Rafters learn how to flip off — and get back on

Tue., May 10, 2011

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

RIVER RUNNING —The mountains are groaning under the weight of near record snowpack.

Now that spring finally does appear to be arriving, river rafters are expecting the runoff to be epic.

The local Northwest Whitewater Association will prepare rafters for the invevitable carnage in this whitewater bliss by holding a pre-season “flip clinic” on Sunday, 5:30 p.m., at the Spokane Valley YWCA pool.

Preregister by Friday by contacting Paul Delaney, s pokanerafterguy@q.com or call 509-220-8018. If you’re not a member, you’ll need to join the association.

As this video shows, many rafters have little trouble flipping their boats upside down in big rapids.

But most all river runners need a little practice in learning how to flip the boats upright so they can continue the journey.

Check out the highlights captured at an outdoor “flip clinic” and produced by Dave and Shelly Becker.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog