There are mainly three types of paddlers:
Lily Dippers, Soldiers and MacGyvers.

Lily dippers have so much respect for the water, they don’t even touch it. How to spot one? Just watch their paddles, if they’re rowing in mid-air, you’ve found one. A curious fact about lily dippers is that most of them actually think they are touching the water. How can that happen, you ask? The fear of the river can overwhelm our senses, block our awareness of the surroundings, and most importantly, of one’s own actions and body consciousness. Another interesting thing about them is that the speed in which lily dippers row their paddles in midair is directly related to the amount of fear they are feeling. The more scared they feel, the slower they paddle, until the point where they are so scared they just stop paddling, without even realizing it. Sometimes lily dippers can touch the water lightly and sometimes they can really stick their paddles in the water for a couple of strokes, but it never lasts for long.

Soldiers are great listeners. They listen to everything their guide says and does exactly what is asked of them. How to spot one? If they are in resting position, they are ready to paddle, if they’re down at the bottom of the boat, they are ready to recover, brace in, and paddle. They waste no time and all of their actions have the precision and promptitude of a soldier. They are always focused on their mission, scouting the future with their eyes, analyzing what’s ahead, and ready to hear any command they might receive. If they are paddling, they are looking to keep a good paddling rhythm. They observe how the others are paddling and try to stay in sync with the others with each stroke, leveling their pace and strength to that of their companions. If you see a raft with 6 soldiers, it will look like a Viking boat, with all the paddles touching the water at the same time. The boat will move throughout the water with precision, dodging rocks, breaking through big waves, and navigating the river as if it was a pavement highway. Soldiers are ready for war and they can conquer any river.

MacGyvers think they are soldiers, but they want to be the best soldier. They listen to commands and deliver their very best at every time, focused on strength and digging deep in the water at all times, delivering super powerful strokes. They scout the river ahead of them and try to dodge rocks by themselves, with no commands. A curious fact about MacGyvers is that you can usually know they are MacGyvers just by looking at them, for they are usually visibly strong and muscular and, most of the time, they are familiar with the river, having rafted a few times before. Because of their size and knowledge, they feel like they can help the guide by starting to guide the boat by themselves. How to spot one? If you see a guide giving too many strokes to go anywhere, there is usually a MacGyver in their boat. If you see a costumer trying to manhandle a raft that was stuck on a rock, with or without the guide, you are watching a MacGyver in action. If you see a guide yelling a forward or backward command for the crew and the boat is turning right or left (and the guide isn’t turning the boat), try to spot which of the costumers is the MacGyver. If you see someone paddling when the guide didn’t give any commands, you have found a MacGyver. They are a true workout for their guide, who has to over correct the boat at all times. MacGyvers usually have a good heart and are genuinely trying to help.

How to know which type of paddler you were?
If you heard your guide say: “Paddles in the water!” or “dig”, or “dig deeper”, you probably were a lily dipper. In that case rafting can help you overcome your fear of whitewater. Keep coming and try to be more conscious of your paddling each time. You might become a soldier with time and you can also help others that are afraid of white water overcome their fear by setting a positive example.
If you heard your guide say: “Keep it up” or “We are looking like a Viking boat”, or “That’s perfect”, you were probably a soldier. You are ready to keep rafting and to explore more rivers if you want to. You are the example people will follow and you’ll have a lot of fun each time you set your feet in whitewater.
If you heard your guide say: “Don’t paddle unless I ask you too” or “I got this”, or “You’re overpowering others, can you give a little less?”, you probably were a MacGyver. If you’re guiding when you should be in crew position, maybe you’d like to become a raft guide and go through guide training. I’d advise you too, it’s lot’s of fun and you’ll learn a lot! A better understanding of the river and the raft seems to be what your mind is seeking.

By: Laura de Leers