I agree this is a really helpful topic for new people, especially because, as you said, it doesn't get covered a whole lot most of the time. I boated for months before I even figured out what a hydraulic was, all I knew was that sometimes I would get sucked into things and flipped. (I know that sounds elementary, but when you're starting out there's a lot of other stuff to figure out at the same time. :)
So this is kind of basic, but for beginners a big thing is trying to spot holes from upstream - I would say look for a hump in the water that doesn't fluctuate a whole lot in height like a wave formation is more likely to, and where you might be able to spot some water flowing off to the sides.
(And then run away, run away. ;)
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Being a beginning class III-IV boater, I am still learning to read water. I feel like I have progressed fairly well in learning to read water, mostly because I've 'had the opportunity' to learn. Several things have helped me progress:
- Friends making me lead the rapids. Obviously not the first time on the run, but the 2nd or 3rd time down something, they will commonly catch an eddy in the middle of the rapid, or slow down (both still difficult for me), and thus, I will lead.
- after i run a rapid, looking back upstream to assess what i saw from above, and what it looks like from below. This is pretty helpful to get an idea of what features look like.
-always reading water. even when i'm on a new run, and someone is leading me down, i like to stay 30 ft or so back, so i can adjust as i see fit. a small pourover that a more skilled kayaker can boof without even thinking may be something that i want to avoid.
Irene has a point about trying to acknowledge holes and avoid them. . however, learning from Fish's school of hard knocks, I end up charging a lot of holes, which have resulted in lots of flips, and a handful of swims. This has worked for me, because now i am comfortable flipping in holes, and I know which ones will typically flush out.
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