How to Use Paddle Signals for Whitewater Kayaking

Video Transcript

"In order to communicate on the river, we need to figure out river signals or paddle signals. It's hard to speak over the volume of the river especially, if you're on one side of the river and I'm on the other. Right now I'm standing on river right. Over there on the other side of the river is river left. We orient river right and river left by the water flow. This is always river right because it's the way the river's going and that's always river left even if I'm turning and facing in this direction. The river comes from upstream and heads downstream. In order for me to communicate which side I'd like you to go on or what I would like you to do, here are a few key signals. If I just put my paddle straight up in the air or I put my hands straight up in the air, just come on ahead and come this direction. If I point my paddle in this direction or my hand it means go that way. If I point the paddle in this direction, it means go that way. I'm in a point positive. I'm in a point where I want you to go, not for the photo. If I want you to stop or slow down, I'm going to put this across like this. This means stop, pull over, check out what's going on, or we need to just collect everyone and pick our route. There are a few other signals I like to use in the river. There is one that's major emergency. That means get out of your boat, come down and help. That's more moving the paddle way like this, or you can use your helmet to do the same thing. That indicates a major emergency or something important is going on that we need your help. The other thing that I like to use with my friends is I'm going to do something like this. It means I'm okay. And I hope if you're okay, you would respond back. I'm okay, you're okay. If you're not okay I don't want you to respond back. If you do this that you're okay, then that's that great, we can continue on our way. If you do the not okay, shaking your head, then I'm going to come over and see how you are and what I can do to help. Those are the key signals. When you do give a signal, you want the signal back so you know the person has seen the signal. So keep in mind how to communicate on the river. There are many other signals on the river, but you want to review those in your group before you go on the river to make sure everyone's speaking the same language. Have fun and communicate."