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Q:
What is FaceLevel.com?
A: FaceLevel.com is a site dedicated to the newest
and most extreme whitewater sport, Riverboarding. The mission
of FaceLevel.com is to provide up-to-date news, how-to information,
and product reviews as well as facilitating
riverboarders in their endless quest for extreme
whitewater – in short, to be a central hub for the face level adrenaline junkie
community to gather online and learn more about the sports, swap
stories, plan riverboarding and airboarding events, and so on.
Q:
I’ve never riverboarded before. How should I start and what
do I need?
A: The best thing to do is visit the “Instruction ” section of this site. There you will find helpful instruction
on riding, as well as an overview on the gear
you’ll need, from helmet to flippers. Once you’ve
read up on that, check out the “Guides” section to see if there are any riverboarding guides in your area. If not, or if you’re feeling
mighty brave, search for a river
in your area, scout it out,
and hang on for the ride of your life! (Please
remember: Never ride beyond your ability, never ride alone, and
always go with someone who has experience with the river you are
riding, even if they are in a kayak or a raft. More
disclaimers>>> )
Q:
Why should I spend money on a board? Why not just swim, there
doesn’t seem to be much of a difference. And isn't this type of thing very dangerous?
A: Actually, there is a HUGE difference, as any
riverboarder who has lost their board in a large rapid will
tell you! The board provides extra buoyancy, steering control,
protection from rocks, etc. It’s like saying there is
no difference between snowboarding down a mountain and sliding
down it on your belly – there’s no comparison (although
sliding down a mountain on your belly using a thin sheet of plastic
known as a "crazy carpet" is a helluva lotta fun!). Aside from
the fun quotient being much higher on a riverboard, the safety
implications are huge as well – hydraulics
in rapids can suck a person down very quickly, and simply swimming
would put your lower body deep in those hydraulics. Using a
riverboard enables you to keep your body on a more horizontal
plane on the top of the water, which will usually keep you from
getting sucked down into the bubbling froth.
The common misconception with safety is that being in the water without some sort of boat (raft, pontoon boat, kayak) is deadly. Most rafters and kayakers are conditioned to believe that falling out of the boat is about the worst possible thing that can happen. To an extent, it is true that falling out of a raft in a class IV rapid and having to SWIM it poses a lot of hazard to your health - however, when properly equipped with fins and a riverboard, many times you will be SAFER riverboarding that same rapid rather than sitting in a raft. Riverboarding is definitely an extreme sport, however many times rapids that would eat a boat are relatively harmless on a board.
Q:
Can I ride in class V whitewater? What about going off of waterfalls
like kayakers do?
A: Yes to both questions, but it depends largely
on your experience, skill level, and cajones. We have
done both successfully, but from experience it is imperative that
you KNOW THE RIVER and KNOW
YOUR LANDING, respectively. Running a long class V river without
ever having so much as peeked at it is not a good idea. (See the
Scouting section>>> )
It’s also important to note that the line a kayaker might
take through a rapid is not necessarily the line a riverboarder
should take. (Learn to read whitewater>>> )
As far as waterfalls go, the two key factors are your courage
(or insanity, whichever it may be) and the LANDING. Check out
the “extreme” section
for more detailed instruction on riverboarding
waterfalls.
Got
a question of your own?
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