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Ready to learn whitewater tripping?
Whitewater paddling is an adventure and mastering the art of paddling in whitewater requires hands-on experience in the water and expert guidance from seasoned paddlers. There is also just a lot of stuff to know that isn't skill-based and that can take a long time to absorb. So to give you a head start, we've gathered the knowledge you'll need for whitewater tripping and put it into this online handbook.
Browse the digital handbook by using the links below.
Note: This site alone cannot train you for whitewater. It is just some pre-reading/watching. Whitewater skills are learned on the water with experienced instructors. This site does not replace that.
Not a real book.
The whitewater essentials
What is whitewater canoeing?
Is it for you? Let's start with what it's all about and find out.
Safety and rescue
What you need to know about rescue situations on the river. This is not at all rescuer training.
River reading
A starter on how to read rapids and understanding what they will do to your boat.
For further learning
Paddling skills
Here are some videos that will help you learn the concepts before getting in the boat.
On flatwater
There's always some flatwater between rapids. Here are a few ideas we have about that.
Take our whitewater safety quiz!
This tests you on some stuff that you really should know before paddling whitewater.
Our sources
Here are the resources used in the development of the learning content on this site.
Ferrero, Franco. Whitewater Safety and Rescue: Essential Knowledge for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Raft Guides. Globe Pequot Press, 2009.
Grant, Gordon. Trailside Canoeing: A Trailside Guide. New York, WW Norton, 1997.
Jacobson, Cliff. Expedition Canoeing: A Guide to Canoeing Wild Rivers in North America. Globe Pequot Press, 2001.
Kauffman, Robert B. Swiftwater Rescue Course Manual. Robert B Kauffman, 2018.
Kesselheim, Alan S. The Wilderness Paddler's Handbook. McClelland & Stewart, 2001.
Martin, Alexander, and Zander Martin. NOLS Canoeing. Stackpole Books, 2013.
Mason, Bill. Path of the Paddle. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
Mason, Paul. The Thrill of the Paddle: An Illustrated Guide to Extreme Canoeing. Cordee, 1999.
Ostis, Nate. NOLS River Rescue Guide. Stackpole Books, 2015.
Pearson, Claudia, editor. Nols Cookery. Stackpole Books, 2017.
Peled, Danny. Whitewater Rescue Field Guide. Boreal River Rescue, 2014.
Phillips, Ken. Swiftwater Rescue Manual. Department of Interior Park Service, 2012.
Rescue 3 International. Water and Flood Rescue Manual. Rescue 3 International, 2018.
Walbridge, Charles, and Wayne A. Sundmacher. Whitewater Rescue Manual: New Techniques for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Rafters. McGraw-Hill Education, 1995.
Wilson, Hap. Rivers of the Upper Ottawa Valley: Myth, Magic and Adventure. Boston Mills Press, 2004.
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