Safety rivers

THE SAFETY

DESCENDING A RIVER IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. A CERTAIN NUMBER OF RULES NEED TO BE FOLLOWED AND PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BEFORE YOU SET OUT. IF YOU'RE LACKING EXPERIENCE, MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT THE PROFESSIONALS FIRST.

Safety

- Rivers are classified from I to VI (see under) in accordance with their technical difficulty.
Ensure that the class of river is appropriate to your level of competence.

- Always wear a helmet.

- PAlways wear your life jacket even on stretches of calm water (do not open or undo it).

-

Never try and place your feet on the river bed to avoid getting caught on underwater obstacles.

- Avoid and never try to hold onto branches.

- Do not approach dams or hydraulic gates either from upstream or downstream

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Categories

Each course is classified according to criteria laid down by the French Canoeing and Kayaking Federation<

Classe I :

easy. Steady course, consistent waves, small eddies, easy obstacles.

Classe II :

moderately difficult (clear course), irregular flow and waves, moderate eddies, gentle whirlpools and rapids, easy obstacles along the course.

Classe III :

difficult (visible course), high, irregular waves, fast eddies, whirlpools and rapids. Blocks of rock, small descents, and various obstacles along the course.

Classe IV :

very difficult (course not visible in advance, prior recce generally required), continuous big waves, fast and powerful rollers. Rocks obstructing the course, steeper descents with back currents.

Classe V :

extremely difficult (prior recce essential), extreme waves, whirlpools and rapids. Narrow
stretches and very steep descents with difficult approaches and exits.

Classe VI :

barely navigable, but dependent on water levels. Only for those with high technical
expertise. Severe risks

THE DURANCE RIVER

THE ROMANCHE RIVER

THE GYR RIVER

THE GUISANE RIVER

THE SEVERAISSE RIVER

THE GUIL RIVER

THE DRAC RIVER

THE UBAYE