Whether you’re racing slalom or simply catching an eddy on a local river, there are three rules that govern how you should turn a kayak. RULE 1: Your head and body should lead the boat in every turn. RULE 2: Control your turns with strokes on the inside of the turn. If you want to […]

The most basic of playboating moves is the front surf. It’s essential to all playboating; the better you are at it, the easier it is to do other moves. Even if you’re comfortable surfing waves, the techniques here will increase your success rate and improve your rides. Each wave is different, varying in speed, volume, […]

After only a year or two of paddling, you start closely watching the snowpack, rainfall, and temperatures, and gradually become aware of a river’s moods. At first this knowledge is purely in terms of your favorite spots—you know you can surf a particular wave when the water gets to a certain level, or a certain […]

Every spring in the Sierra Nevadas, snow begins its age-old search for sea level, raising the water levels of such California classics as the American, Tuolumne and Kern. Often helped by rains, it also raises the levels of these rivers’ headwaters and tributaries, many of which are attracting experienced boaters looking for the path less […]

Table of Contents The White Nile, UgandaThe Zambezi, Zimbabwe/ZambiaThe North Johnstone, QueenslandThe Navua Gorge, FijiThe Macal and Cave Branch, BelizeThe Upper Moho, BelizeThe Pacuare, Costa RicaThe Cahabon, GuatemalaThe Cangrejal, HondurasThe Rio Quijos, EquadorUpano, EquadorThe Tambopata, Peru The White Nile, Uganda The Nile is the longest river on earth at more than 4,000 miles. And everyone […]

The Kayak lurches forward as the bow plunges towards the bottom of the wave trough. You feel the energy of the wave as it grabs hold of the hull. With a few rudder adjustments you find the “sweet spot” and enjoy the sensation of surfing. Not all Kayaks are created equal, however–especially when it comes […]

If you are like most paddlers, your surfing probably has room for improvement. How often do you fall off a wave without a nice extended ride? Exceptional surfing ability is big fun and is a prerequisite to advanced moves. These tips will help you get longer, more predictable surfs. Table of Contents Where to Aim […]

Too often, paddling instructors teach a forward stroke that emphasizes pulling the blade through the water. This description leads to inefficient paddling at best, and is an outright wrong principle to follow at worst. In every forward stroke, you should plant the blade firmly in the water, and pull your hips up to that point. […]

What would you rather drive: a Porsche or a school bus? For river runners choosing between a kayak and a raft, the choice is that simple. Kayaking whitewater is the ultimate river experience—playful, nimble and dynamic—it’s like a dance with the river. Rafting, on the other hand, is a lot like work. A raft is […]

Whitewater paddlers know the stomach-dropping sensation of spotting a monstrous hole lurking below to throttle their tiny craft. But what if such menaces could actually pursue paddlers upstream? Strangely enough, some can. Crawling upriver capsizing boats and scouring the banks, tidal bores are moving waves or holes that rise from the ocean, appearing at full […]