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10.21.09
In The Drink
Corey Norman gets up-close and personal with
Amberjack Falls during a riverboarding trip on Maine’s Penobscot River.
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RUNNING A STRETCH OF CLASS IV WHITEWATER can be an
exhilarating experience on a raft or kayak, but on a riverboard things
get personal.
Riverboarding is the American name for a board sport that relies heavily
on the use of swim fins for propulsion and steering. It uses a special
board with high buoyancy, which provides high-floatation in heavily
aerated water. In Europe, it is often referred to as hydrospeed, while
in New Zealand it’s known as whitewater sledging.
As we sat in the eddy above Amberjack Falls on the Penobscot River, I
could feel my heart begin to race. Having never been on a riverboard, I
felt awkward trying to move around in the water, but soon that would
pass. Our objective was simple: swim directly towards a massive Class IV
hydraulic known as Big A-Hole, and at the very last minute cut our
boards, kick really hard, and hope you reach the opposite shore before
getting sucked down river into another stretch of rapids. This was a lot
harder than it sounded.
Every muscle in my legs burned with exhaustion, but still I kicked, all
the while the roaring of the rapids growing louder and louder. Closing
my eyes, I began to kick harder. From the opposite shore, I could hear
our guides yelling, “Keep kicking, you’re almost here.” Gritting my
teeth, I summoned the last bit of strength I had and kicked. I kicked
hard, and when I opened my eyes, I was floating in the eddy. I had made
it, and I felt great.
“That hard part is over,” Matt, our guide, smiled. “That was the most
work you’ll have to do all day. Why don’t you take five while we wait
for the others.”
It’s speculated that riverboarding started in France some thirty years
ago. Participants yield a helmet, PFD, boogie board, wetsuit, and swim
fins. Due to the relatively small investment required to purchase this
gear, riverboarding has seen quick rise in popularity.
As we waited for the rest of our group to cross the river, Matt began to
point out our next run. One by one our party began to enter the eddy. As
our final group member crossed the river, our other guide, Karl, began
kicking downstream towards the second drop of Amberjack Falls instead of
entering the eddy. The rest of us were motioned to follow.
Now it’s one thing to run this rapid in a boat with a vantage point some
three to four feet above the surface of the river, but when you’re
staring at eye level into a rapid, things get a lot more real.
Instantly, you begin to respect the river. My stomach dropped, my
muscles tensed; there was no turning back. I hit the rapid with such
force that I almost lost my board; but I didn’t. At the outset, the
current pulled me right into a small eddy where I could catch my breath.
I didn’t want to rest here; I wanted to ride it again!
With such an intimate approach to the river, it’s no wonder why this
sport has drawn such a large following over the past few years. Dan
McDonald, owner of Penobscot Adventures, estimated several hundred new
customers this season alone. With the ability to bring thirty people on
the river at a single time, he can only see this number growing.
Although there are many styles of riverboarding, Penobscot Adventures
focuses primarily on surfing holes. According to Dan, it best utilizes
this particular stretch of river, as the water is deep and free of
obstructions that may cause injury.
Surfing a wave is done in the same fashion it is done with a kayak. Swim
up river until you meet the eddy line, cut the board, and let the
current suck you into a nice sticky hole. There, you ride the wave much
like you would ride an ocean wave, except for the fact that you’re
stationary. A good ride can last anywhere from a minute to an hour, but
while you’re in the pocket time seems to stand still. The intense
thunder of the hole drowns out all other sounds, as your board moves
through the water at what feels like one hundred miles an hour while
towering waves surround you on every side. It’s a very Zen-like
experience. In the hole, riding the monster, you become one with the
river. Welcome to your newest addiction!
Ж
Freelance writer Corey Norman is also a
professional film maker and adjunct professor at Southern Maine
Community College.
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