• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Best of Life® Magazine logo

  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Low Carb / Keto
    • Keto Recipes
    • 2B Mindset
  • Crock Pot
  • Dairy Free
  • Recipes
    • Meal Planning
    • Margaritas
    • Crock Pot Recipes and Tips
    • Game Day Recipes
    • Recipes
    • Happy Hour
  • Workouts
    • Weight Loss
    • 21 Day Fix Workouts and Tips
    • Beachbody Workouts
    • Jillian Michaels
    • At Home Workouts
  • About
    • About
    • Brand Sponsorships
    • Videos
    • Contributors
    • Privacy Policy and Disclosure
  • Shop
Home » Travel » Whitewater Rafting Terms and Lingo To Know

September 20, 2016

Whitewater Rafting Terms and Lingo To Know

Pin
Facebook
Tweet
Tumblr
Yum
Reddit
This site contains affiliate links. Please read our Policies for information.
Whitewater rafting can be as safe as it is fun if you know the terms and lingo beforehand!   via @amybarseghian

There are many terms in whitewater rafting that are need-to-know terms. While rafting rides at Disneyland or other theme parks feel like they may be the real thing, they’re not. Real whitewater rafting has different levels of danger and the possibility of flipping the raft is one of the biggest. However, when whitewater rafting, it’s usually done with a guide in a river with different class rapids. The guide on your trip will use specific terms to get straight and to the point.

Whitewater rafting can be as safe as it is fun if you know the terms and lingo beforehand!

Whitewater rafting can be as safe as it is fun if you know the terms and lingo beforehand! 

Classes

Every river is put into a class depending on the difficulty of the rapids. Classes are numbered and pretty easy to understand. The best part of the classification system, it’s internationally recognized.

  • Class 1- Class 1 rapids are very easy. Some pros will tell you that class 1 rapids are pretty much just a lazy river with few to no rapids. Also, if you fall out of the raft, you can easily swim or stand and walk back to the raft.
  • Class 2- Class 2 rapids have more rapids than class 1 but are still relatively small and easy to maneuver. Self-rescue can be done but depending on where you are may require assistance.
  • Class 3- Class 3 rapids have more actual rapids and some may be harder to avoid. Having a bit more experience is necessary for class 3 rapids.
  • Class 4- Class 4 rapids are intense and definitely require experience. The rapids are more intense and the danger level is for advanced rafters.
  • Class 5- Class 5 rapids are for experts only. Not only is experience necessary but a high level of fitness is recommended.
  • Class 6- Class 6 rapids are a monster all their own. If rapids are known as class 6 that means either the rapids are so big that no one has done them yet or they are constantly changing. A constant change means you will need to know how to maneuver out of every situation and if not, rescue may be impossible.
Whitewater Rafting Termonology

Photo Credit: Kate Wills

Eddy

An eddy is a spot in a river usually found just downstream of an obstruction where the water goes the opposite direction of the flow. Rafters usually use this spot to slow down or to completely stop. However, depending on the size of the river and class, an eddy can be dangerous and flip the raft if approached too quickly.

Rapids

A rapid is what most people are looking for when whitewater rafting. A rapid is when there is a sudden drop, underwater obstruction or rise in the water that causes a natural roller coaster effect. When classes are distributed to a river, they usually refer to the difficulty and frequency of the rapids.

Whitewater Rafting Terms To Know

Photo Credit: Kate Wills

River Left or River Right

Rafting is always rapids, there are calms between each rapid on most rivers. During this calm, it’s fun to look at the nature on or near the riverbanks. A guide may point out animals, plants, or even historic tidbits by saying “River Right” or “River Left”. River right would mean look to the right, river left would mean look to the left.

Put In and Take Out

“Put in” describes the starting point of the rafting trip, this could also be called “launching point”. The end of the trip is called the “take out”. Very simple and easy to understand terms.

White Water Rafting Rapids

Photo Credit: Kate Wills

Rock Garden

A rock garden is a spot in a river where the rapids are made due to rocks that may rise higher than the water levels. These spots on the river could be hard to maneuver or very dangerous. Some guides may refer to these spots as a “boulder garden” as well.

High Side Right/Left

Depending on the class rapids you’re experiencing, the water may not always be flat and calm. However, before a raft flips and depending on the intensity of the rapids, a raft may balance a bit on one side. If it balances long enough, a guide can shout out a command “High right” or “High left”. If these commands are shouted, it means to move to the high side of the raft to try and settle it down.

Whitewater Rafting Riding The Bull

Photo Credit: Kate Wills

Ride The Bull

If the rapids are smaller, and you’re confident in your abilities, you can ride the bull. Riding the bull means to sit on the front of the raft and hold the perimeter line between your legs. You usually want to do this during a rapid and it’s very fun. (see picture above).

These terms are only a few of the most important terms to know when whitewater rafting. I traveled to Salt Lake City and had an awesome guide named Clark with All Seasons Adventures. Our guide explained to us these terms and a few others as well. However, now that you know what some of these terms are, you can be ahead of the curve when you go rafting for the first time.

Save

Pin
Facebook
Tweet
Tumblr
Yum
Reddit

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Life Lists, Luxury, Travel Tips

More from bestoflifemag.com!

Use Jillian Michaels Detox tips to get back on track and jump start your diet plan to get the best results and lose weight. What is Detoxing | Is Detoxing Safe | Does Detoxing Work | Weight Loss Ideas | How to Lose Weight | Jillian Michaels Detox Plan | How to Detox
Jillian Michaels Detox Tips
Stocking Stuffers for Women
Tech Gifts For Men Black Gift with Gold Ribbon
9 Tech Gifts For Men and Women
about bolm

ABOUT

Amy Barseghian is the Founder of and Head Writer at The Best of Life Magazine, a digital luxury lifestyle magazine. Amy is also the CEO of Social Halo Media, Inc. and Best of Life PR; she is also a contributing writer for The Daily Meal. When not writing, Amy can be found aboard her family’s boat cruising the Pacific, traveling with her family or enjoying happy hour with friends. Read more…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brian says

    October 17, 2016 at 6:39 am

    This is a really good write up that has all the terms you’d need to know as a first time rafter. Thanks for putting this together!

    Reply
    • Amy Barseghian says

      October 21, 2016 at 9:49 am

      You are welcome! THanks for reading!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Healthy Eats

You can use some easy salad recipes for work to help you stay on track while you practice intermittent fasting to lose weight. Intermittent Fasting First Meal | Intermittent Fasting Meal Plan | Intermittent Fasting Recipes | Intermittent Fasting Food List | Salad Recipes for Weight Loss
The best breakfast recipes will be high protein low carb recipes that give you energy and keep you from messing up your low carb diet. Using healthy breakfast recipes, you can stick to your keto diet and get energy at the same time. In fact, many high protein breakfast recipes will easily fit into your diet plan.
Your Beachbody meal planning is easy with these LIIFT4 Meal Plan A recipe ideas that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes to help you lose weight. Weight Loss Recipes | Healthy Recipes | Beachbody Recipes | Meal Prep Ideas #LIIFT4 #beachbody #weightloss
This crock-pot spicy chicken bowl recipe is made with peanut sauce and spinach making it a healthy and easy dinner any night of the week. Easy Crock-Pot Recipes | Healthy Crock-Pot Recipes | Slow Cooker Recipes | Chicken Bowl Recipes | Dinner Recipes with Chicken | Meal Planning Recipes with Chicken
A Shaun Week Meal Plan is a great resource for both before, during, and after you start the program. These recipes are delicious, easy, and healthy! Recipes to Use for Shaun Week | Recipes for Fitness | Recipes to Get Fit | Shaun Week Recipes
Plate It! gives room for an optional snack between lunch and dinner so all you need is a great 2B Mindset kale chips recipe. 2B Mindset Recipes | 2B Mindset Snack Recipes | Easy Healthy Recipes | Beachbody Recipes #2BMindset #recipes #fitness
HOME | PRIVACY POLICY & DISCLOSURE | CONTACT US


© 2021 Best of Life Magazine, All Rights Reserved. Content may not be duplicated without permission.