If you have an objection, that you threaten nobody, it is not true. You endanger at least those persons, you have to draw out the water, together with a boat. Anyway, the beginning could not be difficult. Your friends or watermens´ schools are able to teach you paddling principles quite quickly and comfortably. So, what we know (at least partially) has a desired effect and satisfaction, is valid for descent of a river as well as for other activities, we do.

So, safely, with pleasure and successfully!

How to start? How to carry the boat to river-bank, how to put it on water-level, how to get into a boat, in which manner the paddle is to be hold, and how to work with it, how to drive the boat, how to be shipped away the bank, how to land, so there are many questions to be replied. Most of such abilities could be tought within a day. We let you know, what to do, not to know everything in reflexive way (this is mostly necessary). Anyway, it does not mention  that we learned everything.

Some rules for navigation and paddle-teaching are mentioned in following basic principles:

1)      first you will learn to descend the rivers of easy stages, in order to obtain your security to dominate the water safely, with confidence and certainity.

2)      you have to cooperate with back-person in boat (the communication is necessary, in order to solve the unexpected moments in water), and you will learn essential signals and commands, including terminology.

3)       perfect understanding of drives, so the boat ruling, brings a success, so no cold bath in waves is to be expected.

4)      as soon as you become efficient in navigation, river-research and water-following in rapids, you obtain an abiltity to drive through rapids in a safe way.

We can continue with many advice. Watermen who did not follow these instructions, and are alive and healthy among us, have certain experience, sometimes even incredible.

Anyway, it is very simple advice - to take your own understaining with to a water!

When we rule our boat in calm water, we try to avoid the obstacles on river, to drive through the bending, where the stream draws under alder-tree, to avoid the stones in the middle of river, drive under low bridge or foot-bridge, etc.  We use technical elements - body- movements and  paddle catches. These elements enable us to drive the boat at direct drive, to change sharpely the direction, even back navigation is possible to be effected.

How to run into stream from calm water, how to avoid the biggest wave in weir?

We learn these abilities by means of often paddling on rivers only. 

We have to distinguish the stone-position in  rapid deep in water, if it is possible to drive (run) across, or if there is a danger that the boat will be broken through, to estimate, if slanting stream at washed away the bank allows to run through between those bank and broken willow-tree, if we run across  the wave to opposite bank, in order not to knock against fallen tree?

Water is natural element, it has an unbelievable power and there is impossible to rival with it. Anyway, we can take advantage of its strength, in order to help us.

And this is real watermen´s art, to get acquintance with a river, learn to read it, and be able to take advantage of stream power to our profit.

The river flows down from the hill, it is great and wide, or narrow and overgrown, there are a lot of stones inside in river-bed, some waterfall occurs from time to time (it has water enough!). River presents various obstacles and traps, so the difficulties at river-descents started to be marked with difficulty-stages. So, river-difficulty stages were registered.

They are marked as ZW (calm water) or WW (wild river), divided in six stages ? WW I ? WW VI.

Description of difficulty stages:

- name

- river-bed character

- pretentions for a driver and a risk ?  beginners have to be able to land

- necessary equipment

-example at water-level stand (situation).

ZW

-         calm, flowing

-         clear, stream speed up to 2m/sec., without obstacles and rapids

-         knowledge of basic catch (contact) and boat driving, no risk in case of overturning, self-rescue easy

-         open boat with bags against diving, swimming waist-coat for youth

-        Lužnice-river in section Suchdol-Veselí at water stage 160 cm in Bechyně

WW 1

-         easy

-         small rapids with regular waves, clear, narrow bending flows with bank overgrowns

-         knowledge of boat ruling on flowing water, risk at swimming is minimal, self-rescue easy

-         boat secured against diving, swimming waist-coat as well as helmet is to be recommended.

-         Střela -river in section from Rabštejn at flowing out of Žlutice-dam ? at 5m?/sec.

WW II

-         slightly difficult

-         bigger rapids with waves, wide but well readable passages in river-bed, rather bottled up, more narrow river-bed with smaller rapids, quicker reactions appreciated, several obstacles are well to be followed, and it is easy to avoid them , after some training in advance, the inspection is not necessary, swimming risk is small, self-rescue is not difficult, but friends´help is an advantage

-         knowledge of boat ruling on rapid´s water is useful, the landing at back-manoeuvre is necessary, training and experience is to be recommended.

-         open boats, well secured against diving, closed boats are better, swimming waist-coat and helmet is a must.

-         Sázava-river from Krhanice at water stage 80 cm in Nespeky.

WW III

-         difficult

-         rapids with higher irregular waves, easier rollers, terrain is rather blocked, rapids in turnings, less clear, narrow and unclear places with obstacles. Attention: on rivers with higher flow  there could occur sharp-tasted boundaries and ?cauliflowers? in returns, but these are not many. It is possible to avoid more difficult places. The inspection is suitable at places, we intend to drive for the first time or possible changes are to be expected (fallen trees). Danger of injuries is not critical, self-rescue is to be done, but friends´ help is appreciated, otherwise you have to swim for longer time-period.

-         knowledge of drive-technics as well as drive-tactics on wild-river is necessary, suitable training is appreciated, necessity of quick ruling (mastering) of boat on such water stage is requested.

-         boats are to be closed, single boats are better, other conditions similar as in case of WW II, protecting dress recommandable, rescue equipment and practice in its use is desirable.

-         Elbe-river in section Labská-Kukačka at flow 20m?/sec.

WW IV

-         very difficult

-         great and hard rapids with big waves, rollers, ?cauliflowers?, whirls, water-congestions at obstacles, hardly blocked river-bed with narrow passages with stages and slides, less clear but to be forseen. Enormous waves and rollers could appear, it is necessary to run through. The advance inspection is necessary in case of first drive, and always to be recommandable. The risk for swimmers is middle or even big, self-rescue is complicated. The help of friends is absolutely necessary, and experienced practice is required.

-         complex knowledge of technics and tactics on hard water is required. Terrain requires quick manoeuvres under pressure. It is necessary to enter into turning and think over the next proceeedings. Rapids can be at risk-boundary. Knowledge of Eskimo turning is a must.

-         Similar as in case of WW III, practice in rescue-operations and use of equipment  are absolutely necessary, psychical resistance is a must.

-         Jizera-river in section Mýto-abyss, at water-level of 80 cm in Mýto

WW V

-         extremely difficult

-         great waves, rollers, high stages, stream speed is high, terrain is extremely unclear and blocked. The risk for driver is extremely high. Rapids immediately start on each other, turnings are missing and if they appear, you need to know it in advance. The advance inspection is absolutely important and necessary, it is difficult. Swimming is dangerous and rescue very problematic.

-         reactions under pressure must be as quick as lightning, run in special groups with enormous experience and practice  is a must. You have perfectly master Eskimo turnings, your equipment must be perfect and for 100%, practice in rescue activities and security must be perfect.

-         same as in case of WW IV,  stable groups of experts, your psychical as well as physical condition must be high.

-         Jizera-river in section Mýto-abyss, at  water-level of 100 cm in Mýto

WW VI

-         boundary of passage

-         water terrain is extremely difficult, full of obstacles, passable at certain water-level and ideal conditions, including special preparation for driving.

-         same as in case of WW V

-         same as in case of WW V

-         Jizera-river at Cutisin-factory, or Vydra-river in section near to Turner chalet at high water level

Places on upper or lower boundary of each stage is marked with signs + or -.

(this means, rather difficult or a little easier). This is a subjective valuation. Difficulty stage gives also risk-measure.

We wish to draw your attention to final part of this chapter ? you have to follow the actual stage of water-level as well as momentary drivers´- form. Driver´s (waterman´s) physical and psychical form influences perception of flow-difficulty in subjective way. Even an experienced expert, he does not feel quite well, could have serious problems on relatively easy water.

Now, let´s explain some expressions in rivers-difficulty stage.

The expression self-rescue: it means to rescue yourselves, boat and paddle alone, without help of third person. It depends on your experience, sporting maturity, good equipment, training and abilities of each waterman, of course.

Anyway, you would try to fall out the boat (canoe, kayak or raft) at first. It is important, otherwise it could happen that you could get - under stress - hysterical attack. Attention - fear and panic are your greatest enemy on the water ! If you will intensively drill this activity, or try at least, we do not have any problem to fall out the boat (problem of beginners - kayak drivers: your legs are wedged in boat and your head is over the water). As soon as you fall out, you prove to find your way about water-level as well as in flowing water, to catch the boat (waterman does not drop his paddle!) or eventually your back-driver and reach the bank with a boat. It is easy in so called ?light water?.

However, in rapids of higher difficulties there is a question of big experience and good swimming efficiency. As to swimming experience: it is not in style effect, but in physical and psychical capability of waterman. Swimming in flowing water is further discipline which would be proved. It means - to swim throughout safe rapid, safe raft-sluice, of course, with corresponding equipment and under supervision seems to be a good training to solve various problems after turning up in more difficult water. As soon as you come out and find your way in water, you try to take hold the boat at one edge, in order to swim with the stream, with a boat placed  below. In opposite case, the danger would occur that the boat squeezes you against obstacle (stone, tree) and fragile human body could not stand it, and, provided the squeezing occured under the water, the finish would be tragical. As far as the boat is concerned: you do your best , with help of water (its streaming, returning stream, etc.) to reach the bank or shallow place at least.

Attention: do not  rise in stony river-bed  in strong stream, you can cause wound!

You can rise in a moment only, when you feel ?bottom on your feet?, and a water-stream cannot trip it. Anyway, the way of swimming is in connection with it. You do not try to swim various styles but you put on your back, with raised head, in order to follow the direction where you swim. Your legs are moderately wrinkled, and put ahead down along the stream, and also moderately raised, ready to muffle eventual collision with the obstacle. This way of swimming could be changed in a moment only, when you quickly need to reach the bank.

In such case, you can use (provided you are in deep water) crawl-style, in order to reach quickly the bank or shallow place.

In case of flat or stony river-bed, you can reach the bank by means of so called ?rolling-wallowing? to the bank (you may get many bruises, of course).

Provided the turning up and swimming occurs in really difficult water-stream, your decision could be hard but inevitable, what to do and how to do it. In most cases (see difficulty table) your self-rescue in water-stream of difficulty stage over WW II would be rather difficult.

So, you can choose your self-rescue first of all, and the boat and paddle leave aside and do not solve it. You start with swimming on your back, but in first moment when you see the possibility how to reach the bank, you change your swimming style and with several hard and quick rate of speed you try to overcome stream-boundary and opposite-stream and swim to the bank. Your experience, as well as your physical and psychical  conditions are absolutely necessary. We can even state that in water stream of  WW IV and higher difficulties you cannot reliable swim, and knowledge of Eskimo turning in such type of water is absolute must! The same is valid for rescue operations with necessary experience from the bank. It is very difficult to swim in hard water-terrain, the similar conditions are valid for floodings. Flooded river or brook increases  measure of danger for every waterman. Stream speed is too high, and obstacles in river-bed are difficult to be discovered and avoid it, while swimming, when a lot of materials there are moving in a water, is very difficult, or even impossible.

The other terminology, used in difficulty scale is well known to most of watermen.

Rapids, cascades, waterfalls,whirls and others - these are obstacles of running navigation, which occur on rivers, doing us partially a pleasure, partially troubles, provided we do not overcome it. As far as obstacles, such as weirs and dams, are concerned, we do not range to obstacles (or exceptionally) - these phenomenons are sources of danger as of pleasure. You need to have extremely great experience to distinguish, if the weir in way is safe for passage. Moreover, at each difference of water-level, the danger of weir, rapids, and descent of  flow itself, changes. So, two essential aspects of flow-difficulty are: slope and passage across. he higher slope, the more difficult river is, similar it is valid in case of passage. Great rivers or water surfaces are dangerous owing to its extensity, in case of turning up, the bank is distant. On the contrary, the narrow flows are dangerous, owing to its sharp bendings, trees along banks and in water. Your precise entrance into meander requires real strategist, you arrive a bit aside and you find immediately below washed away bank in brushwood - no pleasure, indeed.

A specific way of danger - as mentioned above - present high water-levels and floodings. Under such conditions,only experts only can navigate. Water is acting in different manner as in standard river-bed. Great (big) water is more dangerous in narrow or rocky river-beds (you are drawn below rocks), the boat is pressed into alluvions, where turning up is always dangerous. In such case, there is not necessary big water volume available. Flowing change in 20 cubic meters in Sázava-river near Krhanice does not increase the difficulty, but for Kocába brook it is highest flooding stage! So, for most of watermen it is best advice: not to drive during flooding period! It is better to wait untill water level begins to drop.

The weirs : it is a special chapter. There are many in our rivers. Some of them, ( on rivers mostly used for relax navigations) can be passable, but attention must be paid to its water-level stage!

On the other hand - there are weirs, known as killers - most of it are generally known. Its wall is perpendicular, parabolic or oblique, the weir could not be too high. It does not depend on its height, but especially on its under-weir form. This can be with ?oppositeslope? or small pier in extraction, weir-body is washed away and water below does not flow. It seems so, we can see that water returns below raid and flows out below along the bottom (we do not see it!) However, there is no way out of such weir-type (frankly speaking, the way out exists, but at bottom only). There is no good idea to try it in such way.

Even the most experienced watermen are not successfull in such operations.

If you can see weir, where the water returns back and gently disappears in a raid, and below the weir there are moving trees, stumps or boughs, it is mostly so called ?dead-weir? as described above.

There are special signs along rivers, attractive for tourists, similar to traffic signs, warning about  dangerous weirs. However, these signs are very often damaged, so, it is valid - in general - precaution: to land in front of the weir, make an inspection and decision afterthat.

In case of high water-level stage, it would be better to try it sooner as in last moment.You are recommended to carry over your boat, it is no shame, but victory of your common sense. The same is valid in your life, when you firmly decide, not to risk, would you keep it, cost what it may.

Last, but not least: not only water terrain and obstacles created in the river, but also persons along could become dangerous to us. It is similar as on the road. Provided you are forced for descent of difficult weir, the danger-degree is high. If your friend decides for running through unpassable weir, the danger arises not only for him, but also for potentional rescuer.

The influence of human´s  neighbourhood  is obvious, similar as the influence of bad weather, muddy water and other unpleasant things. On the other hand, warm weather, emerald green water with white wave-tops and jolly friends are much more pleasant!

Well, summarized: what does increase danger, while navigating on rivers?

-         unsufficient knowledge of paddling technics.

-         tactics shortage in water reading, unsufficient experience.

-         swimming ignorance in flowing water.

-         unsuitable equipment for certain river-type.

-         lack of information about river conditions.

-         river-difficulty passage (slope, river-bed form, obstacles).

-         constructions in river (attention for bridge-pillars!).

-         weather conditions, water-temperature and its purity (dirty water causes depressions).

How can we danger-degree eliminate or decrease at least?

-         good and sufficient equipment (dress, swimming waist-coat, helmet).

-         skills and knowledge of paddling.

-         rescue knowledge.

-         experience and training of all skills.

-         good psychical stage, absence of alcohol.      

Text: Vojta Jančar

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