Types of Rapids: Whitewater Canoeing

Video Transcript

Whitewater is classified on a one to six scale, one being the easiest and six the most difficult. Class one water, is sort of water like this downstream here, its very easy, um, just fast moving, has a little bit of current, not many obstacles, not much to worry about on class one water. It can have some fast moving water, but otherwise pretty featureless. Class two water, similar to this upstream here, this is probably an easy class two rapid at most, has a few more obstacles, a few, little bigger waves, more powerful current, it's going to have some eddies that are going to have some bite to them, but again, it's going to be pretty wide open and fairly easy to maneuver in. Class three water is getting to be intermediate level water, that's water where if you're not, don't have some skills, you're not going to get down it likely without, uh, without flipping. Class three waters, got some good power to it, often has some obstacles that you have to avoid, and may have some good-sized waves. Zoragaft is a good example of a class three rapid in this area. Class four rapids are expert rapids. Those are bigger rapids, continuous rapids, taking class three to the extreme with long rapids that are continuous, lots of maneuvers and not a huge degree of danger, but starting to get to be some more degree of danger and swimming a class four rapid is not a pleasant experience. Class five rapids are big, class five rapids include big waterfalls, serious rapids, they come one after another all in a row and the consequences on class five are high, you know in class five rapids if you go for a swim they can be long, they can be serious, they can be fatal, class five rapids are big, class five rapids are powerful. Class six rapids are generally rapids that are not run-able, with the uh, the, people skills and the equipment available these days people are running all sorts of rapids that were class five and were six there are not being reclassified as fives. So, but again, the ones we're going to be most concerned with are class one to three and for class one to three rapids, class one is a good beginner, you know, very beginner water, class two, an advanced beginner, class three, good intermediate water and uh, learn to know the difference between them, look at your local guidebooks, learn how each guidebook rates rapids, because ratings do vary from place to place. Some ratings in some areas may be more difficult than in other areas. So get to know that and go out there and enjoy the water.