Rafting every year is gaining more and more popularity both among experienced water tourists, who get many opportunities to go through more and more difficult routes, and among novice tourists who have never held a paddle in their hands, because in order to complete their first rafting, they only need to go through a little instruction. But in order to understand what water rafting is, you need to understand several main points of this type of outdoor activity.

A little about rafting itself
Rafting is a rafting on mountain and flat rivers on a special boat, a raft with high buoyancy and stability on the water. This allows you to significantly reduce the requirements for the participants in the descent, which can be from 4 to 12 people. With the invention of this inflatable frameless vessel, rafting on the rough "white waters" of rivers has ceased to be the privilege of professionals who used to do it on kayaks and rafts.

If you decide to participate in your first rafting tour, carefully study the complexity of the route you want to go. In total, according to the international classification, there are six of them - and the higher the category, the more various obstacles will come across on the way. Moreover, some rivers in rafting need to be conquered only in certain areas and at a certain water level.

For tourists who are just starting rafting and who have not undergone special training, routes above the third category of complexity are prohibited. But this only limits the number and complexity of obstacles in rafting, but in no way reduces the likelihood of extreme and unforeseen situations, which, however, do not threaten anything except the release of an unplanned dose of adrenaline into the bloodstream. And for those who have overcome more than one stormy mountain river, there are rafting tours that offer a multi-day struggle with the water element on the most dangerous routes.

In the case of commercial rafting, an experienced instructor is always on board. Often this is an athlete hired by a travel agency who gives simple commands to the participants, whose task is to carry them out as accurately as possible - the passage of the rafting tour depends on this. With the seeming ease of its task, the guide should be present in any case, since participants may get confused in certain situations due to lack of experience.

Rafting today is not just rowing, but a full-fledged hike, sometimes lasting for many days in a row. The popularity of such rafting tours depends on many factors, among which stand out: the presence of attractions, scenic spots, monuments, the convenience of transferring the group and rafting equipment to the beginning of the rafting, the safety of the range for the descent. For those who cannot afford a hike, say, for a week, many travel agencies offer weekend rafting tours. And for people who have enough money and time, rafting will reveal all the delights of a camp life: spending the night in tents, and songs with a guitar, and delicious food cooked over a fire.

Even when passing the first category of water rafting routes, you should not treat your equipment with disdain. It is necessary to seriously approach both the raft itself, it must have stiffening ribs and means of insurance against falling overboard, and personal protection - a life jacket and a helmet. In commercial rafting, everything you need is provided by a travel agency, but sometimes you may need additional equipment (for example, a wetsuit for passing cold mountain rivers). And yet, although the raft itself is the best rescue tool, it is very nice to be able to swim - after all, no equipment itself will take you to the shore.

About safety in rafting
Everyone who is engaged in rafting is instructed in safety precautions. Here are some of the key points to learn by heart:

Your personal rafting safety gear must be perfectly fitted to your body and head, otherwise you will get tired of wearing them all the time. And it is strictly forbidden to take off the helmet and vest, even on foot.
The paddle should be positioned correctly in the hands: one hand is 10 centimeters from the blade of the oar, and the other is on the handle. Otherwise, you risk injuring the team member sitting opposite you.
Don't forget about proper rafting landing. The inner tanks are stiffening ribs, not poufs for sitting, and the participants in the rafting must sit on the sides. Also, the tanks are used to fix the legs.
In order not to fly out of the raft with a strong impact or roll - grab the rope that is stretched along the perimeter of the vessel. If you flew out of the boat, you need to make one or two good strokes to the raft and grab the rope in order to climb back up. In the event that you are thrown several meters away, the team members are obliged to give the oar, pull you to the boat and throw you inside.
The process of pulling a person into a raft is as follows - you turn him to face you, firmly grab the life jacket in the shoulder area with both hands and pull on yourself using your weight.
Sometimes a person is thrown at a considerable distance, which cannot even be reached with an oar. In this case, a rescue rope is used, making preliminary contact by whistling or shouting. The task of the rescued person is to grab the rope and roll over onto his back. So it will be quickly pulled inside the raft.
You need to be clear about how to swim in rapids. There are two main methods for this. The position of self-alloying, in which a person floats with the flow with his feet forward, and his feet must be on the surface in order to push off from an approaching stone or wall. The second position is the crawl style, which can only be used on a more or less calm section of the river between the rapids, where you should turn 70 degrees against the current and paddle to the bank with a crawl, making every effort.
It is also very important to know how to get out of the barrel (stable circulation of water after draining). If the barrel is small, then you need to tuck your legs under you and wrap your hands around them - you will go to the bottom, where the lower current will pick you up and throw you out of it. Just do not relax ahead of time - you need to swim away from it a little, otherwise it can suck in for a second circle. If the barrel is large, then turn around to face the sink and actively crawl into it. The drain will lower you to the bottom, where the bottom current will carry you out of the dangerous area.
If the raft flips over and you are under it - do not try to punch it with your head, it will still not help you. You shouldn't panic either - there is enough air, but you still don't need to linger under it for a long time. In order to get out, push off from its bottom with your hands in the direction of the stream and you will soon get out from under it. Just grab the rope quickly, otherwise there will be a problem - you can be carried away by the current.
The good thing about the raft is that it has excellent buoyancy even when it is overturned. So, in a situation where the boat flips, grab the rope and don't let go.
Don't lose your paddle. Never.
Tips for those new to rafting
Keep in mind that rafting is not a lonely vacation. Therefore, respect your team members and maintain a friendly atmosphere, your rafting will be successful and safe.
The main thing in the rowing process is the well-coordinated work of the team challenging the water element. Therefore, do not try to row harder than everyone else - row at the same time with everyone.
You need to row not with your hands, but with your body. If you have no experience in this matter - contact a rafting instructor, he will show in practice.
Never neglect the briefing - you will be told not only about the basic commands, but also about the rules of behavior in such unpleasant situations as a raft flipping or falling overboard.
The overwhelming majority of coups in commercial rafting are created on purpose, which is often negotiated with the participants in the rafting.
When setting off to conquer the course of the river, do not forget to take your swimsuit and dry clothes, which should be folded into a special waterproof bag. After all, by the end of the route you will get wet to the skin, and it will not always come out to dry in the sun.
If you decide to go rafting in cold weather, then the best solution for you is a tight-fitting sweater and thermal underwear.
In case of rain, it is best to have a bologna suit.
It is better to put documents and valuables in an airtight bag or leave them on the shore.
Don't take your glasses with you. If you cannot do without them, take care of the presence of a safety cord.
If you use equipment for rent, then always carefully inspect and customize it. And don't be afraid to ask your water rafting guide or vendor for help.
All questions to the guide should be asked not during, but before rafting.
Follow the commands of the rafting instructor without question during the rafting.
Conclusion
It may seem to a beginner that water rafting is something of an entertainment attraction - but it is not. It has many rules that must be followed, otherwise unpleasant consequences are guaranteed. But if you follow all the instructions, rafting will become an exciting adventure full of vivid emotions and a feeling of victory not only over the water element, but also over yourself.