Big Water Technique – How to Paddle High Volume Rivers

photos: Safari Par Excellence

Despite the common misconception, Big Water doesn’t actually mean difficult water. It doesn’t directly mean hard rapids. Big water refers to the high volume whitewater found on high volume rivers. Big Water kayaking accentuates the features, challenges and needed skills you would find on everyday rivers and creeks, along with a few new ones. So even if you never plan to run something like the Baker, Stikine, Indus, Zambezi, Futa, high water Ottawa or any other famous “big water section,” you can still apply the techniques and skills described in this video to your local run. If you want to step up your Big Water game, even on high volume class III, check out this video and be sure to like and subscribe to keep this project going!

photos: Safari Par Excellence

This video specifically features high flows on the Ottawa River in Canada, the Río Futaleufú in Chilé, and the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Three high volume meccas on three different continents, all surprisingly attainable for the average kayaker without ever stepping beyond class IV.

Some prerequisites not included in this video:
The Lock In – How to Kayak in Boily Whitewater ( https://youtu.be/23tX29LUOsc )
How to Lean Boof – ( https://youtu.be/5tHBtc0r6bE ) This one directly applies to boofing water features.

photos: Safari Par Excellence

photos: Safari Par Excellence