Rafting Honor

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Have the Swimming Beginner II honor.

   Answer: You need to have previously completed the Swimming Beginner II honor, proving mastery of the basic elements: back and front floating, coordinated lateral breathing, front crawl over a minimum distance, feet-first jump into the water, and aquatic safety (knowing how to help yourself in calm waters). — The International Rafting Federation (IRF) requires swimming certification for all participants - falls into the river are expected on Class III or higher rapids; without basic aquatic skills, the risk of drowning increases drastically.

2. State how many difficulty levels of rapids there are and explain how this classification is done.

   Answer: There are 6 levels (Class I to VI) in the international rapids difficulty scale (IRF/ICF), classified by the force of the water, waves, obstacles, and the technique required: Class I - calm water, small ripples, no difficulty; Class II - light rapids, low waves, simple maneuvers; Class III - moderate and irregular waves, requires precise maneuvers (the most used in tourist trips); Class IV - intense and powerful rapids, with obstacles, requires an experienced team and quick maneuvers; Class V - very violent, long, and complex rapids, high risk, only for experts; Class VI - the extreme limit of what is navigable, risk of death, rarely run. The classification takes into account the volume and speed of the water, the size of the waves, the presence of rocks/drops, and the difficulty of the rescue maneuvers. — The International Scale of River Difficulty was developed by American Whitewater in the 1950s and adopted worldwide — in Brazil, the Jacaré-Pepira River (SP) is class II-III, ideal for beginners; the Itanhaém River offers class IV descents for experienced paddlers in high season.

3. With a group of at least 4 people, demonstrate the correct way to board and exit the raft at a pier on the riverbank.

   Answer: Boarding: the raft must be stabilized and tied to the pier; one person at a time climbs in, holding the side handle; they sit on the side tube of the raft (not on the floor); distribute the weight evenly between the two sides (2 people on each side for 4). — The 'one at a time' rule prevents the raft from capsizing - unbalanced weight can cause it to flip sideways in seconds, especially near the bank where there is still instability from the active boarding/disembarking of the others.

4. In a raft loaded with at least 4 people, demonstrate the following maneuvers:
   • Forward stroke
   • Backward stroke
   • Right backward stroke
   • Left backward stroke

   Answer: Forward paddle: everyone paddles forward simultaneously, in sync, making the raft advance. Back paddle: everyone paddles backward (the opposite), stopping or backing up the raft. Right back-paddle: the RIGHT side paddles backward while the LEFT side paddles forward - the raft turns to the right. — Loud and clear commands are essential because the noise of the water in rapids (which can reach 90 dB) prevents whispers from being heard - professional guides learn to project their voice in specific training.

5. In a raft loaded with at least 4 people, while crossing a rapid, demonstrate the following safety movements:
   • Hold
   • Inside (or floor)

   Answer: The 'Hold On!' command: everyone drops their paddle, grabs the side handles of the raft firmly with both hands, and holds on tight - used when a strong wave is coming or when hitting a rock. — Lowering the center of gravity drastically reduces the chance of capsizing - a basic physical principle of stability: the lower the center of mass, the greater the lateral stability, which is why racing cars have a chassis close to the ground.

6. Cite at least 3 safety items needed for the practice of rafting and describe the usefulness of each one.

   Answer: Essential safety items: (1) Helmet - protects the head against impacts with submerged rocks, with the raft, or in falls; (2) Life jacket (PFD) - keeps the person afloat even when unconscious; it is mandatory for everyone in the raft; (3) Paddle - used to steer the raft and also as a rescue aid (extend it to a companion who has fallen); (4) Throw bag - a bag with a rope thrown to pull in someone caught in the current; (5) Closed/water footwear - protects the feet from rocks and cuts when entering and exiting the river. — The PFD Type III life jacket is the minimum required by law in Brazilian commercial rafting - it provides 7.5 kg of positive buoyancy, enough to keep an unconscious adult floating face-up without external help.

7. Describe the correct position to take in case you fall into the river and are being carried by the current through rapids.

   Answer: Defensive position: lie on your back (float), with your feet forward in the direction of the water flow (downstream) and raised near the surface of the water; arms spread out to the sides for balance; chin to chest, keeping the head up. Look at where you are going. — 'Foot entrapment' (a foot caught between rocks) is the main cause of death in rafting - the force of the current pushes the victim underwater, and even experienced swimmers cannot free themselves; this is why there is an absolute rule of NEVER standing up in waters with rapids.

8. In a raft with at least 4 people, demonstrate the rescue of a person in deep water in the following ways:
   • Person within a distance of 2m from the boat, using the "T" zone of the paddle
   • Person more than 3m from the boat, using the rescue rope

   Answer: Rescue up to 2m: extend the T-grip (handle) of the paddle toward the victim; they grab it firmly and are pulled sideways to the edge of the raft, where they climb up by the side handle. Rescue beyond 3m: throw the throw bag (a bag with 15-20m of rope) with force and aim at the victim - they hold the rope and are pulled gradually to the raft, preventing trauma to the spine or shoulders. — The throw bag has a polypropylene rope (it floats on water) of 15-20m and is one of the greatest inventions of modern rafting - it allows for precise and forceful rescue without the rescuer entering the water, multiplying the safety of the operation.

9. In deep water and with a group of at least 4 people, demonstrate:
   • How to right an overturned boat
   • How to climb back into the boat without help from another person

   Answer: Flipping the raft over: 2-3 people position themselves on the same side of the overturned raft (upside down in the water); they pull the side rope (flip line) firmly and simultaneously with force - the raft turns back to the correct position. — The technique of climbing in by yourself is called 'self-rescue' and is practiced in pools during training - professional guides can climb in within 5-10 seconds, a vital skill when the victim is the only guide or is far from help.

10. Travel at least 10 km on a river with Class III or higher rapids, demonstrating knowledge of the rafting safety rules.

    Answer: Plan a descent of at least 10 km on a Class III+ river (e.g., Jacaré-Pepira, Itanhaém, or Cubatão Lajes in São Paulo) with a certified professional guide. Beforehand: complete equipment (helmet, life jacket, paddle, raft), a briefing on the maneuvers (forward/back/right-back/left-back), safety commands (hold on/get down), the position when falling (on your back, feet forward). — The most-used Class III Brazilian rivers in commercial rafting are the Jacaré-Pepira (SP, ~12 km), the Itanhaém (~10 km), and the Cubatão (PR, ~20 km) - all with operators certified by ABETA (Brazilian Association of Adventure Tourism), which guarantees international standards.

11. Research 2 rivers near your region that are suitable for the practice of rafting and collect the following information:
    • Location of the river's source and mouth
    • Stretch where rafting is appropriate
    • Times of the year when the river is favorable for rafting
    • Minimum and maximum difficulty level of the river
    • Minimum and maximum depth of the river
    • Height of the largest drop (rapids)
    • Level of water pollution

    Answer: Research 2 rivers in your region (e.g., the Jacaré-Pepira River in São Paulo): its source in Brotas/SP, its mouth in the Tietê River; a 12 km stretch suitable between Brotas and Itirapina; favorable all year round, with a peak from November to April; Class II-III; depth 1-3 m. — CETESB (the Environmental Company of São Paulo) publishes the WQI (Water Quality Index) annually - rivers with a WQI above 50 are suitable for direct-contact sports such as rafting; below that there is a risk of diseases from contact with contaminated water.