? River grading in rafting, kayaking and whitewater sports: Understand to navigate better ?‍♂️

❓ Why a grading system for whitewater rivers?

If you want to go ? rafting, ? kayaking or hydrospeed?, it is important to understand how ? rivers are classified according to their difficulty ⚠️. This classification helps you know what to expect, whether in terms of ⛰️ obstacles or risks in case of ? falls.

Just like ? climbing or canyoning ?️, whitewater courses are graded from I to VI (1️⃣ to 6️⃣ in Roman numerals), allowing evaluation of technical difficulty ? and required commitment ?.

? The 6 classes of river difficulty

• Class I ?: Calm water with small waves ?, perfect for beginners ?.
• Class II ?: Easy rapids with clear obstacles ?.
• Class III ?: Moderate rapids requiring good control ?.
• Class IV ?: Powerful, technical rapids, scouting often needed ?.
• Class V ?: Very difficult rapids requiring excellent skills ?.
• Class VI ⚫: Extremely dangerous ⚠️, rarely navigated ?.

? Commitment levels

• E1 ✅: Easy access, quick exit possible ?‍♂️.
• E2 ⚠️: Difficult escape, time needed to reach a ? road.
• E3 ❌: Almost impossible exit without external help ?.

?️ Iconic rivers in the Alps and Pyrenees

? The Alps with EVP - Eau Vive Passion

• Durance ?:
  • Gorges of the Durance ?: Class III-IV E2 – varied and technical ?.
  • Rabioux to Embrun ?️: Class II-III E1, ideal for beginners ?.
• Ubaye ?:
  • Classic course ?: Class III-IV E1, a must in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence ⛰️.
  • Royal Gorge ?: Class IV-V E2-E3, for thrill seekers ?.
  • Ex-Infrans of the Haut (Méolans - Le Martinet) ?️: Class V E2, demanding ?.
• Drac ?️:
  • From La Fare en Champsaur to Pont de la Guinguette ?: Class II-III E2, sporty continuous sections ?.
• Séveraisse ❄️:
  • From La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar to Villar-Loubière ?️: Class II-III E1, dynamic alpine river ?.

? The Aude River in the Pyrenees

• Saint-Georges Gorges ?: Class IV-V E2-E3, mythical ?.
• Axat course ?️: Class III-IV E1, perfect for intermediates ?.

? Other famous rivers in France and Europe

• Guil (French Alps) ?️: Class IV-V E2-E3, technical and spectacular ?.
• Guisane (Serre Chevalier, France) ?: Class II-III upstream, Class III-IV downstream.
• Verdon (France) ?: Class II-IV, famous for its gorges ⛰️.
• Isère (France) ?: Class III-IV, a reference in Savoie ?.
• Dora Baltea (Italy) ??: Class IV-V, queen of the Alps ?.
• Soca (Slovenia) ??: Class II-V, turquoise water ?.
• Noce (Italy) ??: Class III-IV, loved by rafters ?.
• Zambezi (Africa) ?: Class IV-V, one of the most impressive ?️.
• Futaleufú (Chile) ??: Class IV-V, one of the most beautiful ?.
• Colorado (USA) ??: Class III-V, mythical Grand Canyon ?️.
• Yangtze (China) ??: Class IV-VI, feared for huge rapids ?.

? Choosing your course by level

• ? Beginners and families: Class I-II with some Class III.
• ? Thrill seekers: Class III-IV dynamic rapids ?.
• ? Experienced athletes: Class IV-V technical and physical ?.
• ? Experts and adventurers: Class V-VI, only for the bold ?.

? Conclusion

Whether on the Durance ?, Ubaye ?, Drac ?️, Séveraisse ❄️ or Aude ?, each river offers a unique experience ?. With EVP - Eau Vive Passion, discover these courses in stunning natural settings ?️.

Ready to face the rapids? ??