Our First White Water Adventure

Our First White Water Adventure

After taking a lesson in white water kayaking, and after playing around a little bit a Rio Vista, Donna and I decided to take a trip to New Mexico to try our luck on the Rio Grande River. We hooked up with an outfitter who provided us kayaks. We both got into a Liquid Logic XP 9, a type of kayak known as a “crossover.” The XP 9 has a “drop down” skeg which, when deployed, helps a paddler go in a straight line. This is especially important for beginner paddlers and for experienced paddlers as well. When you are paddling a long flat-water stretch with low flow you will learn to love your skeg. This is what the XP 9 looks like (www.liquidlogickayaks.com).

Anyway, we knew nothing about the levels of rapids before we embarked on this trip. If we did, we may have had second thoughts. The section we decided to run is called The Racecourse. This is what the website http://southwestpaddler.com has to say about the Racecourse:   If you are looking for a popular whitewater run of short duration on Class III to IV rapids, then Racecourse is the place to be.

Class III? Class IV? Let’s see. Here are the most common definitions of Class III and Class IV rapids. 

Class III: Class III rapids consist of fast-moving water that have high, irregular waves and narrow passages that often require precise maneuvering. Inexperienced kayakers should scout a Class III rapid before entering it to make note of the route they should take.

Class IV: Class IV rapids are typically long, difficult rapids with constricted passages that often require complex maneuvering in turbulent water. The course may be hard to determine and scouting is often necessary. A paddler should know how to eddy out quickly as well as have a strong roll. Class IV rapids normally require scouting before they are run.

High, irregular waves and narrow passages that often require precise maneuvering? Long, difficult rapids with constricted passages that often require complex maneuvering in turbulent water? Oh, swell. Well, we were committed so there was no chance to chicken out. 

We started off by practicing ferrying across the river. We did pretty well until I decided to go around a big bolder rather than in front of it. I flipped over, wet-exited and then learned how to get back into a kayak when you are in the water.  It is not that easy. Not to self: practice white water kayak re-entry.

I will admit that on the first run down The Racecourse we were very, very nervous. When we did it the second time it seemed relatively easy. Not easy—just relatively easy. 

Here is short video I put together using pictures from our second run.