As the Monsoon has arrived, it’s time to get spike up your adrenaline levels and try white water rafting in Coorg Barapole. Get wet and wild in the “funnest” way possible.  What’s a sure way to do that?  White water rafting in Coorg , of course!

The Baraplote river in Coorg is a perfect place for River rafting in South India. With its level one to lever4 rapids it provides maximum thrill.

 If you’re a novice, you know what’s coming below.   However, if you’re a beginner, you might want to stay posted.

White Water Rafting Tips for beginners

  • Get ready to get wet!  Dress in comfortable, easy, fast drying clothes that aren’t heavy or loose and stay away from flip flops and “crocs”. Wear open sandals that will stay on your feet.
  • Make sure to wear loads of waterproof sunscreen.  The sun can be pretty harsh and will cook you in no time.
  • Let your guide know your level of expertise in swimming. If you fall into the water, orient   yourself and assume the “swimmer’s position”- lying on your back, feet in front and face downstream. If you need to swim facing forward, roll over, your feet up and turn your body in the direction you need to swim.
  • Maintain contact with your guide at all times, following all his instructions to the T.
  •  You will need a reasonable fitness level, as this activity burns loads of calories while consuming plenty of energy by engaging your arms and core muscles.
  • Wear your protective gear like the life jacket and helmet properly and keep it on at all times. Check it at regular intervals to ensure utmost safety.
  • Don’t be cocky and stay alert.  There is a reason why you have a guide in the raft. It’s all fun and games on a smooth river but in high rapids it could mean encountering serious difficulties.
  • Work as a team. No matter how strong you are physically, it’s not about paddling hard, but paddling together.  
  • There is a proper way to sit in the raft, which your instructor will tell you about. Your feet need to be planted firmly under the air tube in front of you. Make sure they are secure but not jammed; in case you need to get out quickly if the boat topples over. Sit on the outer rim so that balance is kept equal on both sides.
  • Make sure you don’t wrap the rope around any part of your body! You want to be able to get away quickly and safely in case of a sticky situation.
  • If you sense any type of danger like the raft hitting a boulder, don’t try and stop the raft or move away using your paddle. Less so your limbs. Let the raft bounce over the rocks as it is the safer for you.
  • Paddling deeper into the water rather than surface will help you manoeuvre the boat correctly, especially if the rapids get stronger.
  • Panicking is a waste of time. Your instructors are trained to handle any type of situation encountered while on the run. Trust them and follow their safety instructions and you should be fine.

Common commands used for rafting.

    There are some are pretty  standard   commands , like forward paddle, back paddle and left turn/right turn, but they can also vary to minor degrees depending on your instructors.

  • PADDLE FORWARD

It is as straightforward as it sounds. This command means to paddle forward with the team simultaneously. The front paddlers are in command and they should be synchronised and the ones at the back need to watch them and follow.

  • PADDLE BACKWARD

This command requires that everyone paddles in sync with the lead paddlers but in a backward direction. The important thing to remember is to lean forward, engage your core muscles and pull the paddle through the water behind you for a strong stroke.

  • LEFT BACK

It is vital to remember during this command to stay focused as it can get you confused very quickly. Kinda like manoeuvring a car in reverse. Those on the left side will back paddle while those on the right will continue to paddle forward. Momentum can really make you lose control so don’t overthink it. Just follow your guide.

  • RIGHT BACK

Vis a Vis the left back command, this one requires you to stay alert.  This is, of course, the opposite of the left back command wherein the right paddlers will back paddle.

These commands help turn the boat quickly in case of sudden rapid changes and it needs to be executed correctly.                

  • STOP

This self-explanatory command is as important as others even though it is simple as it helps keep control over the raft once it’s lined up in position to get started or keep your boat on track in case you need to orient yourself after a precarious situation.

  • LEAN IN

This command is yelled out when a dangerous hit is in sight, when a steep drop is expected or simply when a big wave is imminent. Once this command is yelled, everyone in the boat is expected to lean down towards the inside centre of the raft, while grabbing the safety line with one hand. The other hand should ideally still be holding the paddle in a t grip.

  •         Over right- over left

When stuck in a rock or danger of a flip is at hand, this command will mean that you need to throw your weight on that  side .This will push the raft back down into the water and prevent it from dis balancing and flipping.

  •          Hang on- get down

When this command is yelled, you need to literally “get down” and grab whatever you can to stay on, while the “hang on” means just sit tight and hold on keeping your balance.

  •  High siding

This is when you are directed to save the boat from capsizing in the worst case scenario. If the raft hits sideways in a current, the upstream tube can be sucked under because of the current and the boat might flip.

The key is to move quickly to the high side of the boat when you hear this command, throwing all of your body weight toward that side of the boat. The idea is to distribute your weight so that the raft doesn’t flip.

If you keep these basics in mind, you will experience nature’s raw beauty whilst staying safe and having a thoroughly enjoyable experience.