Extreme Sports
Beginner adventure

White water rafting is an adventure sport in which a raft is used to navigate a river or any water body. It is usually done on rapids or white water to keep up the excitement. A river goes through different gradients and flows from a higher gradient to lower gradient. When the river’s gradient becomes sharp, frothy water is formed consisting of bubbles and aerated water. This has a white appearance hence termed white water. The sport has been popular since the mid 80’s.

White water rafting is suitable for all age groups as various types of rapids are available for different tastes and experience. Almost anyone with a reasonable health can go for white water rafting. It is a good way to spend a vacation, travel abroad, be among the nature, get the sun and of course get a tan. It is considered a good way to release the stress. The expeditions range from a day to a month. White water rafting is now widely practiced through out the world.

The essential gear required for White water rafting is a raft. The inflatable boat is the most common raft used. It is made up of layers of durable rubber fabrics and independent air chambers. Various sizes are available ranging from 11 ft to 20 ft. White water kayaks are also popular. They are made of plastic or fibre glass. Safety gear, water proof bags & cases, hooks, knifes, ropes and camping equipment are essential. Almost all these are available on hire.

April to October is a good time. For thrill seekers May & June are suitable when the rapids are more turbulent. White water rafting is done throughout the world round the year.

White water is classified into 6 categories depending on the difficulty:

• Class I: Smooth water but fast.
• Class II: A little bit of rough water with eddies and easy drops
• Class III: Whitewater with rapids irregular waves, back eddies. Swimming, self rescue knowledge is must.
• Class IV: White water with whirlpools, high irregular waves, for experienced adventurers.
• Class V: White water with dangerous obstacles, violent rapids, boiling eddies. Scouting is essential before going on such expeditions
• Class VI: Extremely dangerous unexplored rapids.

Due to interaction of river and riverbed various features are like strainers, eddies, waves, pillows and holes are formed. The passage of water through large objects, (usually boulders) causes a strainer. Holes are formed when water pours on top of submerged objects that cause the water to flow backwards which rushes over the object. Waves are fronts formed on water surface flowing down. Eddies are swirls or rotating water flow. When large volume of water suddenly comes against an obstruction, the water flows to a certain limit over the obstruction causing a pillow.

The popular destinations are South Fork American river, Colorado river, Arkansas river, Salmon river, Merced, Kaweah in US. Rivers in Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. Ganga Yamuna and Teesta rivers in India.

There has been concern by environmentalists due to activities of White water rafters like dredging the river bed. However white water rafting also contributes to the local economy.

Ron Fowler said it feels like being hit with a wet towel. Bryan Vasaris said it’s like being snapped with a rubber band or stung by a bee. Being shot by a paintball gun doesn’t sound very fun. So why is paintball one of the fastest growing sports in America, according to the National Sporting Goods Association? “It’s a stress relief, because you can go out and shoot at people and not dangerously hit them,” Vasaris said. “But it’s also being with a group of guys that you like to hang around with.”

The most commonly played paintball game is “capture the flag.” There are rules variations, but the object is for a team to capture the opposing team’s flag while protecting its own. Players eliminate opponents by shooting them with their paintball guns.
The games can be played outside in an open field or forest, or inside at a specially designed facility with inflatable bunkers and other obstacles. “It’s not the hide-and-seek game everyone thinks,” Vasaris said. “It’s really action-packed and fast-paced.” Players use carbon dioxide- or nitrogen-powered guns that fire thin, gelatin capsules filled with non-toxic paint - the “paintballs.”

Vasaris, 22, who has been playing paintball since he was in high school, will be a senior at the University of Cincinnati this year and is the president of the school’s paintball team. He said getting shot isn’t as bad as it seems. “After the first time, I didn’t even think about getting hit,” Vasaris said. “There is such an adrenaline rush that you don’t even feel it.”

For those who want to experience that rush, there are plenty of paintball facilities around Cincinnati. A good place to start for beginners is the Hueston Woods Paintball Club at Hueston Woods State Park.

Tom Arvan, who has been the paintball club’s general manager for 12 years, likes to promote the game to new players. “My personal enjoyment is seeing the kids play and seeing first-time players come off the field with a grin on their face,” Arvan said.
Hueston Woods is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and offers two fields, including one that is wooded with some constructed obstacles. The cost to play is $27, which includes a gun, a carbon dioxide tank, 200 paintballs and protective gear. Players who have their own equipment pay $12. The fields are open Monday through Friday by reservation for groups of 15 or more. Arvan said Hueston Woods has catered to birthday parties, bachelor parties, fraternity and sorority parties and corporate outings. “We have had high praises from corporate groups for team-building,” Arvan said. “It’s a game that really fosters some friendship and sportsmanship.”

Arvan said his paintball field is open to players of all skill levels. “Paintball is a sport that isn’t dominated by youth and physical size,” Arvan said. “We’ve had mom, dad, grandma and grandpa out here.”