Everything you need to know about rafting

Rafting is an extreme outdoor activity, which attracts many people coming from different countries. This discipline involves several participants who head down the river as a team. What else should you know about rafting? Let us take a closer look at this sport.

Water tourism

Rafting is both a competitive sport and an extreme outdoor activity. As a type of water tourism, it is popular among people of almost all ages. Both beginners and experienced rafters can participate in this activity if they are fast thinkers, energetic and resilient. To protect themselves, they should wear protective gear, such as life-jackets, helmets.

There are three categories of rafting: sports rafting, touristic rafting and camp rafting. They mainly differ from each other because of their difficulty. The most challenging variety out of these three is sports rafting. It includes a special system for preparation, particular categories of tracks. This discipline is not for amateurs since sometimes the competitions take place in dangerous places.

What amateurs can take part in is touristic rafting and camp rafting. Camp rafting is a combination of another two types. The tracks are determined by the experience of the tourists, and their difficulty can vary a lot. Since this type of rafting usually takes several days, it is crucial to take some food and more clothes with you. In addition, there will be a camp, which means tourists have to think of their accommodation.

Touristic rafting is the most popular variety of this discipline. The duration of one rafting session is usually several hours. There can be up to 12 participants on one raft, and a professional rafter will be present as well to operate the raft. Touristic rafting makes it possible for 6-years-old children to take part in this activity.

There are six types of tracks in water rafting. The first one is the simplest distance, and the sixth category is the most challenging and dangerous, which is why only experienced rafters can take part in it.

The raft

Without a raft, it is impossible to go rafting. When it comes to choosing one, it is necessary to pay attention to the following factors:

• The materials must be durable and resilient.
• The correlation between the length and the width must be 2 to 1.
• There should be the drainage system that will make it possible to get rid of water if it gets into the raft.

Usually rafters opt for canoe paddles because they are very comfortable to use and are perfect for floating down a rapid river. The most important thing to take into account is the material paddles are made of. The best option is epoxy-ether resin covered with fiberglass fabric. Such paddles will not break after they hit a stone or fall into the river.

In addition, any raft must be equipped with a strong and durable rope. It is constructed in a special way, so that it never drowns. The Alexandrov’s rope will come in very useful if the raft breaks down, or if people get into the water for any reason.

Clothes

What you will be wearing is an extremely important factor that has a huge impact on the activity in general, because it will affect your comfort, and your health. Those who do not choose clothes correctly are likely to catch a cold or simply feel uncomfortable. First of all, the clothes that you will be wearing on the raft will surely become wet, which means that it must be water-proof or quick-drying. The best material is synthetics. When the weather is warm, it is possible to wear shorts and a T-shirt only, whereas in a colder period it is necessary to wear more clothes:

• Sports trousers and a fleece shirt;
• A T-shirt as the first layer;
• Water-proof jacket and trousers of the same quality.

In addition, to protect oneself from sun rays, in is important to wear some kind of headwear. In summer one can choose a bandana, a Panama hat or a cap. In autumn and spring, it is necessary to cover the ears with a warmer hat. Moreover, a pair of socks is a significant part of the rafter’s ammunition. They must be comfortable and water-proof, so it is advisable to opt for thermal underwear.

Actually, the best option for any rafter is a wetsuit. This piece of clothes is usually made of water-proof fabric, such as neoprene. There are three types of wetsuits. The first one offers full protection for your body, which means that water will not get under the wetsuit. All parts of the body are covered with this fabric. The second type is tight around the body, but some water can come under the clothes. Finally, there are wetsuits that allow water to get under the clothes, where it warms up and creates an additional layer of heat. Neoprene is a great material because it is impossible to feel cold when you are wearing it.

Safety rules

Although one does not necessarily have to be a professional to go rafting, it is better to learn the basic safety rules in advance. Usually the guides give instruction on how to behave when rafting before the beginning of the activity. A professional instructor always accompanies the tourists, perfectly knows the route and makes decisions in cases of emergency.

All rafters must follow the instructor’s orders to prevent dangerous situations. If anything extraordinary or unexpected happens, it is important not to panic. If the raft turns over, it is necessary to find the Alexandrov’s rope and hold it.

Origin

The term “rafting” stems from the noun “raft”, which refers to a flat object used to float. According to the legend, this sport appeared many centuries ago, during the Vietnamese war. This is when rafts were used to transport the most important and significant resources. One of these rafts somehow got separated from the rest of them, and the person who was there had to survive rafting down the river. Surprisingly, water and rivers did not become the soldier’s phobias. It’s quite the reverse, they made him experience an adrenaline rush and such excitement that soon it became a popular entertainment among soldiers.

All in all, rafting is an exciting activity that is perfect for those who like active leisure, want to work with others as a team and are interested in nature and especially water. This discipline requires special ammunition and equipment, but in general it is available in many parts of the world.