How Hydrospeeding Works

Life on a river is similar to picking your vacation destination. You can go with a calm trip with plenty of relaxation, a busy itinerary packed to the brim with activities or a mixture of the two. And when you go hydrospeeding, you can also pick the mood of your ride when you select the type of rapids you want to meet. Rapids are distinguished by difficulty to navigate, from class I through the impossible-to-ride class VI. Class I rapids are easy, small waves, while IV or V are more violent and difficult to ride. The higher the class, the more you need to factor in the hydraulics of the river.

The hydraulics, or behavior of water over obstacles, is affected as water flows over those obstacles, such as logs and rocks. This can create unpredictable situations where a swimmer might be pulled under water. However, it also creates opportunities for whitewater athletes with hydrospeeds in hand to use the hydraulics to perform tricks and ride the rapids.

What does this mean? This means that where a lone swimmer may have a hard time fighting the hydraulics of a river, folks out hydrospeeding can use their boards to stay afloat, steer and protect their bodies. The board provides added buoyancy, or ability to float, in the river, which keeps the individual on a horizontal plane on top of the water -- meaning he or she won't get sucked down by the hydraulics.

With this added buoyancy, your ability to ride down a river and use the physics of the water flow to your advantage is enhanced. In fact, this is known as "reading the river." Reading the river involves three steps, as follows:

Think you're ready to read a river yourself? Continue to the next section to pick up some tips to get started.

The open river is calling, and you're ready to get started? First, you need to have substantial athletic endurance and be a strong swimmer. Therefore, your first task is to take swimming lessons if needed.

Your second task is to get started safely. Venture out into calm water to test your skills. The board should end at the bend in your waist, freeing your legs. Roll around on your board to get the feel of it and practice for balance. Use your upper body for balance and steering; use your lower body for steering and movement forward. Practice kicking hard, stopping and turning.

Once you're comfortable, move to short class III rapids. Become familiar with how the water pushes and pulls you. If you flip backwards, move up on your board more. In this safer environment, practice falling in to see what that's like. Don't forget to read the river, as explained in the previous section.

After you have built up a strong relationship with hydrospeeding and ridden some stronger rapids, you may be ready to perform some whitewater tricks. You'll find you have some nice trick options available to you -- all with fun names like boogie surfing and el rollo. If you're out with a guide, talk to them about these tricks and other ones you might be ready to add to your lineup. Here's a quick description of boogie surfing and el rollo to get that conversation rolling like the river you're riding!

Now that you've picked up a few pointers, boogie over to the next section for some important safety reminders. After all, who wants to be sidelined by a preventable injury?

When it comes to extreme sports, proper safety precautions can not only be your best friend, but also a true lifesaver. Consider the following before venturing out to the river:

As much as these tips will make your trip safer, you also need to use your best safety advocates: your own quick thinking and common sense. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on where you're heading so you can avoid any hazards. Take a break and get out of the water and scout the river for obstacles.

For example, avoid logjams -- one or more logs obstructing a river's flow. Stay away from sieves, which are areas where water gets caught around obstacles. When looking for a sieve from the shore, you'll see the river flow into the obstacle, but might not be able to tell where it comes out.

While you're at it, also be on the lookout for eddies, areas that are almost like a whirlpool, and shallow, rocky rapids. Most importantly, look down the river to make sure you aren't approaching a waterfall out of your league. From on the river, you can watch the horizon line and listen for the loud noises associated with waterfalls.

Keeping these safety measures in mind, you, too, can join in on the action and hop in the river. And whether you decide to call your new sport hydrospeeding, riverboarding or sledge, you'll be following in the wake of other adventurers and creating your own way down the river.