All sports have their own language. Whether they are undertaken indoors or outdoors, on turf or water, played by hand, racket or paddle. The adventurous skill of rafting also comes with a unique lingo. While you join us here at Cascade Outdoors on your very own white water rafting adventure, prepare yourself to pick up on some river lingo. Better yet, keep reading and learn it ahead of time. Impress your fellow rafters and guides with our selection of rafting and river terminology that we gathered for you. Relating to some of your rafting equipment, vessel and of course our playing field that is the white water river. Let’s get to it!

Paddle: Composes a blade, shaft and T grip that is used to propel and steer the raft.

Oar: Similar to a Paddle, this is a large 9-12 foot device that is also used to propel and steer the raft. Oars are more powerful than paddles. These are usually attached to the vessel whereas the paddle is hand-held.

PFD: Is a Personal flotation device. When you want to take a dip into the river be sure to have the PFD on you and make it a safe swim.

Bow: Refers to the area at the front of the raft.

Bowline: Is attached to the front of the raft allowing you to tie the raft to shore, while scouting areas or setting up camp.

Stern: Refers to the area at the back of the raft.

OS Line: Refers to Outside Line. This is the safety rope that you see running tightly around the exterior of the raft. An extra safety measure and useful for holding onto if you take a dip in the river.

Throwbag: A bag worn by the guide around his waist, containing around 20 meters of rope (yes, more rope). This is used to rescue a swimmer up to 20 meters away.

Put In: The place where you will launch your raft into the river.

Take Out: The place where your raft is taken out of the river.

Alluvial: A material consisting of clay, silt, sand and gravel, that is carried and deposited by the flowing water of rivers.

Cam straps: Used for fastening loads and rowing frames to rafts.

Carabiner: Used for securing water bottles and other such items to the raft and are essential for setting up rescue systems. A common accessory in outdoor adventure sports.

Drybag: A PVC bag which can be used for storing clothes on a multi-day trip or to keep small items on the raft dry.

Peli Case: A very resistant plastic box that keeps technological items and other valuables dry. These are commonly used by media companies to keep their, very expensive, filming equipment protected.

Current: The rate of movement in the water. Typically referenced to by the speed of the water flow as well as the direction and other variables.

Eddy: Created when water flows back upstream in an area void of the current. It’s usually caused by an obstacle, such as a big rock or boulder. This occurrence is commonly taken advantage of to slow down or stop the raft for a break.

Eddy Fence/Line: The swirly water between the current moving downstream and the eddy.

Hole/Hydraulic: Created by the river water flowing over a rock or a shelf, which then circulates back upstream. Holes or hydraulics can be turbulent so take caution.

Rapid: You encounter this when the water flows over and around a series of obstacles at or below the water level. This creates waves, holes, bubbly water and a current that at this point is usually quick and can be dangerous if not expertly guided.

Drop-Pool River: After a rapid, there is a calm pool to regain composure before the next rapid.

High Water: Can be experienced after rains, monsoon or snow melt run off into the river, making for a higher river water level and usually creates a faster current.

Low Water: This can be experienced at the end of the rafting season, when river levels are lower than average.

Short swimmer: Somebody who falls out of the raft and holds the OS line.

Long swimmer: Somebody who falls out of the raft and ends up further away. In this case a throw bag can be used to assist them back to the raft.

Self Rescue: Getting yourself safely to the side of the river after a swim, where you should then wait to be picked up by the guide.

Dumptruck: When the raft stands up on one side and paddlers fall out and the raft stays upright.

Surf: When the raft stays in a hole and rotates or moves significantly.

Wrap: When a raft broaches a rock sideways and gets stuck on a rock or obstacle.

Z Drag/Pig Rig: Two types of “mechanical advantage haul systems” that guides can set up to pull a raft off a rock that may be wrapped.

Now that you are wiser having learnt some rafting terminology, don’t wait to show off your knowledge on your next rafting adventure with us here at Cascade Outdoors on the Ocoee River. Choose our half-day trip if you’re down for some thrill seeking adventure or our full-day trip on the 1996 Olympics slalom competition course if you’re feeling like an expert and up for a challenge. See you on the river!