Safety
Some things go faster on the river than you think.
Here are a few tips to make the fun really fun.
Quick & Dirty the most important things:
1 don't get tangled up! - Leashes / ropes / trees
- - No (normal) leash: Never carry a normal leash on the river. This can get tangled and drown. We recommend leash with quick release systems. This must be on the upper body so that you can pull it easily and quickly.
1x1 Leash: On open water (lakes, sea) you always want to be connected to your board so that you can always safely go back to the shore. On the other hand, when in doubt, you always want to release your leash on the river. The quick-release systems from NRS with carabiners are super practical, but can stop in rare cases, making the solution impossible. Jeroen Houttuin from Supzero always replaces the screws in his quick release system with thin cable ties. If any mechanism of the quick-release system fails, it tears off the cable tie connection as soon as you pull hard (e.g. the leash hangs on a branch)
- - Do not wear anything on your body that can get stuck somewhere (e.g. backpack)
- - Watch out for any ropes. Rope ferries, bungee surfers, fishing nets - and keep your distance. The same applies to ropes, for example to tie boats or boards together. (When we picnic on a quiet section on our boards, we put the paddles or our legs across to hold the boards together)
- - Stay away from trees and bridge piers. Depending on the current, you and your board can be pressed against objects in the water. Even in waters that seem to be calm - if suddenly you are pressed against a pillar or branches, it is suddenly not so harmless. On the Aare, for example, boats are regularly folded together on pillars by the water pressure, especially on narrow pillars. Sometimes the inmates are included. The ramifications of trees under water often go further than you think. (for some, especially wide bridge piers, which we know well, we do sweeping exercises - but simply not in case of doubt)
2 Wear a PFD / life jacket
This keeps you afloat in an emergency (almost always).
3 Wear shoes
Just hanging the foot from the board, there was a broken glass (own experience) or paddle lost and walking barefoot on gravel for meters to collect it again - any questions?
4 Cold water only with appropriate clothing!
Weary - but still an underestimated topic when paddling: Without protective clothing, the Swiss rivers can only be paddled for a few months. The cold ä'7zgv cWasser is underestimated, especially on a sunny warm day. Experienced paddlers want to enjoy the sun, something unexpected happens (be it just a bird or a boat wave from behind) - fall into the water, there is a cold shock before you can even grab your board, your arms no longer do what you want. Depending on the water temperature, only use cold water with neoprene or a dry suit!
5 Study the river in advance, pay attention to the surroundings, weirs and signs
Study a river map, know possible weirs, your entry and exit and watch out for possible dangers on the way, even on a relaxed summer day, when you drift on your back: just lift your head from time to time and see what comes. Even if you already know the river by heart, sometimes a new tree is stuck somewhere. Please do not paddle weirs down, there is a suction beneath them, in which life jackets do not help much either.