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| Trip Preparation |
Equipment:
What is included in the rental fee?
The basic rental fee includes the use of either a canoe
or kayak; paddle(s); personal flotation device(s); maps;
drybag; and shuttle service. An extra paddle will be
supplied for each canoe during overnight trips. Helmets
and spray-skirts can also be provided. |
Things
to Bring:
1. Bathing suit or shorts & T-shirt.
2. Old tennis shoes, water shoes, or sandals - NO FLIP
FLOPS!
3. Sunscreen and a hat.
4. If you wear glasses, a retainer strap is recommended.
5. Towel and dry clothes for after the trip.
6. In cool weather, you should wear wool clothing and
a windbreaker or a rain jacket.
7. Please do not bring along any jewelry or other valuables.
8. Plenty to drink!! Cold drinks for hot weather and
warm drinks for cold weather. (You can even pack a picnic.)
9. Valid Virginia Fishing License is required for all
persons age 16 or older planning to fish. If you are
a non-resident of Virginia, you are required to have
a permit if you are 12 or older. |
Things
to Remember:
1. Show up ON TIME...other customers may be on your
shuttle and do not want to wait for you and YOU MAY
BE LEFT BEHIND!
2. No glass containers or Styrofoam coolers.
3. No pets.
4. No littering.
5. Drugs and alcohol have no place near a river.
6. Age, height, and weight requirements vary by activity.
Please call for details.
7. Trips run rain or shine. We reserve the right to
cancel or postpone any river trip due to unfavorable
river levels and/or weather conditions (your choice
of a refund or a voucher).
8 . Deposit is forfeited in the event of a "no
show." |
Assumption
of Risk:
Outdoor recreational activities have inherent risks,
dangers, and hazards. Your participation in such activities,
including use of Canoe the New's services and equipment,
may result in injury, illness, or death. Canoe the New
assumes no responsibility for personal safety and/or
loss of personal property. We ask that you read and
sign a "waiver
and release of liability form" before
you make the trip. A parent or guardian must sign a "parent/guardian
permission form" for those under 18. You
participate at your own risk. |
Canoe, Kayak, Raft
Trips:
You are
responsible for yourself and your personal items on
the river. You must be in good health and be physically
fit. You should be in good mental condition and know
your limitations. You should expect fun and relaxation,
but know that there will be some challenges. You will
need to be able to assist in loading and unloading your
vessel and carry it over short distances. Because of
the risks associated with the sport, it is recommended
that you be a competent swimmer. If you have any special
medical conditions, consult your doctor before taking
any trips and notify a Canoe the New staff member about
your condition before participating. |
Orientation:
Before you begin your trip, Canoe the New will give
you a fifteen-minute orientation. Professional paddlers
have designed the American Canoe Association’s
National Livery Safety System to supply you with basic
skill knowledge that you will need to have a safe and
pleasant experience on the river. Some of the topics
you will learn about during the orientation session
are
1. The importance of wearing your life jacket and how
to properly size it. It is of the utmost importance
to wear your life jacket at all times on the New River
due to the unexpected rising river levels created by
the releasing of water from Claytor Dam.
2. How to lower your center of gravity by kneeling in
your boat.
3. Proper paddle selection and the basic strokes required
to paddle down the river and around the rocks.
4. How to properly "swim" a rapid should your
boat capsize or turn over.
5. How to properly "read" the water, how to
recognize hazards, and how to locate and navigate the
proper channels.
6. Not tailgating when in a crowd or with a group.
However, when in a group, keep the boat behind you and
the boat in front of you within your sight.
7. What to do If caught in a lightening storm: get off the river
and do not take shelter under the tallest trees.
8. How to avoid pinning and damaging your boat or losing
your boat.
9. Understanding the "things to bring."
10.Understanding the "things to remember." |
Weather/River
Conditions:
Please visit our river/weather
information page to view links to the current
river levels and weather conditions in our area. |
American
Whitewater Affiliation Scale of River Difficulty:
Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small
waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed
with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue
is easy.
Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide,
clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional
maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized
waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers
are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful,
is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of
this difficulty range are designated "Class II+".
Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular
waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can
swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current
and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges
are often required; large waves or strainers may be
present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful
current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume
rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties.
Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually
easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long
swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of
this difficulty range are designated "Class III-"
or "Class III+" respectively. |
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