Recommended Minimum Content for a Guide Training Program

Augrabies Workshop, August 1999

1. Purpose

To provide guide trainers with a checklist of the essential skills and knowledge that a guide trainee

must learn in order to safely and competently guide a raft.

2. Content

A. Skills

i) Rafting techniques

ii) Crew training and management

iii) Emergency and rescue techniques

B. Knowledge

i) Equipment

ii) Safety and emergency procedures

iii) Rapid theory

iv) Leadership

v) Signals

A. Skills

i) Rafting techniques

a) Paddling strokes - forward, back, rudder, draw, forward and reverse sweep, pry and/or Rowing

techniques - pulling, pushing, turning;

b) Ferry glides - forward and reverse;

c) Breaking in and out of eddies;

d) Rapid reading - identifying whitewater features from the boat and from shore (scouting);

e) Rapid running - choosing and running a line using appropriate angles and positioning in relation

to currents, rocks, waves, holes and hazards;

f) Setting off/landing - in a controlled manner, securing a boat;

g) High sides/overs;

h) Lining/ portaging.

ii) Crew training and management

a) Safety talk - including explanation of risks involved, correct adjustment of life jacket, helmet,

footwear and other appropriate clothing, sitting position and bracing, dangers of kneeling and loose

T-grips, “whitewater float position” ie. feet up, on back, looking downstream, swimmer rescues

using outside line, extended paddle, defensive/active swimming (mentioning strainers, if

applicable), throw bags and safety kayaks (if applicable), flip drill;

International Rafting Federation

Guide Training and Education Committee

b) Crew placement - considering experience, strength, weight, agility, confidence, physical and

medical condition;

c) Paddling technique - clear demonstration of strokes, practice, correction;

d) Other instructions - overs/highsides, holding on;

e) Assessment - recognising and understanding the strengths and limitations of a crew then choosing

appropriate lines;

f) Motivation - getting a crew to do what you want.

iii) Emergency and rescue techniques

a) Specific skills - swimming in rapids, getting self/others into/onto a boat, shallow water crossings,

rope techniques including knots, use of throw bags, belaying, anchors, mechanical advantage

systems, vector pulls, strong swimmer rescue, tag lines and tension diagonals, reflipping a boat.

B. Knowledge

i) Equipment

a) Raft - design, construction, materials, correct inflation/deflation sequence, working pressures,

valves, name and function of components, repair.

b) Guide - appropriate clothing and footwear, life jacket, helmet, paddle, throwbag, knife, whistle,

flip line;

c) Client - appropriate clothing and footwear, life jacket, helmet, paddle;

d) Rescue - use and storage of ropes, slings, prussiks, pulleys, carabiners, other hardware;

e) First aid - use (to level specified in Recommended Minimum Requirements for Guides) and

storage of kit, appropriate position within trip;

f) Repair - use and storage of kit;

g) Rigging - safe and secure rigging of frames and any equipment carried in a boat;

h) Maintenance/care - on and off the river especially during transport.

ii) Safety and emergency procedures

a) General safety - factors contributing to accidents eg. alcohol/drugs, inappropriate/poorly

maintained equipment, potential river hazards eg. strainers, high water, importance of maintaining

visual contact with other boats;

b) General emergency procedures - situation assessment, deciding on and conducting a rescue

considering resources available, time limitations and safety priorities, informing and motivating a

crew;

c) Swimmers - recovery of short swimmers by guide or crew, long swimmer options include

instructions to swim, paddle reach, chase, throw bag, safety kayak, other rafts.

d) Surfs - use appropriate highsides/overs, head count, communicate with other guide(s), rope

rescues;

e) Flips - get on boat, head count, communicate with other guide(s), reflip or pull up swimmers;

f) Wraps - stabilise, head count, communicate with other guide(s), consider likely fate of boat if

released by chosen method and take adequate precautions, release boat by upsetting balance/stability

of wrap;

g) Foot entrapment - options include shallow water crossing, tag line;

h) Stranded crew - best method according to reach, throw, row, go, tow principle;

i) Hypothermia/hyperthermia (if applicable) - avoidance and treatment.

International Rafting Federation

Guide Training and Education Committee

iii) Rapid theory

a) International grading system - know and be able to give local examples;

b) River features - understand hydraulics and potential dangers (if applicable) of the following:

pool, tongue/V channel, eddy, eddy line/fence, boil, whirlpool, standing wave, crashing wave,

stopper, hole, pourover, wrap rock, undercut, strainer, sieve, ledge drop, drop/waterfall, constriction,

chute, corner, cushion/pillow.

iv) Leadership

a) Understand theories of leadership and group dynamics.

b) Responsibilities.

v) Signals

a) Visual - all clear (direction), eddy out, stop, emergency, first aid required, all OK, swimmer(s)

(number and location), boat surfing, boat wrapped, boat flipped, cover required, lost paddle, need a

pump, last boat, spread out, close gap, speed up;

b) Whistle - 1 blast - Stop/Attention, 3 blasts - Emergency.