Big Water Technique - How to Paddle High Volume Rivers

with Boyd Ruppelt (formerly Send School)
with Boyd Ruppelt (formerly Send School)
51,578
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Published 2022-10-31
Despite the common misconception, Big Water doesn't actually mean difficult water. It doesn't directly mean hard rapids. Big water refers to the high volume whitewater found on high volume rivers. Big Water kayaking accentuates the features, challenges and needed skills you would find on everyday rivers and creeks, along with a few new ones. So even if you never plan to run something like the Baker, Stikine, Indus, Zambezi, Futa, high water Ottawa or any other famous "big water section," you can still apply the techniques and skills described in this video to your local run.

This video specifically features high flows on the Ottawa River in Canada, the Río Futaleufú in Chilé, and the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Three high volume meccas on three different continents, all surprisingly attainable for the average kayaker without ever stepping beyond class IV.

If you want to paddle with me and get more comfortable paddling in big water yourself, be sure to look into my Big Water Confidence Week at Wilderness Tours through Ottawa Kayak School. Here's a link for more info: wildernesstours.com/boyd-ruppelt-signature-week/

Some prerequisites not included in this video:
The Lock In - How to Kayak in Boily Whitewater (    • The Lock In - How to kayak boily whit...   )
How to Lean Boof - (    • How to Lean Boof & Ear Dip   ) This one directly applies to boofing water features.

BOAT CHOICE (since someone asked and I had thought about putting into this video):
Typically, a half slice is ideal for big water because the edges and slicey end can be great for getting out of holes and they still have plenty of drive to move across powerful sections and enough speed to launch off waves or over holes. Playboats are great for safer big water runs because they easily go under anything you don’t want to deal with, but are really fun on big waves too. The downside is that you can’t drive as fast if you need to make moves or rescue someone as easily in a playboat… Zambezi is pretty pool drop and safe so playboats are great in there at average to low flows. I typically only pull out a creek boat if the seams are deep enough and powerful enough that I want the volume to keep me at the surface, and then the modern high-rockered creek boats are best because the parting line usually sits pretty high on those so they don’t get pushed around as much… ie the Gnarvana and Z3 are much easier to paddle in big water due to their shorter submerged length than the Nirvana. With less rocker and more length, the Nirvana gets pushed around a lot more easily in high volume rapids... The bottom line is that you have to choose based on safety, your skill set, and the way you want to paddle.
All Comments (21)
  • @cjhickspe1399
    We don't have a lot of big water but when we do have a huge wave I always wind up riding right up the face of it and getting flipped on my back just like you describe around 12:20. Great video.
  • @toddwinslow9974
    Super helpful Boyd! Being a new kayaker, I find the educational value of your videos is first rate. IMO, this is possibly your best video to date!
  • @jacquesblackburn7329
    Very well made video, I learned a lot on viewing it. I have a lot or experience in kayaking but don't paddle a lot big water and you discuss and explain very well how to paddle big water. I will try to apply it as much as I can next spring.
  • @tammybryant5507
    Thank you for sharing!! I'm really intimidated by big water. This video will definitely be a game changer for me!
  • @The_Varza
    I think this is hands down the best instruction one can get without traveling a ways and shelling out much cash for lessons! I'm not paddling now nor for the foreseeable future, but I'm watching to get my "fix".
  • @kprice399
    Awesome video! Great instructional
  • @johnrflinn
    A classic ledge hole is in the middle of Lava Falls.
  • @mytrainingblogbyelmore3109
    I like this video a lot! You offer the best explanations I've heard of some of these big-water phenomena. You're making me want to get out there!
  • @PALSRide
    Another good video with lots of great information and I think I’ll try some of the techniques
  • @Clambelly
    insane video ... thank you for sharing !
  • @AnyDayOnTheWater
    Big water is the best water!!! 😊 I have been to the Futa 3x (and counting) by far my favorite river in the world. My first time there, it was like I had to relearn everything! I think the best thing a new/beginner big water boater can do is don’t rush through the “easy” stuff and look for places to practice “hard moves” in safe water or as I was told “make Class 4 moves in Class 2/3 water”. Spend as much time as possible making hard eddy’s, doing attainments, playing in the boils, figuring out how to ride the the surges and look for safe spots to practice with big eddy fences (which I think is one of the most intimidating things).   Thanks for the great video!