Types Of Strokes Used On Rafting Trips
Posted on: 19 May 2022
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Rafting trips traverse long sections of rivers, and that inevitably involves navigating many different features. Rafting groups can use a variety of strokes to maneuver around different features that are in the river. Here are some strokes that you or your guide might use, should you take a rafting trip.
Forward Stroke
The forward stroke is the standard stroke. When your guide says to begin paddling, assume they mean with this stroke unless otherwise stated.
To execute the forward stroke, position the blade of the paddle so that it's in front of your body. Lower the blade into the water, and pull it back past your body. Bring the blade out of the water, position it ahead of your body again, and repeat. The only real challenge is timing a forward stroke with fellow paddlers who are in your raft, as you'll bang paddles if you aren't in sync.
The forward stroke will be needed during calmer stretches of the river, in order to keep the raft moving at a decent pace even if the river's flow slows down. Steady forward strokes can help maintain control of the raft during more rapid stretches of the river, and your guide might have one side of the raft do forward strokes in order to gradually turn the raft.
Reverse Stroke
The reverse stroke is the exact opposite of the forward stroke. Position the blade of the paddle behind you, lower it into the water, and push it forward so that the blade is ahead of you. Remove the blade from the water, bring it back behind you, and repeat.
When you perform a forward stroke, the stroke is fairly easy because you're going along with the current. You can pull with the lower hand, and use the upper hand as a pivot for the paddle. You don't necessarily have to push with the upper hand.
The reverse stroke requires more strength for a couple of reasons. First, you're usually pushing against the current when you use this stroke. Second, you push with your lower hand rather than pull. Pushing is often physically more straining than pulling. For these reasons, you will likely push with your lower hand and pull with your upper hand during a reverse stroke.
Your guide might have everyone on the rafting trip reverse stroke at the same time to slow the raft or limit its speed during more rapid sections of the river. They might also have one side reverse stroke and the other forward stroke in order to quickly turn the raft.