Things To Know Before Your First Whitewater Rafting Adventure
Whitewater rafting can be quite a rush. There's nothing quite like riding the rapids as you glide down the river on a large, floating raft. People are often a bit nervous and uneasy before their first time out on a raft, but this is largely because they don't know what to expect. Knowing the following facts before your first whitewater rafting trip will make the whole experience more enjoyable.
You'll have a guide.
You won't just rent a whitewater raft and then float down the river with your friends. When you go whitewater rafting, you'll almost always be accompanied by a guide. The guide will make sure everyone knows the best way to row. They'll tell you when to lean left and when to lean right, in order to keep everyone safely on the raft. If there is a mishap, they'll know how to handle it safely. Knowing that a guide will accompany you can make you a lot less apprehensive about the rafting adventure.
You'll wear a life jacket.
You may be worried about drowning or getting pulled underwater while whitewater rafting. While such accidents are not impossible, they are very rare. That's because whitewater rafting companies typically require that you wear a life jacket when you're rafting. Make sure you follow this rule, even once you're out of sight of the rafting company's headquarters. If your life jacket seems too big or loose, ask for a smaller one. If you do fall off the raft, you might get a little scraped up, but the life jacket will prevent the worst from happening.
You won't have to row that hard.
Whitewater rafting does require some physical exertion. However, it does not have to be as physically demanding as you might assume. Yes, you are rowing in rapids, which requires exertion and strength. But you're also rowing with a bunch of other people, which means no single person has to row too terribly hard. You don't have to be a star athlete to go whitewater rafting. As long as you have average physical fitness, you should be fine. If you do get overly tired at any point, you can take a break from rowing and let everyone else cover for you for a few minutes.
Whitewater rafting can be a wonderful adventure. Now that you know a bit more about what to expect, you can approach the experience with more excitement and less apprehension.
Contact a whitewater rafting company for more information.