liveonearth

Do unto those downstream

as you would have those upstream

do unto you.

-Wendell Berry

liveonearth

This quiz is designed to help whitewater paddlers assess what class of whitewater you have the skills to run with success. For each question, pick the answer that is most true for you now, not historically. Rigorous and honest self assessment is difficult, but it may be your most important skill for longterm enjoyment in a risky sport. If you are not honest with yourself, this tool is of no use. Our abilities shift throughout life so keep checking in about what you can do, adjust your paddling choices accordingly. You do not have to tell anyone else about your process.

To take the quiz: Jot down a single number answer to each question, making a list that looks something like this: 1, 3, 2, 2, etc. You should have a list with 11 numbers by the end.

1. Rolling
   
   
   1. I roll most/all of the time in the pool but tend to bail in combat situations.
   
   
   2. When I flip on the river I immediately get into a tightly tucked set-up position and try a roll or a T-rescue.
   
   
   3. My roll is 90% or more successful on the river.
   
   
   4. I roll on both sides, have a hand roll, and can usually do one of those in a pinch.
   
   


2. Ferrying
   
   
   1. I can get across mild currents efficiently.
   
   
   2. I’m confident doing a strong ferry across moderate current with turbulence.
   
   
   3. I can jet ferry across intense current and hit the other side where I want.
   
   
   4. I am comfortable using waves and holes to cross a rapid upstream from dangerous obstacles.
   
   


3. Catching Eddies
   
   
   1. I catch the biggest eddy at the bottom of the rapid.
   
   
   2. I enjoy catching medium sized eddies in the middle of rapids.
   
   
   3. I like to sew up rapids by hopping from eddy to eddy all the way down.
   
   
   4. I am happy catching tiny eddies in weird places for strategic positioning or to get a view of what’s downstream.
   
   


4. Reading Water
   
   
   1. I need someone to follow because I'm not good at picking lines.
   
   
   2. I usually follow through new rapids and feel OK leading through familiar rapids.
   
   
   3. I can find my way down a new class II.
   
   
   4. I pick my own routes in unfamiliar class III rapids without scouting or following.
   
   


5. Playing
   
   
   1. I don't play because I don't want to flip over.
   
   
   2. I play at the best spots when I am in my playboat.
   
   
   3. I bow surf on waves when they have eddy service.
   
   
   4. I catch waves on the fly and drop into holes sideways for fun.
   
   


6. Rescue
   
   
   1. I hate swimming rapids and often need help getting my gear rounded up.
   
   
   2. I am good at self rescue and often get my kit to shore before anybody shows up to help.
   
   
   3. I always carry a throwbag and deploy it without hesitation.
   
   
   4. I can extricate boats and people from pins in the river most of the time.
   
   


7. Strength
   
   
   1. I need help loading my boat on the car.
   
   
   2. I can lift my own boat overhead and set it on a vehicle.
   
   
   3. I do shoulder and core exercises regularly because they improve my paddling.
   
   
   4. I can carry my boat 0.7 miles and then paddle and portage for 4 hours.
   
   


8. Cardiovascular Fitness
   
   
   1. My most vigorous workout is walking.
   
   
   2. I run, bike or do cardio at the gym at least twice a week.
   
   
   3. I do aerobic paddling workouts like sprints, slalom, or continuous/high water whitewater runs at least twice a week.
   
   
   4. I can carry my boat four miles uphill then paddle big rapids without problems.
   
   


9. Toughness
   
   
   1. I get emotional or angry when things don’t go well on the river.
   
   
   2. I am anxious sometimes on the water but manage my fear without requiring reassurance from others.
   
   
   3. I can take a bad swim or a beating on rocks/in a hole and still have a good day.
   
   
   4. I am cool as a cucumber and can function in life and death situations.
   
   


10. Flows
    
    
    1. I let other people decide when the flows are right for a run.
    
    
    2. I know what CFS stands for.
    
    
    3. I pay attention to gauge readings for each run I do (maybe even log them) and study the runoff/release patterns.
    
    
    4. I carefully investigate flow recommendations and patterns for new runs and enjoy high and low water.
    
    


11. Crew
    
    
    1. I participate in pick-up trips with people I find via the internet or clubs.
    
    
    2. The folks I usually paddle with are mostly weaker paddlers than me.
    
    
    3. I’ve had the good luck to fall in with a crew that’s stronger paddlers than me.
    
    
    4. I paddle regularly with a few friends who are strong paddlers and whose habits and idiosyncrasies are well understood.
    
    

SCORING
Don't cheat yourself!  Write down your answers to all 11 questions THEN follow this link.

liveonearth

SCORING FOR THE WHITEWATER READINESS QUIZ

Take the grand total of all the numbers you wrote down while taking the quiz and subtract 11.  Done.

How this works in a little more detail:
For each 1 you get 0 points.

2 = 1 point.

3 = 2 points.

4 = 3 points.

Consider this:

Lowest possible score: 0.

Highest possible score: 33.

SCORE RANGES

• 0-7 Beginner, still.  Stick to class I-II water and the pool, and take classes.  Confront your fears and master the basic skills of the sport on easy water.  Start playing in the river.
• 8-14 Early Intermediate.  Start finding and doing hard moves on class II water and master the skills before stepping it up to class III.  You may run class III rapids from top to bottom without flipping over but that does not make you a class III paddler.  What makes you a class III paddler is the ability to work those same rapids, catching eddies and using waves and holes to make moves in the heavy water.
• 15-21 Strong Intermediate.  Run all the class III (and a taste of IV) that is available in your region, at a variety of flows.  Play in bigger features.  Learn to surf holes and how to get out of them.  Start doing challenging moves on class III water before going on class IV runs or class III at high water.  Scout the class IV rapids that you run carefully and repeatedly, and over time, master every line in each rapid.  Remember that you can still portage or run shuttle whenever a rapid or run feels wrong.
• 22-33 Advanced.  Consider class IV whitewater unless you have a severe weakness in one or two areas, in which case, address those.  Run a LOT of class III and IV at a variety of flows and develop a strong, safety-conscious crew before considering class V. 

liveonearth

I am just back from a lovely day on the river, though I was somewhat psychological about it.  We paddled "the Farmlands" a class IV section of the White Salmon River in Washington.  The last time I was there I had a bad experience--I nearly drowned.  The time before that was even worse--somebody died.  These events have had a definite impact on my enthusiasm and confidence.  I have avoided the place.  I'm trying to get over my phobia but I am done running this section for this year.  I am not motivated to go there again at low water.  The smell of cattle is unappealing.  It really does go through farmland.

It's a narrow little stream in a basalt gorge pretty much the whole way.  Sometimes, like at Chris' place, the cliffs are 70 feet above the water.  Other places, like at Sidewinder, they're more like 5-15 feet high.

I was ready to take out at someone's property but decided to continue downstream and ended up having some fun.  I stopped dropping into my fear posture so fast and reminding myself to sit up and open my heart.

I did hurt myself.  I dropped the end of my boat on my own foot but it was not broken.  And my right shoulder is tweaked again.  These are the complaints of a kayaker who doesn't have anything better to complain about.  I could complain about my job but it's not that bad.  I could complain about W but he's gone for 4 days.  I am happy to be at home alone where I can eat an apple, cheese and crackers for dinner if I want to.

liveonearth

“Women have their place
in this world,
but they do not belong
in the canyons of the Colorado”

—Buzz Holmstrom in 1938