Guide 'Air'

There are many reasons one can enjoy the Guide lifestyle. Some like to simply entertain others, some like the outdoor recreation aspect, others enjoy the thrill of the unexpected. As for me however, I enjoy doing things that some would consider careless and/or reckless. Guide Air can provide many thrills to a river trip (for a Guide) on even the most mundane (yes the low water gets boring for us at times) of White Water adventures.

For the ignorant, Guide Air is a guide technique that utilizes the flex of a raft as well as timing to launch oneself into the air. The forces and effects are very similar to hitting jumps in the snowboard park! This can generally be accomplished even off of the smallest of waves when the correct technique is applied. Let me go no further without saying this is for experienced guides ONLY and can/will lead to dangerous swims through any rapids where 'Air' is 'caught'.

I cannot remember the first time I remember seeing this or using Guide 'Air' as I have been rafting 1/3rd of my life now. I will reflect on one memorable takeoff and landing, or lack thereof, in the following paragraph. I will also share with the community of river rafters some of my favorite waves to practice guide aire dangeriously.

My most memorable launch into the air is by far on the Hudson River this past April 08. So no s%&t there we were 8.5 feet in the Narrows, I had another perfect line as it was my 3-4th time of the season on the river, I saw out of the corner of my glory seeking eye a camera man on River Left. For those who don't know I'm a sucker for the moment, my moment, being captured on film. Knowing the rapids was at least half over, I waited for the perfect second, as the stern of the raft sprung onto the crest of a 20-25 foot wave my legs leapt with all their might. I was like a rocket ship launching from the forces of gravity. I was airborne at last. I felt nothing, not gravity, nor fear (of swimming or the wrath of my boss). I was looking around from the crest of my jump at the cameraman in disbelief on river left, to the kayackers picnicking on river right. I spotted my landing in the raft many feet below me. As I began to descend however, I realized my mistake. I never told my gusts in the raft to stop paddling hard forward. Sure enough the well oiled crew paddled my landing pad right out from under my feet. As I came to the realization that I was going to make a water landing I quickly snapped my legs into a tucked position to ensure they didn't penetrate too deeply into the river. I would describe the scenario as a poorly executed cannonball. due to a thunderous torrent of whitewater I held my breath as I submerged. My tattered vest brought me to the surface a little bit more slowly than I had wished. I surfaced with paddle in hand and swimming for my life (literally! the Narrows at that level is proven deadly). I was going from troth to crest of wave, after wave, no smaller than the one I had used to execute the maneuver. My adrenaline elevated my level of awareness to unimaginable heights. after swimming the remainder of the rapids I finally caught up to my raft (which was still paddling) and climbed in.

No Sooner did I regain control of the helm of the craft did I notice 4-6 gusts from Mikes raft swimming the rapids. I don't know what happened but I helped them out as well.

Some good waves to try it as far as im concerned:
Hudson
1) the indian river has a one glassy wave downstream from mels pic wave in Indian head rapids just right of center
2) No name rapids has 2-3 great potential waves as it is an easy wave train
3) the rapids by the sandy beach just up stream of the narrows has one on river right
4) Big nast has one center river in the steep section
5) fox den if you go down the waves rather than the ledge on river left

Black
1) Hole brothers river center
2) Zig half way down
3) the big wave at shave & a haircut
4) K2 @ Knifes edge - I have not done it yet as the swim can be very ugly and im a puss

Sac
The wave on river right in the first rapids I know as vesouvious (after the volcano that wiped out pompai)
any of the number of waves in the second rapids.

Moose
Yeah im not doing it in any of the named rapids but there are a few in between the big stuff that are good for a few feet there or there as you see them. maybe one day ill throw down in tannery or somthin' (for the video)

So folks keep an eye out for the flyin guide!