White water rafting is a fantastic thing to experience
. It is sheer exhilaration combined with the most super fun packed experience ever. The important thing with this sort of daring activity which is often described as an extreme sport is to understand that it is how you approach it that makes the difference. Be prepared to take white water rafting instruction seriously and in a responsible manner and not something to dismiss. It is good for you to learn a little about the activity, prior to commencement.
As a complete beginner you will need some sort of instruction from a qualified person. However, by learning something about the sport beforehand you will be in a much better position to absorb the instruction. You only require a small amount of knowledge to understand the tips on the technical aspects and various tricks you can do. This will arm you with a mountain of confidence, just knowing about and understanding the basics.
As you learn, you will begin to assimilate the degree of the various dangers involved in rafting. This should not frighten you or put you off. With most sports there is danger involved; once you are ahead on safety aspects and understand what to do and what not to do to keep you safe you will feel much safer. For example, when you are in the water with your raft and oars, there may be rocks or debris floating in the water. These could quite easily get in the way and cause unforeseen damage to the oars. To avoid this happening ensure you keep the blades tucked in firmly to the side of the raft to eliminate risk of possible damage. You could place them in front of you or tuck them against the side of the stern to keep them safe from floating obstacles that are often not seen ahead of you in time, and this will help avoid mishap.
In time, as you practice you will gain more skills and be able to master the various tricks and turns. You may surprise yourself in becoming more proficient than you thought. There are lots of manoeuvres for you to learn from a professional such as "punching". This technique helps build momentum. Once you are using this technique you can conserve energy which you can reserve for other moves that may require more expertise. Skill comes with time and patience and perseverance so do not give up too soon.