How to swim in rapids: Deacon Therrien 

First thing to know about a rapid before swimming it is 

A) is the water deep

B) are there any rocks

C) where am I swimming to

And D) is there anything or anybody in the rapid. 

Once you have cleared all those and are ready to swim you want to know how to swim, there are two different ways you can swim a rapid.

1- aggressively, this is where you face the rapids and are on your stomach swimming to them and through them. (This one is great because you can see where your going and you have more control over where your going)

2- defensively, this is where you are laying on your back, then letting the current take you into the rapid while having your arms out on your side controlling where you are going. (This one is less fun but more safe)

Once you have chosen which form you are swimming the rapid you want to slowly walk into the water this is called wading. Once you can’t touch or once you have a clear line on where your going through rapid you start your swim. Later during the swim you will go into one of the swimming techniques and try to get to an eddy or shore. 

Have fun swimming rapids!