This is a post about surfing white water rivers in West Virginia. But I know you’re thinking of a long board and standing up. That’s surfing, right?
Well surfing a raft is a little different.
First, we paddle through a rapid and then pull over to the river bank. Looking back upstream, the guide locates the perfect little waterfall-type river feature that can hold a raft in place. It’s called a hydraulic or a hole, and we paddle right into it.
Half the boat is covered in the splash from the surf hole.
So as you can imagine at this point, there’s no standing up. The entire raft going in to surf. The best way to surf is all together!
It’s kind of like riding a bucking bronco, or hot tubing under a fire hose, or getting tossed into a washing machine. It doesn’t last long and those that stay in the boat are greeted with cheers from the crowd upon exiting.
The physics of all this: Water is rushing downstream over rocks (hence the “white” water). This creates the baby waterfalls, pour-overs, with deep pools behind them. When the raft is paddled with force back into these falls, the water sprays all over, pours into the raft, and if you’re lucky, the boat becomes “locked in” At this time everyone stops paddling and enjoys the ride. Congrats- you’re surfing!
It takes teamwork to get the boat in the surf hole.
Now, there is the chance of getting thrown out, sucked out, or flushed out. If it happens, just go with the flow. Embrace Mother Nature or in the case, let Her embrace you. These are called “Play Spots” for a reason. Remember, there are two kinds of rafters: those that have fallen out of the raft, and those that are going to. (My preference is to cannon ball upon falling out so that I flush to the top instantly).
Keep your hands on your paddle’s T-grip and enjoy the ride, Songer style. And when you get home, tell everyone you went surfing on your rafting vacation.
