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Connecticut Water Trails Program Whitewater Kayaking Basics
Whitewater
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Awareness - having a broader scope of vision that encompasses not just one self but the surroundings and other paddlers on the river. See our previous post on
Back Face - the convex side of the paddle blade Back Ferry - going from one side of the river to the other without moving downsteam as in a ferry but in this case with the bow facing down stream. A "backferry" can also be used to maintain a stationary position in the river, as the bow faces downstream this allows the paddler to look at what is coming up. Backband - An adjustable brace that provides support in the lower lumbar region that encourages a neutral to aggressive posture. Helps encourage a better posture by rolling the hips forward. Bank Scout - To scout a rapid from the banks of the river. Requires getting out of your craft. Beatdown - If you have to ask, you have not seen one and definitely not experienced one. A beatdown typically describes any situation when the river exerts supreme power over puny paddlers. This is usually accomplished through large hydraulics but can apply to many situations when thing do not go according to plan. Examples include getting pinned, randomly flipped, trashed in holes, dragged over rocks and other events of such nature. River Gnomes are usually the instruments of beatdowns though they recent these duties. Belay - In climbing refers to when a rope is used to prevent or arrest a fall. In paddling it can be used to lower boats, gear or a paddler in a controlled fashion down river. Big Water - usually refers to rivers that are flooding or that have large volumes of water that produce very large river features. Typically flows in excess of 5000cfs are considered Big Water. Blade - The end of a paddle (either canoe or kayak) that provides the "catch" in a paddle stroke. The Blade has a back face (convex) and power face (concave). Blade shapes for kayak paddles are typically asymmetrical or symmetrical, though most modern blade shapes are asymmetrical. Asymmetrical blades catch the water near the end of the blade early in stroke placement, whereas symmetrical catches along the entire length of the blade throughout the entire stroke. Canoe paddles are symmetrical and utilize only one blade with a t-grip on an opposing end Blunt - The blunt is usually the next move playboaters learn after the flatspin, and one of the more versatile playboating moves as it can be done in a hole or a wave. Boat Angle - boat angle is the angle, as viewed from above, between the imaginary line formed between the bow and stern of the boat, and the primary direction of the current flow of the river. Boat angle is sometimes designated by numbers (one o'clock) but more often in less precise terms (slight left boat angle, or strong boat angle). Two boats can be following the same line of travel but have completely different boat angles. Boat Scout - To scout a rapid by eddy hopping your way down and checking for obstacles and the cleanest route. Boil- this is a water feature created when water churns upward and creates an elevated region in the river. In big water a boils can elevate and move kayaks several feet in random directions. Boil Line- this is the line that delineates the water going down stream from the water that is flowing back toward a hydraulic. The further downstream a boil line is from the hydraulic, the more hazardous the feature. Bony - (shallow) A rapid requiring a lot of maneuvering because of numerous obstacles, mostly rocks. Bony conditions typically result form low-water. Boof - a boof is a maneuver where a kayaker uses his paddle, rock or water feature to lift the bow of the kayak over a drop, usually performed to avoid a piton or getting stuck in a hydraulic. There are many reasons to perform a boof and this maneuver is the staple of advanced kayaking. Bow – The front of the kayak
Bow Draw- a
correction stroke used to pull the front of the kayak or canoe to the
side toward the paddle blade.
Bracing - Any
paddle stroke that helps the paddler maintain his/her balance. The high
and low brace are the most common bracing strokes but forward and
turning strokes also work as bracing strokes in many situations.
Breaking Wave
- A large wave, usually at the
bottom of a drop, with a crest that builds enough to break back on its
upstream slope. This can create a surfing wave.
Broach
- Occurs when a boat becomes
caught sideways in the current against an obstruction. A broach can
result in severe damage as the current's force warps the boat around the
obstruction. Rescue may be necessary.
Bulkhead Brace –
A plate mounted by aluminum bars in the hull that your feet rest on to
help provide desired leverage and posture in the kayak
C to C Roll - A roll technique that has the paddler extend the paddle out perpendicular to the boat. The C to C describes the curled body position when the hip snap is executed and when the roll is finished. The first C (turn this C on its side so it looks like a U) is when the paddler extends his body upwards underwater from the side of the boat . The second C refers to the shape of the body in the finished position when the boat is upright. C-1 – Single-person closed deck canoe C-2 – Two-person closed deck canoe C.F.S - Cubic Feet per Second. A standard measurement of velocity of water flow at a given point in a river which measures how many cubic feet of water pass that specific point in one second. This will vary according to water level and the gradient of the riverbed.
Carabineer – an
oval metal ring with a spring gate; typically used in mountaineering but
used in river rescue as well Carnage - This is a general term for accidents on the river. Catch - the first part of any paddle stroke is referred to the catch, a properly executed catch seats the blade in the water effectively and will have minimal aeration when the stroke is executed. Channel - a division in the river, stream or flow that can created by an island, set of rocks or river feature. Clean - executing a play boating move without using the paddle. Cockpit - the area of the kayak where one gets into and out of the kayak. The size of the cockpit can vary depending on manufacturer.
Compound Stroke -
when two or more different paddle strokes are executed in successions
Control Hand - refers to the hand that controls the angle of the paddle blade. For example in a "right hand control paddle," the right hand controls the angle or twist of the left blade. Hence you have to twist the right hand back to get the left blade perpendicular to the water. Correction Stroke - any paddle stroke taken to adjust the angle or veer of the kayak, any number of different strokes can be used as corrective strokes: forward sweeps, back sweeps, forward strokes, bow draw, side draw, stern draw Creek - A small river. Usually run by expert boaters when flowing at high water. Almost always has lots of holes, logs, drops, and etc. Curler - A type of wave that curls at the top, creating a "tube".
Cushion
- Water that piles up on the
upstream side of an obstruction in current.
Deflection Current - the deflection current is one component of eddy lines. Technically this is the current that is flowing off either side of the rock or other obstacle in the stream. This current is typically faster than the current in the middle of the river, hence when a kayak approaches this current there is a greater deflection force toward downstream.
Diagonal Wave
- Waves that are angled diagonally in the river. Usually happen at high
water. If not run correctly, these types of waves will flip rafts.
Displacement Hull
- a displacement hull describes a kayak or canoe with a rounded bottom
with no defined edge on the hull.
Downstream -
direction of the current. Downstream “V”- describes the shape of the current when it passes between two obstacles. The V points downstream and could be further delineated by wave trains.
Drop
- A short, steep rapid or section of a rapid. Named for the abrupt
increase in gradient between the top and bottom of the rapid.
Eddy - a river
feature formed by an obstacle in the downstream flow. A well formed eddy
will have a defined eddy line and a calm pool behind the obstacle. Being
able to "catch" or stop in these calm pools is one of the keystones of
whitewater paddling.
Eddy Fence -
this very powerful eddy line feature lives in large volume or fast
flowing rivers. The "fence" describes the area of the eddy line very
close to the obstacle creating it, that is raised from the eddy pool. On
the Grand Canyon River in Colorado there exists an eddy fence that can
be two to three feet higher than the eddy pool. Usually an eddy with an
"eddy fence" can very difficult to get out of.
Eddy Hopping -
describes a boating style in which a kayaker works his way downriver or
down an individual rapid by catching eddies. The paddler uses these
eddies to scout, to set up moves, and to break up long stretches of
whitewater into manageable segments.
Eddy Line -
delineates the downstream flow of water from the upstream flow found in
an eddy behind an obstruction. Eddy lines in faster water or created by
above-water obstructions tend to be narrow and more well defined than
those in slower water or those created by underwater obstructions. Eddy
lines in slower water or created by underwater obstructions or by the
banks of the river tend to be wider and "muddy" or unclear.
Eddy Out
- Term used to describe entering an eddy from the main current.
Eddy Turn - the
act of catching an eddy. When a paddler crosses the eddy line the turn
within the eddy is aptly named the eddy turn.
Ender - usually
considered an "old school" playboating move, though sometimes done by
accident. Can be done on the stern or the bow, more often when done on
the stern it is by accident. An ender is done when a paddler get's a
vertical ejection from a hole, when done with grace the paddler will
stand on their foot bracing system with the paddle high in the air and a
grin from ear to ear. This move is best done in a boat with length.
Feather - refers
to the off-set of your paddle blades, most common is a 45 degree
although paddlers now are using a wide variety of feather now. It can
also refer to feathering your blade in the water, which are minor
adjustments you might make on your blade while it is still in the water
to make a more effective stroke. Ferry - the act of crossing a section of river without going downstream. While usually thought of as crossing the entire river, a ferry may simply involve moving out into the current a certain distance before allowing the boat to move downstream.
Float Bag
- Typically located in the stern of the kayak, float bags are simply
bags filled with air to help increase buoyancy during a swim.
Flotation -
inflatable airbags that displace water in swamped boats, usually placed
in the rear of the kayak, canoes usually have bow and stern flotation.
Foam Pile - foam
pile is usually reserved for the white frothy water washing back into a
hole.
Forward Stroke -
while the kayaker may be able to move his boat in a straight line with a
wide range of paddle maneuvers, the Forward Stroke may best be thought
of as an efficient way of accelerating the kayak in a direct path.
Efficient acceleration or forward strokes tend to be close to the boat
with a vertical or nearly vertical paddle shaft. Powerful strokes enter
the water far towards the front of the boat, at or past the toes, with
the entire paddle blade anchored firmly in the water. Unless linked to
another stroke (such as a stern draw), recovery takes place somewhere
between the knees and the hips. The paddler may consider that a firm and
constant "grip" or anchor in the water with the paddle lends much more
power than simply focusing on a fast stroke rate. As with any strokes,
many variables come into play to affect actual execution: water depth,
obstructions, speed required, and necessity of linking or combining
strokes. However, all strokes can gain efficiency if the paddler focuses
on engaging core muscles to move the boat itself rather than just moving
the paddle.
FPM
– This is used to describe a
river’s gradient by how many feet the river drops in one mile.
Freestyle - the
commonly used name for modern playboating.
Gauge - measures river volume in feet (physical height of the water in the river), cubic feet per second (CFS) which is the amount of water passing that particular spot on the river. A visual representation of this is to imagine that the water in the river is made up of basketballs thus the CFS in this case would be the number of basketballs passing a given spot in a second. A higher CFS means more water in the river. Can also be measured in meters per second (MTS). Gauge Height - This is sometimes used for measuring water levels at one or more locations. This can be a reference point used with CFS, or refer to a “boater gauge” painted on a bridge piling or other structure. Gradient - the amount of vertical feet a river drops over the course of its length. Rivers that loose a lot of vertical feet in a short distance are said to have a steep Gradient. Refers to the steepness of a river over a specified distance, typically expressed in feet per mile. (FPM). You can combine gradient and river flow information to make a generalization as to the difficulty and character of a particular run. Ex: Low-Volume Steep Creek (300 CFS, 200 FPM) or a mellow, high-volume run (10,000 CFS, 10 FPM). Grab Loop - loops placed in the front and back of the kayak typically used to carry the boat or tie it down to a vehicle. Grab loops can also be utilized to rescue swimmers by giving them a place to hold onto while you tow them to shore.
Green Water
- This refers to the incoming
water into a hole. The green water will pour over
Green Wave - a
wave feature that does not break at the top.
Hair
- Boater slang for extreme conditions with dangerous and difficult
water. Hair Boating - Paddling in extreme conditions with dangerous and difficult water.
Headwall - A cliff or riverbank where the main channel of the river drives against it at a 90-degree angle. These are very typical obstacles on jungle rivers and tend to create large pillows. Hole - Holes are formed from water pouring over a rock, ledge, or other obstacle on a river. The water directly behind the hole, called backwash, is fed back upstream to the hole, while the water underneath the hole, called outflow, will flush downstream. Horizon Line - when looking downstream this is a line where the river drops off. The steeper the vertical drop, the less visible the bottom of the drop will be. This is the proverbial waterfall line.
Hull - the
bottom side of the kayak
Hypothermia
- This is a serious danger involved in paddling cold rivers. Prolonged
exposure to frigid waters can lead to incapacitation and eventually
death as body core temperature drops below 80 degrees.
J
- lean - A way
to tilt a kayak by keeping the head centered and raising one knee while
slightly shifting bodyweight slightly to one side. A properly executed
J-lean allows the kayak to be tilted without losing stability and
balance.
K-I- a solo
kayak
Lead Boat
- The first boat to go down the river on trips with multiple boats.
Responsible for keeping the group together, eddying out above rapids,
safety boat to possible upstream swimmers.
Line
- a path through a rapid
Lining
- A method of working a boat downstream past areas that are unburnable to
the group. Done by tying a rope to the bow or stern thwart and walking
beside or behind it to guide it though the area.
Loops
- A playboating move involving a vertical somersault where both ends of
the boat engage in the hole without having your boat on edge.
Low Brace Roll
- this is the roll used to right an open boat.
Maytag
(pummeled, worked, chundered, etc) - More slang similar to carnage.
These often refer to being stuck in a hole and thrashed uncontrollably
creating a feeling of being inside a washing machine and underwater.
Mobile Strainer
- Any object that creates an obstruction in the river and moves with the
current. Stay away from them!!
Mystery Move
- This is usually performed in a low-volume squirt boat. It involves a
completely submerged disappearance under water then reappearance to the
surface downstream in an entirely different location. Mystery moves can be
done in plastic kayaks, but are usually unintentional.
OC-2 - Open canoe
for 2 people, also known as a tandem canoe
Offset Waves - A
series of waves that develop and curl from different angles and sides, and
end up colliding into each other. Boaters paddling through offset waves
are treated to a wild ride.
Offside - In
rolling, offside usually refers to a roll in which the kayaker initiates
the paddle sweep with the left hand. The setup position puts the left hand
at the right foot and the right hand near the right hip. Offside can also
refer to a roll in which the kayaker initiates the paddle sweep with the
non-dominant hand. Outside the context of rolling, offside may be used to
refer to a paddler's weaker side.
Onside - In
rolling, onside usually refers to a roll in which the kayaker initiates
the paddle sweep with the right hand. The setup position puts the right
hand at the left foot and the left hand near the left hip. Onside can also
refer to a roll in which the paddler initiates the paddle sweep with the
dominant hand. Outside the context of rolling, onside may be used to refer
to a paddler's stronger side. Canoeist also have an onside and offside.
Outfitting -
outfitting can be the factory pieces that came with your boat; seat, thigh
hooks, foot brace, backband. It can also be custom fit pieces of foam you
have placed in the boat to make it fit you.
Pearling - Occurs
when your bow gets buried in the current or wave deep enough to upend your
stern. Usually happens when trying to surf a wave.
Peel Out - the act
of leaving an eddy and entering the current. A paddler exits the eddy with
an angle slightly toward the current, paddling until the boat is fully
into the current then leans to the inside of the turn until the boat is
pointed downstream.
PFD - Personal
Flotation Device, also known as a life jacket.
Pillow - is the
water that builds up on the upstream side of an obstruction. Pillows generally tend to push your kayak away from
the obstacle
Pin - Refers to
being stuck in your kayak between the current and the river bed or an
obstruction such as a rock or log. Pins are potentially deadly situations
that may require a complex rescue.
Pirouette - A play
maneuver performed while popping vertical in a kayak during an "ender".
When vertical, the paddler reaches a paddle blade to the water then spins
the kayak.
Pivot Turn - a
pivot turn is a quick turn done on the stern of the kayak when a paddler
drops one edge of the boat and performs a back sweep on the opposite side
of the boat. This turn is done most often in slalom kayaking.
Planing Hull - is
the flat bottom design of most modern day kayaks.
Playboating - a
type of kayaking where kayakers get onto a river feature such as a wave or
hole and perform tricks. It can also be done while going downriver using a
variety of river features. Also referred to as freestyle kayaking.
Pool - a section of
river that is calm in between or after a rapid.
Portage - the act
of walking around a rapid because it is not safe to run. Sometimes
mandatory and sometimes by a paddlers personal discretion.
Pothole - a
geological feature on a river where water has eroded out a hole in a rock
Pour Over - when
water goes over an obstacle like a ledge or other feature. Large steep
pour overs or will generally have a hydraulic on the downstream side
Power Face - the
scooped side of the paddle blade.
Power Ferry - also
called a "jet ferry" is a ferry done in very fast moving, irregular water.
Pulley - a pulley
is a simple mechanical device that is used sometimes in a kayakers "pin
kit". A pulley will give a rescuer a mechanical advantage when trying to
free a pinned boat.
Put-in - Starting
place of a river trip; where you put your boat on the river to begin a run
or trip.
Reaction Waves - Waves that are the result of the current smashing against an obstacle such as the river bank or giant boulders. Reading Water - Being able to see common aspects of river rapids, i.e. current lines, rocks, clear channels, eddy lines, etc. By recognizing these things paddlers will be able to choose the safest path for their boat. Rebar - Metal reinforcement rods used to build dams, bridges and etc. They are usually exposed in broken down dams. Recovery - regaining control after running a rapid. It could also be the act of regaining control after performing a roll or another maneuver such as a freestyle move. Reversal - Central term for a wave that drops over an obstacle and curls back on itself in a stationary wave. Riffles (Shallows) - Shallow, rocky water characterized by many small waves. River Etiquette - is the curtsey and respect shown to other paddlers on the river. Basic River etiquette says that paddlers with Down Stream momentum or paddlers going downstream have the right away. This means that if you are in an eddy you must look upstream before pulling out to avoid possibly getting in some paddlers way. These rules are largely un written but are essential to regulating traffic on the river. This is also related to River Awareness. River Left - The left-hand side of the river when looking downstream. This is what most paddlers mean when indicating left – always think in terms of facing downstream River Mile - This refers to a distance in miles from the mouth of the river. River Right - The right-hand side of the river when looking downstream. This is what most paddlers mean when indicating right – always think in terms of facing downstream. River Ratings Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy. Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium- sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class II+". Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class III-" or "Class III+" respectively. Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong Eskimo roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class IV-" or "Class IV+" respectively. Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV, Class 5 is an open-ended, multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc... each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: increasing difficulty from Class 5.0 to Class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from Class IV to Class 5.0. Class VI: Extreme and Exploratory. These runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a Class VI rapids has been run many times, its rating may be changed to an appropriate Class 5.x rating. See also American Whitewater Safety Code River Right - the orientation of the bank in relation to the downstream current. River Signals - a set of designated signals that gives paddlers a the ability to communicate at a distance while on the river. Rock Garden - usually describes a rapid with many, many boulders. Usually good for eddy hopping but bad for swimming. Rocker - The area of the boat's bottom or hull that is in contact with the water. The more curve the bottom of the boat has, the more rocker it has. Whitewater boats have a lot of rocker where sea kayaks do not. Increased rocker allows for quicker maneuverability. Roll - a maneuver that will right a kayak after it has been turned upside down. There are many types of rolls, most of which were developed for sea kayaking, (see Greenland Rolls) The most common rolls used in whitewater kayaking are the C to C, the Sweep Roll, Hands Roll and the Back Deck Roll. The open boat or canoe roll is typically done with a Low Brace Roll. Roostertail - Spray of water that rebounds off a submerged rock or obstacle.
Scout - the act of looking ahead at a rapid either in the boat or on foot to find the line. Seal Launch - Launching in your kayak from a ledge above a river by sliding down the bank and dropping into the water. Self Rescue - when a paddler swims and gets him/herself to shore with or without their boat and gear, it is called a self rescue. Shaft - the area of the paddle in between blades on a kayak paddle, and between the t-grip and the blade on a canoe paddle. Shallows (Riffles) - Shallow, rocky water characterized by many small waves. Shoal - Any shallow ledgy rapid. Shore - the bank of the river. Shuttle - This refers to the logistics of getting to the put-in and take-out. Typically a shuttle is driven before the run by leaving a vehicle at the take-out. Other one-vehicle shuttle options include biking, walking, hitchhiking, etc., to return to the put-in. Side Surf - Normally a play move performed in a hole where a paddler sits sideways in the trough of the hole, while maintaining a slight boat tilt and brace on the downstream side. Sidewall - this term refers the side of the kayak between the deck and the hull. Sieve - a very dangerous feature on the river usually caused by two rocks where water passes through, but a boat or paddler my not pass through. Slalom - a type of kayak and canoe racing where paddlers must pass through a series of designated upstream and downstream gates in a timed format. Slalom is currently the only kayaking event in the Olympic games. Sluice - A narrow, tight channel in a rapid. Spin - could refer to a playboating move where a paddler does a 360 degree turn on a wave or in a hole. Also could refer to how a boat reacts when a paddler uses a wide sweeping stroke. Spray Skirt - the neoprene deck that a paddler wears on their waist that attaches to the cockpit rim of the kayak in order to keep water out of the boat. Squirt Boat - a specially designed boat with extremely low volume for a specific type of kayaking where paddlers do maneuvers such as "mystery moves" a maneuver where the paddler travels below the surface of the river into the narthex. Standing Waves – or wave trains are associated with constricted areas of water most commonly called Downstream V’s. Water can only be pushed out downstream so fast so the water pushes upward into waves. Stern - the back of a whitewater kayak. Stern Draw - a stroke in which a paddler uses a wide sweeping stroke placed into the water at the hip then sweeps water toward the stern of the boat. A very effective stroke for quick turns when done correctly. Stern Strokes - Forward, Back, sweep, reverse sweep, draw and J strokes. Stopper - A hole or breaking wave that stops your downstream momentum. Strainer - Extremely dangerous obstacles that clog the current with tree branches or other debris, but still allow the water to flow through. This can trap paddlers and gear and make rescue very difficult. Suckhole - a very powerful hydraulic. Surf - a surf is a maneuver in which a paddler stays on a wave or in a hole. Can be done on purpose or by accident. Swamp - To fill the boat with water. Usually make the boat difficult to impossible to maneuver. Air bags displace water and should always be used on rivers. Sweep Boat - The last boat down a stretch of the river. Safety measures to make sure no boats are left behind. Should carry rescue kit. Sweep Roll - in a sweep roll the paddler rolls the kayak while the paddle sweeps an arc on the surface of the water.
Sweep
Stroke
- a wide arcing stroke that when done correctly is very effective for
initiating turns.
Tail Waves
- A series of standing waves at the bottom of rapids. Take Out
– Where the river-journey ends. T-Draw – a
stroke utilized to move the boat sideways. The blade is planted with a
vertical paddle shaft and power face directing towards the side of the
boat and pulled towards the boat. The blade is then turned, power face
facing stern, and sliced back out to the original position. Technical -
A description of the character of a rapid that requires skillful
maneuvering and boat control because of frequent obstacles. Technical can
also describe specific, difficult-to-master paddling techniques. Tongue - A
smooth downstream V typically indicating the route through a rapid. Throat –
Where the paddle blade and shaft meet on a kayak paddle. Throw Bag –
A rope made out of either poly or spectra rope that is flaked into a stuff
sack that makes it easily stored. Throw Rope
– A rope coil made out of a high flotation rope preferred by raft guides
for its ease to throw and recoil quickly Trim – How
a boat sits in the water based upon where the paddlers weight is focused.
A balanced trim would be if the bow and stern are the equidistant in the
water.
Undercut Rock
– A rock with a void on the underside. There are many types of undercuts
varying in danger. The most dangerous of these being an undercut with an
upstream face having a void and the flow leading into it. Upstream –
Where the flow comes from Upstream “V”
– found on either side of a downstream “V” which represents the shape an
eddy makes. Obstacles on both right and left will create downstream “V’s”
and those obstacles create eddies.
Veer – A
kayaks natural tendency to want to turn, this due in large part to a
kayaks length, width, rocker and shape of hull. Hence, a long narrow boat
with very little rocker has less veer i.e. sea kayak. The shorter fatter
boats with lots of rocker veer much more i.e. creek boat.
Waterfall -
A major vertical drop in a riverbed (typically over six feet in height.) Wave Hole –
A wave that has a breaking foam pile Wave Train
- A series of standing waves usually in the main current at the runout of
a rapid. Wave Wheel
- A playboating move where kayakers cartwheel over a wave train. Weir - A
low head dam often associated with a keeper. Should be avoided. Wet Exit
– The most fundamental skill of
self rescue. The Wet-Exit includes four basic steps in case of a capsize,
this would include tucking forward onto the deck of the kayak, tapping on
the hull of the boat to call attention, pulling the skirt off the cockpit
and pushing yourself out of the boat while staying in a tucked and safe
position. Wildwater -
A discipline of downriver racing which utilizes a specialized asymmetrical
kayak typically made of a composite material. Windowshaded
- Occurs when a paddler sidesurf’s a hole and flips on his upstream side.
Not usually fun. Wrap - To
wrap your boat around a rock or obstacle. Wraps can occur after a broach.
Z-Drag
- A mechanical advantage system involving carabineers, rope, prussiks, and
pulleys to aid in removal of a pinned object. A typical Z-drag gives a 3:1
ratio, meaning for every pound you enter the system it multiplies the
force by 3.
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