everyone involved,” said RIVERSPORT Foundation Board Chairman Michael Ming. “Everyone from the governor of the State of Oklahoma to David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City to our board members and staff wants to exemplify the Olympic ideal of using sport to build a better world.”

In 2021 following the Olympic Games in Tokyo, athletes from more than a dozen countries traveled to Oklahoma for the internationally televised Canoe Sprint Super Cup event held on the Oklahoma River. It was the first time for the event to be held at night under the stadium lights on the river.

[ Also Read: The Dirty Little Secret Of Pro Deals ]

“The Oklahoma River is the only sanctioned racecourse in the world to have permanent lighting for night racing,” explained RIVERSPORT Executive Director Mike Knopp. “The athletes and spectators worldwide were enthusiastic about the unique racing experience. It just adds another level of excitement to an already adrenaline-fueled event.”

Previous ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cups have been held in Barnaul, Russia, Linyi, China, and Oklahoma City, USA. The events offer sprint and distance racing for top canoe sprint paddlers worldwide.

The ICF organized two world-class SUP competitions in 2020 and 2021, including impressively staged world championships in Balatonfured, Hungary. The ICF is reinforcing its commitment to SUP with three World Cup races in addition to its world championships in 2022. In early May, the world cups will be held in Thun, Switzerland, in Budapest, Hungary, in mid-June, and Oklahoma City in August.

“We’re fortunate that both our racecourse and our racing facilities are large enough to accommodate both events throughout one weekend,” said Knopp. “We’re still working to establish the exact date, but it will be sometime in late August.”

[ Plan your next adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

RIVERSPORT’s board of directors will be working with state and city officials and the business community to provide funding and hospitality for the event.

“We look forward to hosting athletes and international federations for both events. I know the people of Oklahoma will show them the kind of hospitality we’re known for around the world,” Knopp said.

Win Your First Paddleboard Race

By

Jodelle Fitzwater

In the wake of paddleboarding’s growing popularity, hundreds of paddleboard races have sprung up across the nation. There are fun runs for charity, easy two-milers, raging river challenges and heart-pounding marathons, just to name a few. Whatever your style, there’s enough diversity so that every paddler can find their niche and discover that paddleboard racing is fun, social and great for fitness.

Master the forward stroke to beat the pack

What every successful racer shares in common is a bombproof forward stroke. The very first SUP race I did, I came in second…to last. Don’t make my mistake. Practice your technique until you have well-earned callouses on your palms. Here’s a four-stage progression to mastering this fundamental go-fast stroke.

people compete in a paddleboard race — Perfecting just one fundamental stroke will help to win your first paddleboard race. | Feature photo: Michel Terrien

1 Reach

Your reach happens in three ways. First, long, lever arms will get your paddle blade farther out towards the nose of your board. As you reach, hinge at the hips to dig the paddle into the water. Keep the shaft vertical. Rotate your core and stack your shoulders to open up those last winning few inches, enabling you to reach even farther.

2 Catch

The catch happens the moment your blade enters the water. The farther out you can reach and catch the water, the further forward you can pull yourself past your competition. Plant the full length of your blade in the water before the power stage to avoid slapping and splashing the surface.

3 Power

Right after the catch, imagine pulling your body to the paddle rather than pulling the paddle towards you. Use the rotation of your core, hips and shoulders to make this movement, instead of your arms, which don’t have as much power. An effective reach and catch will put you in proper position to recruit the most power from the core. Stop your stroke at your feet.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all racing & training paddleboards ]

4 Recovery

In order to kick butt, make the most of your recovery phase. As you set up for the next reach and catch, use the strength of the shaft hand to push the paddle up into the top hand, giving the top shoulder a rest.

5 ways to prepare for race day

Train with a metronome app to develop your stroke rate per minute.
Aim to get on the water to train four days out of seven.
Once a week, train at 50 percent effort, focusing on perfecting your stroke at a slower pace.

Practice your starts, including standing, sitting and from the beach.
Paddle with the right blade shape and size.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide and Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Perfecting just one fundamental stroke will help to win your first paddleboard race. | Feature photo: Michel Terrien

Why River Trips Give Our Life Meaning

By

Jeff Jackson

At the age of 18 and now approaching 50, taking people on river trips has been what I do. It is all I really know. In some ways that sounds very simple, but ask anyone who really knows something and they will tell you that mastery is a long, long road. The more you know, the more questions you have.

[ Plan your next whitewater rafting adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Why River Trips Give Our Life Meaning

In my three decades of guiding clients down rivers, I have come to view trips as something more than a vacation for my clients. Trips are more than a collection of selfies, waterways traveled from A to B, and landmarks checked off a bucket list. Trips, I believe, are existential.

I can assure you I am no philosopher. The few attempts I’ve made to wade through philosophical tomes were like chewing on sawdust. I failed to find the nutritional value in it and would not volunteer for another mouthful.

However, either by virtue of getting older (inevitable), smarter (unlikely), or just finally stumbling upon a philosophical argument I can swallow, I’ll propose some paddling philosophy for you.

Let’s get existential

Formed by famous philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre more than a hundred years ago, existentialism supports the belief that humans are thinking beings. More importantly, humans are living beings capable of emotive action.

Kierkegaard and Sartre believed every individual is responsible for imbuing their own lives with meaning and living authentically. In contrast to other philosophies, existentialists believe there are limits to our rational capabilities. Each of us is ultimately defined by our subjectivity and action. Sartre famously wrote, “Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world—and defines himself afterwards.”

I’m mindful of the sawdust.

We never step in the same river twice

As far as I’m concerned, every time we paddle we go on a trip. Whether a 120-minute sunset float, a two-day weekend how-to course or three-week epic in a desert canyon, there is a going out and a returning home. We never return the same person that left.

people in a whitewater raft go on a river trip — Every time we paddle we go on a trip, and we never return the same person that left. | Photo: Greg Harris/Pexels

It is Sartre’s “encounters himself” and “surges up in the world” that speaks to me. I am confident that every single client I’ve had the privilege to take on a trip has been altered. Usually invisibly but often radically, and by little doing on my part.

Whitewater trips are intensely personal, full sensory experiences. There are powerful visual auditory and physical sensations when pulled into a rapid by a strong current. There are emotions of joy and fear. There is camaraderie and there is the reflection. As a first trip or the hundredth, these encounters with one’s self and experiencing the river become defining moments in life. It is what makes whitewater paddlers whitewater paddlers. It is existential.

River trips are transformative

I’m not a philosopher. I am a river guide. I’m way past the novelty of getting paid to take people down rivers. What never gets old are the defining moments that river trips provide in peoples’ lives. Sawdust never tasted so good.

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Behold, the meaning of life can be found on river trips. | Feature photo: Justin Bailie

Water Sports Foundation Wins IBWSS Communication Award

Paddling Business

By

Water Sports Foundation Press Release

March 21, 2022, ORLANDO, Florida – The Water Sports Foundation (WSF) announced it has won the International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) Communication Award presented by the National Safe Boating Council this week for its Spanish language recreational boating safety outreach radio campaign. The promotion included a series of three 60-second safe boating radio commercials launched immediately prior to the nation’s busiest boating holidays including Memorial Day and Independence Day in 2021.

For the past six years, the Water Sports Foundation has partnered with the industry-leading Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) of Washington, DC to facilitate a coordinated multifaceted outreach campaign targeting Spanish speakers via an integrated broadcast, digital and social media platforms.

“We’re delighted to have been recognized among top boating safety providers for our work.”

“We’re delighted to have been recognized among top boating safety providers for our work,” said WSF Executive Director Jim Emmons. “Our partners at HCN are great collaborators to work with as we developed targeted messaging that resonated with Spanish speakers.”

[ Discover the best safety and rescue accessories in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

Alison Rodden, CEO of the Hispanic Communications Network added, “Latinos are one of the fastest growing groups of recreational boaters in the United States providing practical boating safety information via human interest stories that are relatable from personal, cultural and linguistic perspectives can help existing and new generations of boaters enjoy their time on the water while staying safe. Thanks to our Hispanic media affiliates and partners, digital and social media channels, the Water Sports Foundation-HCN bilingual boating safety campaign continues to see solid interest and pickup.”

In addition to the millions of impressions delivered through Spanish language radio, HCN scored media time for its campaign spokesperson, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarist Henry Cespedes, who was featured on Univision’s Despierta América program, netting 10.9 million bonus media impressions.

Photo Courtesy of Water Sports Foundation — Water Sports Foundation Content Director Jeff Moag accepts the IBWSS Communication Award for the non-profit’s Spanish language outreach campaign. | Photo: Courtesy of Water Sports Foundation

This most recent award-winning campaign represents a trifecta for the Water Sports Foundation’s marketing and outreach projects. Its national public relations outreach campaign launched in 2021 by media partner Kenton Smith Marketing won two major awards including top honors in the marketing outreach category for the Sea Tow Foundation’s National Boating Industry Safety Awards in December, followed by the top national Neptune Award for public relations presented by Marine Marketers of America in February.

For WSF’s public relations campaign, Kenton Smith Marketing produced a series of highly targeted press releases that generated more than 601 million media impressions – nine times its goal of 65 million – and 490 published stories over a five-month period. The team scored live interviews on the Weather Channel and dozens of TV stations, along with coverage in USA Today, Men’s Journal, Yahoo Finance and hundreds of national and regional media outlets.

The Water Sports Foundation has been a U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating safety outreach partner since 2011 and is currently managing 10 outreach projects each promoting safer boating and paddling to specific U.S. targeted audiences.

Water Sports Foundation

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the Water Sports Foundation is the non-profit educational arm of the Water Sports Industry Association. The WSF has successfully managed 41 projects worth $9.5 million as a U.S. Coast Guard non-profit grant recipient. The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered through congressional action provides funding for the U.S. Coast Guard’s recreational boating safety initiatives.

Red Bull Rapids Making U.S. Debut At Riversport OKC

Paddling Business

By

PRESS RELEASE RED BULL RAPIDS

PhotoPhoto Courtesy of Red Bull Rapids Courtesy of Red Bull Rapids — Photo Courtesy of Red Bull Rapids

March 21, 2022 – A call for submissions begins today for Red Bull Rapids, the wildest whitewater race where showmanship and ingenuity take top prize. In its 11 year history, this marks the first time that Red Bull Rapids has ever taken place in the United States – providing a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for participants and spectators alike.

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Hundreds of rapid seekers from Oklahoma and beyond will compete in this light-hearted, group participation challenge where 50 teams are selected to create their very own man-made vessels to race down a 258-yard whitewater rapid course, located at Riversport OKC. Teams consisting of 2-5 people (18 years and older) are scored on the creativity of their vessel, the speed at which they descend and the distance traveled – some may cross the finish line, others may not. Teams that place in the top three will be awarded with exclusive Red Bull experiences.

The scoring will be conducted by a panel of judges, featuring Red Bull athletes, coaches and Oklahoma’s own Darci Lynne. Darci Lynne is a native Oklahoman and season 12 winner of America’s Got Talent. She garnered over 90 million views on AGT’s YouTube channel and received the most votes for a final performance in the history of the show. She’s now ready to use her skills to judge whether her fellow Oklahoma natives have what it takes to win it all.

“I’m so pumped to be judging this competition,” said Darci. “I have never done anything like this before, so this is most definitely new for me – I’m ready to see what everyone’s got. Bring your A game and good luck to everyone!”

Beginning March 21 to May 27, interested participants are invited to submit an application to include a team name, bio, and sketch of the proposed craft – a team gallery of photos is also encouraged to add a personal touch. Upon reviewing the applicants, 50 teams will be notified by July 1 to begin building their crafts, while also provided with a formal invitation to run the rapids on event day, August 27.

[ Plan your next adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

While the sky may be the limit on creativity, there are still a few float regulations. First of all, crafts must be entirely human and gravity-powered (no external energy sources or stored power – forget about the turbo charged engines, boost buttons or anything besides your own burliness). Secondly, crafts must be less than 10 feet long and must weigh no more than 175 pounds (excluding the captain).

Red Bull Rapids is a free event and public spectators are encouraged to enjoy the live show. Gates open at 10am CST and the first competitive craft launches at 12pm CST. Submissions are currently being accepted at www.redbull.com/rapidsokc. For access to high res photography of previous international Red Bull Rapids events, please visit our Red Bull Content Pool.

About Red Bull

Red Bull® Energy Drink is available in over 172 countries worldwide and more than 9.8 billion cans of Red Bull were consumed last year, more than 3.7 billion of those in the U.S. alone. Red Bull Energy Drink’s signature 8.4 fl oz can contains 80 mg of caffeine, about the same amount as in a home-brewed cup of coffee. For more information, visit energydrink-us.redbull.com.

Photos Courtesy of Red Bull Rapids