How To Swim In Moving Whitewater When Rafting Video

Learn how to correctly swim in moving whitewater using the two ways discussed by an expert in this free how to video on river safety and whitewater rafting.

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Kevin McMillan has been with Zoar Outdoor since 1992, he has worked as an experiential educator and technical specialist with corporate programs. He currently holds ACA certifications in river rescue, whitewater kayaking as well as being certified Wilderness First Responder. Zoar Outdoor, was established in 1989 as the first outdoor center on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts. Since 1989, Zoar Outdoor has offered the best in New England white water rafting trips, kayaking clinics, canoeing instruction, rock climbing classes, fly fishing and bike rentals for adventurers of all abilities, from beginners to experts.

There are two types of swimming on the river, one is defensive swimming and one is aggressive swimming. With defensive swimming what you're really doing is laying on your back, feet downstream and looking for help, sort of getting yourself oriented to the river, trying to figure out where you are and then getting yourself comfortably there. Defensive swimming tends to be for novice and guests that are real, or not real familiar with white water. A person swimming defensively is looking to be rescued by somebody else rather than really taking the initiative and rescuing themselves. The aggressive uh, swimming, aggressive white water swimming is where the guide, or an experienced, um, white water person is taking control of their situation and swimming aggressively, uh, from one side of the river to the other, either to the quickest point on shore or to avoid, uh, a certain obstacle while you're out there.

How to Swim in Moving Whitewater when Rafting Video

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