When it comes to extreme sports, there’s a fine line between excited anticipation and fear. You’ve probably heard a host of things about the exhilaration of white water rafting, and maybe it’s on your bucket list. But if fear creeps in the closer you get to hopping in the raft, breathe deeply. It’s normal to be afraid of the unknown, but you can overcome. We asked people with rafting experience to share their tips for staying calm, cool and collected as you approach your big adventure.
Knowledge is comfort
When it comes to white water rafting, knowing the basics, and even some advanced points, is your best bet if you want to become mentally prepared. If you know the levels of the sport, the different river types, clothing guidelines, safety instructions, and if you have an experienced guide, this will lessen your anxiety once you’re already there.
Acknowledge the feelings
If you have pre-trip anxieties, acknowledge them but know that you’re going to feel better once you’re actually in the experience. As you board the boat and start the sport, your fears will be replaced with awareness and readiness. So it’s okay to be scared at first, but if you’re really anxious, taking anti-anxiety meds might help.
Don’t forget to listen to your guide
Having someone experienced is important in white water rafting, especially if you’re a beginner. To mentally prepare yourself, talk to your guide beforehand and ask about his or her experiences. This will also give you some comfort. Plus, when you’re already in the water, having a guide helps a lot in terms of safety and technique.
Make sure you’re focused
Do not take any alcohol or drugs before doing this sport. It’s extremely important that you give your undivided attention to ensure safety and reduce risks.
Torben Lonne
Torben Lonne is an entrepreneur, dad, scuba diver, and ocean lover who is deeply concerned with how we are treating our planet. He runs Divein.com, an online magazine about scuba diving and how we can all make a positive difference for the environment.
Enjoy the experience
Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of going on your first white water rafting trip. It may seem frightening as you imagine rocks everywhere and the force of the water tossing your dinghy like a balloon through the water. For many people unacquainted with white water rafting, the prospect might seem scary, but it is well worth the experience.
The good news is that most destinations that offer white water rafting are perfectly safe, including for entire families. I’ve been fortunate to go white water rafting a few times, and it was hours of exhilarating fun. The first thing you need to remind yourself when mentally prepping for a white water rafting trip is that the [raft] is actually made of strong materials and resistant to bumping against rocks. So forget the idea that it’s a balloon ready to pop at any moment since it would be almost impossible for the [raft] to pop during the average white water rafting expedition.
Second, it’s all mind over matter, since most of the fear will pass once you get in the water. The sheer excitement of rushing through the water and maneuvering around will occupy your mind, leaving no room for any fear. Remember that you always have a life vest, and the tour guides are trained to handle any emergencies. For them, white water rafting is a daily routine, and you should feel confident that they know what they are doing at all times.
Overall, just try to enjoy the experience, and the fear will pass. Everyone should try white water rafting once in their lives, just make sure to heed all safety precautions on your trip.
Know what to expect
I have a love for extreme sports, and I know that some might get anxious and scared about the idea of white-water rafting. One of the best ways you can mentally prepare yourself for white water rafting, or for any new activity for that matter, is by knowing as much as you can about it before the said activity or trip.
Knowing what to expect will help you set realistic expectations and quell any possible myths you have [heard] about the sport. With that being said, it’s important to check information from experts, not get too ahead of yourself and listen to the guide who’ll be accompanying you. Though some may say what you don’t know won’t hurt you, when it comes to situations like this, it probably might hurt—a lot!
Create an emergency plan
People sometimes have anxiety about white water rafting due to the risks and dangers involved, but there are ways to handle this. Creating an emergency plan is one of the best ways to make sure you’re ready for the experience. Knowing what to do if things go wrong can help you feel safe and secure.
John Frigo
John Frigo, Digital Marketing lead at BestPriceNutrition.Com.
Keep in mind you’re in good hands
We had a rafting place next to us so we walked over there one day and had such a great time. [We] wound up going a couple of times.
I’ve rafted once or twice in the past but don’t have a ton of experience and nobody else in my group had rafted. They typically run 3 different routes with various difficulties. We were going to go on the tamest one; however, they were only running the most intense one the day we called due to water levels. After a bit of chatter about whether we should still go, we ultimately decided to go, most of us being a bit nervous.
It wound up being a ton of fun and wasn’t as scary as we anticipated. I think one thing to remember is most of these places, the reputable ones at least, have highly trained guides who have gone on some pretty crazy rivers around the world, they live for the raft and do it day in and day out. They know exactly how to navigate the river safely so keep in mind you’re in good hands. Make sure to listen to their safety speech. Know what to do if you fall out, how to react, how to float, how to get rescued back into the boat, and you’ll be fine.
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