RiveR
c
Brown
a
trick
19)
The loCals. The river is their home, you’re just visiting.
oto P
PH

ResPeCT
14)
sCouT a RaPiD
stincts. Professional kayaker and all-round physical form, you should drink at least three
tough cookie Anna Levesque urges anyone to four litres a day.
Reading the river and choosing a
who feels shamed or pressured into running
good line are the essentials of keeping your
a rapid to reconsider. “Ultimately, you are the
run and your shorts clean. Three pieces of
one who has to deal with the consequences
wisdom from the scouting sage:
of your actions.”
17)
PRaCTiCe GooD manneRs
don’t Be A dIrtBAG: Pick up your
Get tHe WHoLe PICture: Try scouting trash. If you really want to be a hero, pick up
from various positions—above, below and on someone else’s.
the other side of the rapid. Look for prominent
16)
rIGHt of WAy: Even if you grew up in Palm-
features and landmarks so you can stay on
er Rapids and have never seen a controlled
line once you’re in the meat.

Be a hoT lunCh heRo
Firing up some warm grub and a hot
drink is good for your body and soul—and it’s
intersection, you should learn right of way on
reCoGnIze frIendLy feAtureS: Note
also a great way to make friends.
the river: always yield to the boater heading
nasty features, but don’t dwell on them. You’re nutrItIon: Eating right helps you stay warm downstream. As a downstream boater, be
searching for a good line down a run, not a and avoid plummeting energy levels dur- courteous and avoid paddlers playing below
bad one. Look for downstream Vs, eddies, ing a long day of river running. Rule number you.
troughs and any pillow rocks you can use to one: Don’t forgo the pasta and potato salad at
LoCAL LAWS: We’ve packed out our own
your advantage. Look also for the most fun lunch. Complex carbohydrates such as rice,
waste in the canyons of the desert South-
or—on easier rivers—challenging line. pasta, bread and cereals provide energy that
west—and not because we like to spend six
MASter tHe Art of vISuALIzAtIon:
is made available to your body at a steady rate
days with a doggie bag full of shit. Respect
Draw a mental path of where you want to go
over several hours, unlike the sudden energy
these laws; they protect our rivers.
and picture yourself making the moves to hit
spike and trough produced by the simple sug-
that line. Run through the body positions and
ars in your favourite candy bar. Rule number
strokes you will use on land to burn them into
two: If you can’t seem to warm up, chug a
your memory. Finally, if you can’t visualize a
hot cocoa and eat some more muffins. Early
18)
successful outcome, don’t run the rapid.
symptoms of hypothermia include shivering
iT’s oKay To CRy
on The RiveR
and exhaustion, followed by the “umbles”—
Anna Levesque says so and she can kick your
stumbling, fumbling and mumbling—as you
ass. Kayaking delivers intense experiences to
15)

KnoW youR limiTs
lose feeling, coordination and mental acuity.
which crying is a normal emotional response,
The dry land sneak is a perfectly ac-
HydrAtIon: Humans are big bags of wa-
especially for women. Whether it’s the excite-
ceptable alternative to running rapids. “No
ter. Keeping this bag topped up is a constant
ment of completing a new move, the relief
matter how good you get, portaging will always
battle since you lose this precious resource
of emerging unscathed from a challenging
be a big part of paddling,” says veteran guide
whenever you sweat and every time you take
rapid, or frustration at failing to attain a goal,
and paddling coach Kevin Varette. The deci-
a breath. Failing to replenish your fluids can
crying is a healthy outlet for a flood of differ-
sion to walk should be based on an objective
profoundly affect your judgment, stamina
ent emotions. Don’t assume that someone is
analysis of the hazards and consequences
and performance. Consider that a drop of
afraid or unable to “keep it together” just be-
combined with an honest self-assessment of
just two per cent in your body fluid results in
cause she shows emotion, warns Levesque.
your own capabilities. Everyone has his or her
decreased group cooperation, mental dete-
“You don’t have to be a daredevil to enjoy the
own level of acceptable risk and even skilled
rioration and a 25 per cent loss in efficiency.
river,” says the Girls at Play guru and World
paddlers experience off days—trust your in-
To ensure that you are in top mental and
Freestyle Championship medalist.
www.rapidmag.com 2
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