Paddling big rivers, whether the Ottawa, Zambezi or other classics can be a rather intimidating experience. The wave holes frothing overhead and whirlpools swirling in eddylines can make a paddler feel small. But once you unlock a few secrets to paddling big water, you’ll quickly see what playgrounds these rivers can truly be.
In this detailed tutorial, Jackson Kayak team member Boyd Ruppelt walks through the most significant keys to big water success.
In all my years/decades of paddling all over North America, I have only ever heard the term “big-water” referring to the Great Lakes.