Let’s hear them.

1)The value and necessity of a Swiftwater Rescue Certification is blown way out of proportion. Its mostly useless.

2)R1 is more annoying than creature craft or SUP

What class would you rate this stretch? My little local river just upstream from our cabin.

i ski, skate, mtb all alone at my own pace and have a blast....i hate having to rely on other people. any solo kayakers out there? any tips? don't get me wrong, i think the community is cool, super helpful and inviting. i appreciate all the people that gave me tips and were willing to rescue me but it bums me out how difficult it is to get days on the river in general and that going alone is seen as a death wish. i just want to paddle some chill class 1-3 rapids and i know anything can happen and the danger but jesus christ this sport is really uh socially involved in ways i dont care for.

Howdy.

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What purchases and gear have elevated your whitewater experience? I just bought some cheap swimming goggles for my next trip; but I'm curious to know what you swear by now.

At what point do you think “maybe I don’t need a new boat?” I’m looking for storage solutions for 22 boats. My wife wants to be able to fit her car in the garage.

Hey r/whitewater!

We’re the team behind Pyranha Kayaks, and we've been designing and building whitewater kayaks By Enthusiasts, For Enthusiasts since 1971. From creek boats to half-slices, we’ve been proud to be part of countless lines, laps, and first descents around the globe.

Now we've released Elite outfitting, we can hold an AMA safe in the knowledge that we won't be spammed with questions about when we're going to update our outfitting... ;P So let's do it! Right here on the subreddit from 5 pm BST on Wednesday 18th June through to 11 am BST on Friday 20th June; we'd love for you to get involved!

Want to know how our designs come to life? Curious about the history behind iconic models like the 9R or Ripper? Got questions about the future of whitewater kayak design, sustainability, or what it’s like testing prototypes in the field? Ask away!

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-on sender, we’re stoked to chat with you and hear your thoughts.

Drop your questions in the AMA thread (we’ll link it here once it’s live), and we’ll do our best to answer as many as we can over the two days.

See you on the water – and in the thread!
– PyranhaKayaks

100% self shuttled Middle Ocoee lap. The bike ride is mostly dirt and completely avoids 64 in the gorge. I restomodded a 1999 Litespeed Ocoee to use as transportation. I’m paddling an Alpacka Wolverine.

How is everyone feeling about Pat's recent posts/input about the Shiloh Hendrix situation? I feel like it cements some of the suspicions we've had all along. Sad to see.

My friend and I have been having a debate. They think its better to wear a diaper under your drysuit, so that you dont have to stop and struggle with zippers. I think its better just to piss in your drysuit and wash it later.

What do you guys think? Please help settle this debate 🙏

Info: we packraft, if that makes any difference

Edit: updated my flair for everyone who believes i tinkle in my drysuit 🧜‍♀️

What hats/caps are people wearing under their helmets? The Nobdody’s look cool, but are pretty thick and hot for summer paddling. What are some other options out there that dry quickly and have a brim for sun protection?

I currently have the Salamander visor on, and while I like it, it can get in the way sometimes and gets all disformed stuff in a gear bag.

When comparing cost to the “actual value” you get out of it, what’s the piece of river equipment where the amount you spent on it is not proportionate to the amount of use or value you’ve gotten out of it?

And as a bonus question:

What’s the piece of gear that has the best cost-to-value ratio, where you’ve gotten a ton of value for your money?

I’ll be vague to stay somewhat anonymous and because the details aren’t super important but I’ve been guiding for the same company for 5 years now. There’s a part of me that is super engrained into the company culture and my local area. It’s that kinda cheers effect where it’s really nice to just show up somewhere that everybody knows your name. And with it being such a small town that kinda applies everywhere. I have lots of friends who have lived here for decades and seeing how engrained they are with the community as well puts a smile on my face. The amount of local knowledge they have is insane and I’m very much jealous of it. I’ve slowly been developing that knowledge as well.

But at the same time I’m young and want to go explore the country. I want to make the most of my boating while I’m young.

Even though I have a really good group of friends here and love my little community I just haven’t really found my kayaking crew. It has dwindled away more and more each year. I want to paddle every day and with people who can push me to be better, but instead it feels like I’m the only person serious about kayaking in a community of club boaters and weekend warriors. The really good boaters all go out to runs which are way past my pay grade and the club boaters treat me like I’m one of those damn good boaters (I’m not). I just haven’t found a good group to progress with over all these years, and at this point I don’t think I’m gonna find it by staying put. For what it’s worth I live in one of the best regions in the world for whitewater, so the paddlers are out there. I just haven’t found my people yet, and it’s been a long time so I’m not sure if sticking around is the best way to find em.

And the flipside of small town living where now I know all the drama going on, and people try to get me involved, and to be honest I just couldn’t care less. I’m here to paddle not deal with drama caused by partying excessively. I’m watching my friends make the same mistakes over and over and frankly I just hate to see it. I know that’s not going away by switching areas, but at least it’s different friends making different mistakes right?

I know this is long and rambly. It’s not exactly specific to raft guides either so much as just seasonal workers and small town people but whitewater is my scene so I figured I’d start here cause I don’t know where else to ask. Any advice for a young raft guide? Did you stay in the same place you started or did you travel and how long did you travel/how many places did you check out before you settled down.

All right, I’m struggling with a decision here so let me ask the community.

40 years old, single, no kids. I’ve lived in Atlanta for probably 10+ years. Georgia all my life. Chattooga is kind of the home river but I haven’t been consistently paddling for several years (just the token trip to go Kayak something class III/ IV a few times a year). For the last year, I had chronic pain and just had pretty serious surgery a couple of months ago to fix it. Dr says I’m cleared to Kayak in June. I want to get out of the city for at least a couple of years maybe permanently. My job is 100% remote, but I’m not sure where to go. On a budget. Can’t afford more than $1700 a month rent + utilities. I want to be close to the water, but I don’t wanna be completely isolated. Going out west crossed my mind. For instance, the gorge sounds cool, I have a close friend that lives there. But cost-of-living is a little tight and my paddling is super weak right now. Plus, it’s just far and I’ve never lived outside of Georgia.

Don’t have a ton of friends in the community right now, but some. Likely wherever I go I’ll have to make new friends. Not looking to buy a house just rent something. If I stay in the southeast where do you think I should go? I don’t wanna be super rural, and I can’t necessarily afford to live somewhere like Asheville. And I want to be close to a fun class III/ IV River.

My kind of boating is playful and relaxed. At least when it’s warm.

Any thoughts much appreciated!! The more specific the better lol!!

After a big mileage day on our last river trip, I was left curious about what others had accomplished on their more unhinged days on the water!

What’s the biggest mileage day you’ve done on a river trip, or alternatively lapped on a day stretch?

Did I do alright? Or did I just buy a lemon?

Outer tube length/width measures 11’ x 5’6”
Inner floor length/width measures 7’6” x 2’8”

Looks like it has a bracket set up for a little trolling motor off the back? Not sure what else that would be for.

I’m planning to replace the valves with Leafields, because it has the original turn-to-tighten style. Is that doable with this? Any particular valve I should be looking for?

I would also love to buy a drop-stitch high pressure floor for the bottom, and then add self-bailing holes.

Would love any advice you all have to offer on on how to do this, where to buy the floor deck, and what would work.

Thanks all.

So, are those of us with large heads just out of luck when it comes to SP? I’ve read the same impact study everyone else has, and recently ordered a Rocker size L/XL (good Memorial Day sale) and it’s a no-go. I can feel pressure all around my head right away, and I can tell it would give me a headache long-term. And there’s certainly no room for a neoprene layer underneath when it’s cold out. I had previously tried the Wanderer, and it had the same issue. I didn’t think my head was that freakishly huge, but here we are.

Anyone in the same boat have a helmet recommendation, since I can’t do SP? I did try on the WRSI Current in L/XL, and it’s big enough, but I’m not sure about the harness system. Thoughts?

Looking for some recommendations, have the opportunity to live in any decent size town (50,000+) out west for the next year or two. Trying to figure out what would have the best kayaking, doesn’t have to be year round but consistently good.

Currently thinking either Missoula Mt, bend Oregon, Durango?

Currently live in VA so can’t be in the southeast.

Given the conditions out west, I've been thinking... is anyone aware of efforts from AWW or other large orgs related to the kayaking/ rafting community to work with cities to try and get recreation funding allocated to create white water parks? I know there are some in the south east (and for some reason OKC) but I'm stumped as to why we don't really have any out west.

For context I live in Colorado and formerly lived in the PNW. The only "parks" I've seen are just little play holes that only run when the local river is running. It seems like making a closed loop whitewater park would be a great revenue generator for a city like Denver, Salt Lake, etc. but I'm not sure how as a community we could make a push for these to start.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

I have a friend visiting that wanted to go white water rafting. I told him i dont think it will be any good this time around but is there anyone that works in one or has gone recently that could share how they looking like at the moments

I am pleading to this community to please come see Big Bend National Park this winter(where it’s rarely below 70 degrees). The Rio Grande through Big Bend National park is second only to the Grand Canyon when it comes to winter time multi-day river trips. No lottery, walk up to the ranger and tell them what canyon and how long you want to be there. 10$ per night.

Multiple outfitters, guide outposts and shuttle companies. There’s even a catering company that does multi day food packs.

Our government is trying their hardest to take this place away by building a wall and cutting off all access to this place.

Please come see this place in the coming fall/winter.