In a recent Sunday Mail column I revealed a fun new outdoors activity called river boarding. Read the article here or look below.
Try Riverboarding
What is it?: A crazy way to descend a white water river by surfing on a foam board.
Tell me more: A high-adrenaline outdoor sport import from New Zealand, riverboarding takes sea surfing boogie boarding to fast flowing rivers.
Participants wear wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets to surf-ride down river and over rapids lying prone on large boogie boards.
Fins are also worn on the feet to help with forwards momentum on sections of water that are flatter or slower.
Phil Robinson, of Outdoor Pursuits Scotland, leads riverboarding on the River Tay in Perthshire and taster sessions at Pinkston Watersports In Glasgow.
He reckons it’s a great thing to try if you have enjoyed white water rafting.
He said: “Participants need to be game for getting into the water and being fully immersed.
“They need to be able to deal with having pretty much no control whatsoever as they descend the rapids.
“This activity is fast and furious and tons of fun. Everyone who does it says it offers a real buzz of adrenaline.”
For people who are not so sure about a big river environment, you can try riverboarding on Pinkston’s purpose-built kayaking water flume.
Phil said: “We are very safety conscious when doing this activity in the rivers and we have instructors leading the group and kayaks as back-up where required.
“However, Pinkston is a great place to try riverboarding first before going wild on the river.
“The switchback flume still gives a charge of adrenaline fun and is perfect for beginners.”
Anything else to know: On the Tay, a riverboarding trip heads 3.5 miles from Stanley to Thistlebrig.
The are five main rapids, including those named hell-hole corner, wee stinker and the weir.
To finish, riverboarders can attempt the ultimate challenge of the trip – navigating the fastest and longest rapid, with the biggest waves.
However, this is nothing compared to the record-breaking riverboarding descent claimed by South African-born adventurer Mike Horn.
It’s said he descended a 22m (72ft) high waterfall on the upper reaches of the Pacuare River in Costa Rica on his board.
This is not something to try on your own though!
Anything similar?: Riverboarding has two siblings sports, white water sledging and hydrospeed.
Another Scottish outdoors provider, Boots ’n’ Paddles, guides white water sledging tours on the fast-flowing River Garry, near Loch Ness.
This is particularly full-on when the dam higher up the river is released.
More sedate outings take place on the River Feshie, near Aviemore.
Who can riverboard?: Lower age limits of around 14 apply and boarders need to be good swimmers.
To find out more: www.outdoorpursuitsscotland.co.uk and www.boots-n-paddles.co.uk