The Whitewater Blog
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Inspecting and Protecting Your Whitewater Gear
There are some dangers of using throw bags and especially waist throw bags if used improperly or if a piece of gear fails because of wear. We will give you some tips on what to look for generally with products and a few specific things to check with River Station Gear products. Generally with throw bags you want to make sure the top buckle and cinch cord are in good shape and working properly. You don’t want your rope to unknowingly come out and get into a moving river. Another thing to check is the tie-in knot. Make sure it is still a nice looking, well dressed knot. Lastly, make sure your rope itself is in good shape.
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It is always a good idea to find the correct place to throw a throw bag. Most of the time you will set safety in advance. Having one person walk down the bottom of a rapid and wait with a throw bag is a smart move. This way, if there are swimmers, you have a person in position to help. When you get to the bottom of the rapid, find a good place to stand. Flat, level and dry ground is your best bet. If you are balancing on a slippery pointy rock and bag someone, odds are you are going to be joining them in the river. Another tip is to look at the river's obstacles and features. If there is a downed tree or strainer, that may not be a good place to throw a rope. Look for a place with open, slower moving water. If you bag someone in very fast moving water, they may pull you in when the rope is weighted. Also worth mentioning, is you should never throw a bag from a moving raft. This is an uncontrolled environment and can cause quite a lot more danger.
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11 Tips for Rookie River Guides
Even after guide training is over, practice pulling yourself back into the raft, pulling others back in, and flipping your boat back over. Practice throw-bagging, swimming rapids, and high-siding. On fun runs, put yourself in unideal situations, and learn how to get out. For example, a surf you wouldn’t do with guests (nothing life-risking!)
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“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself. -Laura Gilpin
Those of us working on the river every day feel this magic power better than anyone. Sometimes it doesn't matter how many times you’ve run a rapid; the river has other plans. The mysterious nature of the river has given rise to various superstitions. Here are a few river rat superstitions you would be wise to abide by.
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Should You Have a Waist Throw Bag?
Around 70% of river guides surveyed use a waist throw bag. Those who don’t often cite entanglement concerns. There is always a risk associated with ropes and moving water. However, hours of scouring the American Whitewater Database only revealed one incident of a guide getting caught on his throw bag.
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5 Ways to get Involved in your Local Whitewater Community
There will almost always be a local Swift-water rescue option where you can learn, hands on, how to throw a throw bag, self-rescue and entrapment rescue, as well as how to flip and unpin boats and how to tie river knots. These courses are offered throughout the year in most whitewater communities. You can always contact a local raft outfitter for info about swift-water courses in your area.
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According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations, “every regulated trip carries…a throw bag containing a minimum of fifty feet of rope.” Throw bags are required safety equipment for commercial whitewater rafting. However, there are no requirements for when or how to use your throw bag.
For example, some guides prefer to have a knot at the end of their throw rope, and others prefer a clean line. This personal preference is often the subject of heated debate. To learn more about this division in our river community, we reached out to guides, private boaters, Swiftwater Rescue, and industry experts.
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3 Essential Bags for Whitewater Rafting.
In this discussion we will talk about 3 essential whitewater bags to bring with you. First up, the throw bag. Essential to keep one accessible. You never know when a bad situation is coming and it is best to be prepared. Second, a dry bag. Dry bags are very important if you want to keep your clothes dry. Getting to camp and finding out your change of clothes is wet is a real bummer, and in colder months could be dangerous. Lastly, a good gear bag. Obviously rafting requires lots of gear and organization. Having random gear spread out all over the raft is never a good idea. Down below we will go into details and break down the specifics of why these bags are essential.
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9 Must-know Knots for Raft Guides
Whether you’re a private boater new to whitewater, a 15+ year guide, or a life-long Redbull kayaker, there are a few knots you need to know. And not just know but be able to tie at a moment’s notice in high-stress situations.