A3-26) Fat people and White Water Rafting
Description
This article is from the Big Folks Sports and Activities FAQ, by sharon@ecs.ox.ac.uk (Sharon Curtis) with numerous contributions by others.
A3-26) Fat people and White Water Rafting
White water rafting is very exhilarating and incredible fun!
Be prepared to use a lot of upper body strength to paddle.
Paddling may give you sore arms if you're not used to it, and/or you may
get blisters.
Check the life vest to make sure that it is adjustable. You don't want the
vest to fall off if you fall out! Many big folks who have done this have
found the life vest to fit, but be a bit snug (but that's ok because it's
supposed to be snug). Big folks may also wish to sit in the back of the raft
for stabilization purposes. Weight distribution can make a significant
difference.
Pay attention to the safety instructions you are given.
You may wish to wear old sports shoes that won't matter if they get wet.
Depending on the venue, as most whitewater is cold (snow runoff), you
may have to wear a wetsuit. It can be a problem finding large size
wetsuits, if they don't have a suit big enough. See the section on
Scuba Diving.
Also check to see if the route requires carrying the raft. This may be
over some narrow, rocky, hilly trails and your fitness needs to be up
to it. Check the ratings of the rapids (rapids are rated from Class 1 to
5). Class 4 are usually the largest you can navigate in a raft, and you
*will* get drenched. Don't bring anything that can't get wet!
A suggested first trip could be a half-day trip with Class III rapids.
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