Raft guide

A raft guide is a trained professional capable of leading commercial white water rafting trips. Most raft guides are employed by commercial outfitters who run either multi or single day trips.

Typically first year raft guides are required to undergo a training program often run by the company before beginning to guide commercial trips. This training, called guide schools, utilize classroom and on-river experience to train students in rigging and maneuvering vessels; river flow and hazards; scouting and running rapids; and river rescue and emergency procedures. Trainees are required to have a minimum of Basic First Aid and CPR certifications. Additional advanced certifications such as Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescue, White Water Rescue or Emergency Medical Technician are strongly encouraged.river rafting is an adventure sport in which expeditions are taken down rivers. Raft guides are also usually required to obtain a food handlers license, as preparing food is a large component of being a guide.

Training may include such skills as:

A typical raft guide is usually in his or her twenties but for some river lovers old habits die hard. The majority of raft guides are seasonal employees and work during the spring and summer months when rivers are flowing. However, some raft guides chase summer and move to places such as New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Africa during the winter months to continue rafting.

A raft guide's job is to keep people safe on the water. They are also tasked with entertaining customers and navigating the boat. Skilled guides are able to read river features and move the boat in a way so that everybody stays safe and has fun. On smaller rapids guides will turn the boat and go through rapids a certain way to ensure that everyone on the boat gets wet. On larger rapids it is the guides responsibility to keep the raft from flipping in unsafe places. Some guides will flip on purpose in safe spots, where the term flip to tip comes from.

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