Whitewater rafting guides certainly need to know where all the boulders are hidden and be able to tell when the water will get rough. As a guide, you're expected to lead your clients through safely to the end of the run with minimal spills. You need to embody much more than rafting skills however to successfully make that happen.
Customer Service
Whether you are taking out a couple for their first time rafting or a gaggle of school girls determined to tip the raft, you must treat your customers with deference. Whitewater rafting customers are paying for your service and expect you to be polite and teach the basics with friendly overtones. You've got to prepare for all kinds of personalities and dynamics that go between groups of rafters. All the while, you must consider your guests' safety and maintain a leadership role.
First Aid
Before taking a whitewater rafting guide course, you usually are required to earn a CPR certification. According to the Mild to Wild Rafting Guide School, you must take a CPR and basic first aid course before starting the class. You can find community classes through your local Red Cross chapter that teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic first aid, how to handle blood pathogens and how to administer emergency oxygen. Courses geared toward lifeguards includes water safety that could come in handy for whitewater rafting guides.
Rigging
The fun part is the actual rafting, especially when you're partnered with a fun-loving, physically fit crew that follows directions you provide. You will need to learn the basics of setting up the raft to make sure you have all the necessary ropes and paddles as well as how to store the rafts and gear when you return from the trip. Most whitewater rafting companies expect guides to take care of the equipment while on the water and on land.
Read River
You can take guide courses in a number of beautiful locations around the country from California and Utah to Tennessee and upstate New York. Before you actually guide a group on a specific river however, you need to learn how to read the river on which you'll work. Work on your river-reading abilities so that after one practice run, you can easily predict currents and upcoming drops. With experienced trainers, you should learn how to identify the river's distinct characteristics and reactions. With the skill, you can call out paddle commands to your clients and be ready for anything.
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