Tubing, River-board, Sledging and Swimming
While kayaks and canoes are the most common mode of water transportation, adventure racers are sometime called upon to use non-traditional means of traveling on water. Tubing and river boarding (or sledging) are becoming more common features in races. This is good news for novice racers, because the speed difference between the fastest team and a well prepared novice team in an inner-tube is pretty small. Some races will also including swimming and whitewater swimming. Note, that these disciplines are unusual, and race directors will notify you in advance if swimming skills are required.
Tubing
For tubing, the first question is whether the water you are in will be moving fast or slow. If it’s going fast, you’ll likely put a premium in keeping your butt in the tube. Larger tubes typically will make for happier racers – there is no fun in finding out the hard way that your butt isn’t getting the protection from river rocks you expected. To add a bit of control and possibly some speed to your river journey, you’ll want to consider hand paddles like these.
If the water is slow moving, you may want to consider ways of speeding up your journey. The two most common are hopping out of the tube and kick behind (and then hopping back in during white water sections). If you anticipate kicking alot, you may want to consider river fins like the Churchill fins. These will speed up your river progress, but weigh you down if you have to carry them for any significant distances.
Some racers have had success using a kayak paddle on a tube. A serious note of caution however: Don’t try this for the first time during a race. There is skill involved, and it should be learned a relaxed and controlled environment. If using a paddle while tubing, consider a paddle leash to attach the paddle to the tube. You want to be able to drop your paddle at anytime, without worrying about it floating down the river.
Also remember that it’s easy to get real cold in a river real fast. That refreshing cool feeling mid-race may last for ten minutes – then cramping and hypothermia may set in. Often a good fleece or other water savvy clothing will be the prefect answer for chilly water. More extreme conditions will require a wet suit. A competent race director shouldn’t be sending novice racers into cold water without adequate warning, but if you know a river section is involved in race, take some time to research water temps and make your own judgments.
River Boarding
Several high profile races have started to introduce river boarding to adventure racers in the United States. River board (also called sledging or hydrospeeding) involves using a floating board of some sort and typically river fins to travel on moving water. While there are serious commercial river boards available (including the 8 lb Carlson board, most adventure racers will use a boogie board of some sort, which is much smaller. If using a boogie board, a leash system is critical. Some racers will also attach homemade handles – however, some races prohibit this practice as it may reduce the integrity of the board. When river boarding, fins are important to help control river position. As with other sports involving white water, consideration should be given to using a helmet and wetsuit. Carrying a river-specific knife may also be advisable to cut your tether in the event you become entangled. For rougher rides, padding becomes pretty critical – helmet, elbow and knee pads and shin guards will make you a happy camper.
About river boarding
River boarding website, with lots of info on gear and techniques
Ripboard website