Down River Index  1 Paddles   2 Boat Outfitting   3 Technique   4 How to Handle the River   5 Down River Racing

3   Technique

1 Never lean your body. Keep it upright, ninety degrees with the surface of the water. Control direction with the lean of the boat, by lifting one knee or the other and by pushing the heels down. 2 Run dry. Avoid water on the deck as it slows you down. So, steer clear of stoppers and other waves where possible. 3 Know where you are going. You need to make your moves early. Line it up beforehand, anticipate and always look ahead. 4 Go quicker than the current. If you go slower you have no control. You need to accelerate off the current. 5 Use the fastest water. The deepest water (green) is the fastest water. Use it wherever possible, avoiding the white water which is slower (due to waves, holes, eddies, boils)

© 1994-2002, Dave Worthy and Robyn Khorshid

Not to be reproduced without written permission of the authors.