Whitewater rafting is a fun, diverse, and exciting activity. However, over the years we’ve heard some weird and wacky excuses not to do rafting. As we’re passionate about this adventure sport, we look to dispel some of the myths that put people off rafting down a river. 

The Equipment is Too Expensive

Rafting, especially for the casual crowd, should not be an expensive pursuit. For most whitewater rafting trips, it is unlikely you’ll need much equipment at all. To do the activity you should head to a specialist center such as the Ocoee Whitewater Center who can organize and rent out all the necessary equipment for you so you don’t have to worry about bringing anything other than the right kind of clothes. 

It is Too Dangerous

Dangerous? It shouldn’t be. If your whitewater rafting experience is dangerous then either you’ve gone specifically for that kind of challenging course or you have perhaps gone off-piste in terms of whitewater rafting venues. We recommend always doing whitewater rafting at a center with qualified river guides and proper health and safety standards in place to ensure it isn’t a dangerous activity. 

It’s The Same Experience Anywhere

This really shouldn’t be the case as every rafting course is different, and even on the same ones your experience can vary depending on a variety of factors. You won’t be sitting on a raft all day nor will you be bored at any point – how can you be when you’re on the river with magnificent views on either side of you? Even if you’ve done your local or even national rafting sites, there are also plenty of amazing rafting venues around the world as we explored in a previous blog. 

You Must Be Experienced

This is definitely not the case! Any whitewater rafting center worth their salt will always offer courses for all levels. Total beginners are certainly welcome. Rafting guides are trained and prepared to work with all different types of able-bodied people of all levels… which brings us to another myth…

You Have to be An Athlete

We say that as long as you are diligent in following instructions and can walk, hold a rope and use a paddle then you should be fine. People who raft as a leisure activity come in all shapes and sizes and have different levels of athletic ability including their ability to swim. The river guide will act accordingly depending on your level and that of the group. If you are unlucky enough to fall in then you shouldn’t worry about that either as a guide will soon pull you back up on the raft and everybody has to wear a life jacket anyway. 

You Have To Go Camping Too

Although many of us like getting away from urban life and into the great outdoors, some don’t like the idea of sleeping anywhere else other than a nice, comfortable bed. Going on a rafting trip doesn’t have to be a multi-day event, in fact, here at Cascade Outdoors, we offer half-day and full-day activities. 

You Can’t Eat Well

We dispelled this particular myth in our last blog. Gone are the days where the expectation was just basic food of meat and bread. These days there is so much affordable equipment available out there. Whether you’re cooking a freshly cooked meal on the campfire or have brought store-bought or home-cooked meals with you there really is no excuse not to eat well if you have picked a multi-day rafting trip with camping included. 

So as you can see, rafting is safe, fun for all levels and whether or not you make it a multi-day adventure, that is completely up to you. Now you can book your rafting trip worry-free!