How to Shoot the Rapids After Falling out of a Raft

River rafting can be a very exciting and enjoyable activity if you take the precautions to learn a bit about the sport before you go. What do you do if you fall out of the raft in the rapids? You may get hit in the face by a wave by surprise and you find yourself taking an unexpected swim. Be prepared and have a great experience.

Instructions

    • 1

      Seat yourself in the raft and get a good grasp of the boat with your legs. Many rafts have paddlers astride the large tubes that comprise the raft. The rafter sits on the tube with their legs grasping the tube between them. It is sort of like riding a horse.

    • 2

      Prepare yourself as you enter a set of rapids. Grip the tube tighter with your legs and stay alert. Paddle the raft following the instructions of the raft leader who will tell each side of the raft to paddle and whether to paddle hard, back paddle or turn. If you get tossed out of the raft, don't panic.

    • 3

      Let go of the paddle and sit back into the water as if it was a chair. The life vest will buoy your body up and keep your head out of the water. Bend your knees and keep your feet up. This will keep your feet from being lodged or caught in the rocks of the rapids. It also allows you to meet upcoming rocks and use your legs to absorb some of the impact and roll you off to the side and around the rocks.

    • 4

      Continue to ride out the rapids and when calmer water appears either make for the bank of the river or, if possible, wait for one of the rafts to come and get you.