Right, so I was a little bored and decided to see what people’s opinions are. (And to spice up the forums and get some responses!) Grade the pictures below. There are fifteen pictures. Grade all of them, grade only a few, your choice. There are no right or wrong answers. It is impossible anyway to gauge ‘correctly’ as one cannot get much of an idea from a picture and the grading system is very subjective in nature anyway. One cannot tell what is upstream or downstream etc. but this is just for fun. For the purpose of this let’s use a grade system 2 to 6. Feel free to make something a 4+ or 4- etc. Also, you can motivate your answer. Look for undercuts/siphons/bad holes/dodgy spots?/etc.

Remember, this is only your opinion, nothing else. It seems that people from certain countries tend to under grade or over grade rapids or to view things a little differently to what you may perhaps see things. (Although this is by no means an accurate assessment of this and the pictures could probably have been chosen with a bit more care…) You might even learn something. Let’s see. Enjoy.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

1. awesome run
2. classic run
3. looks good
4. 50/60, but you can go first
8. depends how you slice it
12. rodeotime

Petteri, I disagree with you on number 4, you can go first...

1. hm looks like some Bigwater maybe 4+
2. i think its \"The Gut\" Consequences are definetly 6. If you get in there you're Fuc*ed. But on the other side i think its quite easy to avoid.
3. 4(+) couldnt realy decide on this one
4. definetly some 5+ shit : D
5. the hole on the elft looks quite retentive 4(-)
6. 4+
7. steep river + massive volume of water = 5+
8. couldnt decide on that one, it could be 4,but it could also be 5
9&10. damn i really dont know about these two, it really hard to judge about serious bigwater
11. 4-
12. no idea
13. 5-
14. 4-
15. technical ww 4

its quite hard to judge about ww when you only have one picture in front of you, but i hope at least some of my guesses are right : D

cheers
chris

Thanks for looking and commenting Chris. I won't comment too much yet, as I want to see how many responses I get. In particular I want to see what people say about a few specific photos and see if they pick up on anything.. Schweeeet Again, no right or wrong answers. All opinion..

1 gr 4 looks pretty srtraight forward , but how is the hole in the end?
2 right passage gr 3 middle real ugly on this picture
3 gr 4 minus no obvious route but no ugly bit on this pic
4 gr 6 I think lot of ugly undercut no nice routing ugly sharp rock, do not want to paddle this one
5 gr 3/4 but it looks like yust the gbegin of a bigger rapid

the rest will come after diner:)

I'm going to give a quick grading just for the sake of it:

1. Grade 4 - looks like its a bit meaty for medium length, but doesn't look too bad overall, the wide hole at the bottom could pose a problem.
2. Grade 3 - looks fairly straight forward. Wave trains, no turns etc. But that hole looks nasty. I'd paddle around that hole for sure, but looks easy to miss.
3. Grade 3 - I can't really see this rapid at all, but what I can see looks like low water slide. Although from the surroundings I can pretty much tell it isn't that straight forward (but only judging from what I can see).
4. Grade 5 - It looks big and meaty, but I can't really see any specific dangers apart from the height/waterflow.
5. Grade 3+ - Would have to make some maneuvers and be quick thinking, but doesn't look too hard.
6. Grade 4+/5- - Just looks a little messy/rocky. Not sure if that rock on river left is undercut or just in shadow?
7. Grade 5+ - Steep gradient, lots of water, long rapid, some rocks just below the surface. From the image there's nowhere that anybody can setup any proper safety.
8. Grade 3+ - Looks like you don't need many turns here. Plenty of rocks to setup safety. 3+ due to longer length/limited pools.
9. Grade 2 - Looks like straight forward moving water/small waves. (unless they are as big as in the next pic )
10. Grade 3 - Looks like some bigger pressure waves but looks pretty straight forward.
11. Grade 2/3 - Where you are and ahead looks grade 2ish, up above looks like it could have been a bit more pushy, but out of focus, can't really tell.
12. Grade 4 - Would have to link a few moves. Solid rapid but plenty of room to setup safety. Rocks at the bottom on river left could potentially be undercut, but from the pic it looks perfectly fine.
13. Grade 3+ - The drop looks ok, but looks like a considerable length of moving water in the background. A swim up the top wouldn't be fun.
14. Grade 3 - Looks mostly like a bit of technical grade 2, but the drop mid-right looks slightly above. This looks like a longish section, where a poorly placed rock in rapids like this can easily trip up a novice.
15. Grade 3 - looks like a technical little section. More water would make this easier!

I've tried to give reasoning for my grading as Giving a grading from a picture isn't too accurate. You don't really get a feel for how strong the water is or how fast it is flowing until you're standing there.

Having said that, I've pretty much given up trying to grade anything, it's a bit of a waste of time. As stated, there's no right or wrong answers! This is the problem, the grading system is too varied. Grading is from 1-6. But really, grade 1,2 and 6 don't get used. Grade 1 and 2 aren't really rapids, so they don't get named and graded. Grade 6 is just a portage as far as I'm concerned, if you can paddle it it's a 5. So that leaves 3,4,5. And to say we can put ever rapid we've paddled into just 3 groups is stupid.

A decent grade 3 rapid with a potential undercut can become a grade 5, because there's risk. A 20ft drop with an easy entry into a still pool really needs no skill, but there's an element of danger if you land flat you can injure your back very easily. In this case a technical grade 3 would require more skill than the so called grade 5 20footer? Or is a straight forward 20ft drop a grade 3 then? Also in some of the pictures I was kind of grading what I could see. Some you could tell were very long rapids. An intermediate/beginner who is fine on most grade 3 rapids isn't going to be fine if there's too many linked one after the other. You have to look at each rapid and the paddlers and make a decision. If there's a large number of moves to be made in a row, what may usually be an easy move for the paddler near the end may turn into something difficult once their arms are tired if there's not a lot of eddies around or they underestimate the move while they may be slightly worn out.

These days I try and just describe the rapid instead of giving it a grading. Too much time spent arguing over if something is a 3 or a 4 etc. Who cares! If it's a 15ft slide, then that's wot it is, not a 3,4 or 5. A 10 foot boof, a 4m shoot with a big hole, an easy 2m shoot with a slight undercut to the right etc. gives much more meaning than a 3, 4 or 5.

Anyway, thats my

Veeery interesting. Some important things being over looked at some spots..

Yes, the grade system is crap. The Addison Scale is already a big improvement in that it grades a rapid with regards to difficulty AND danger. (and exposure but won't get into that)

I almost never grade any rapid I run and just make my own choices of either running it or not and this depends on how certain I am that I can make my line and what the consequences are if I don't.

There isn't much point to this 'exercise', I was just curious as to what people thought but there are a few things one can learn. Possibly someone who is new to the sport, I don't know. I'm surprised on a few things though..

Let's hear from more people!

Here's my take... I have the advantage of actually being paddled some of rapids featured here

#1: Grade IV

#2: Grade IV

#3: Grade III (Don't actually remember the place...)

#4: Grade V (Portage for us on that day...)

#5: Grade III

#6: Grade IV+

#7: Grade V+

#8: Grade IV

#9: Grade III

#10: Grade III

#11: Grade II

#12: Grade IV

#13: Grade IV

#14: Grade III+

#15: Grade V (or III depends how it actually looks...)

diner took a while:)))

more like 2 nightas slepp some paddling ect.

I think I can not ad much more

addiscon is better usefull , but It is not udes muchin books, guides onlineriverdiscriptions ect. to bad


In the end of the day,
I like to paddle gr 4
I can paddle gr 5, but I do not like the risks that come with that most of the times.

so I chose my rivers accordingly.

when looking at a rapid there are only a few questions left,

how do I feel?
good we can go to the next question.
not good I will walk most of the times.


can I die / can get into serious trouble?
Is it fun to paddle?

if the conbination is

yes no I walk
yes yes It needs some further thinking
no yes I paddle
no no most of the times I paddle


have fun and paddle safe

Well, I'll attempt this--at least to give you a novice's take. I'm still learning anyway, so I'll be interested to see if I even get close. A lot of the runs seemed very dependent on which line you take and if you can avoid the hidden rocks, undercuts, etc. There were some nasty things in some of those photos. Here goes...
1. 3+
2. 3+
3. 4
4. 5
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6 (is this one for real? I think I tossed my cookies looking at it)
8. 3+
9. 3+
10. 4
11. 3
12. 4
13. 5
14. 4
15. 3
It's a lot like climbing--it's all so subjective. Interesting forum, Adrian.

Without looking at anyone's responses:
1. 3
2. 2-
3. 3 to 4
4. 5.2 to 5.3
5. 2 to 3
6. 3+
7. 4+ to 5.?
8. 4-
9. 2+
10. 3
11. 2
12. 4 to 4+
13. 4 to 4+
14. 3
15. 4

Here's my opinions! But as you already have stated, it's hard to judge a rapid out of a picture. Especially \"bigwater\" rivers. And it also depends of the quality of the picture. Overexposed pictures can make it hard to see stoppers in white water.

1: IV- : the stopper in the beginning and end
2: IV: «The Gut» in åsengjuvet in Sjoa (Norway). Damn ugly at high water, but pretty easy to avoid. Fun boof at low level Some people drowned there this summer. Rafters from a foreign country that went in at HIGH water....
3: III+
4: V: Is there a cave on river right? Sharp rocks and some undercuts.
5: III+: If i'm not mistaken this is a rapid on the Bua Canyon in Norway. Becomes a grade IV on high water. Fun
6: IV- : A rapid on the Upper Rauma in Norway. A bit on the upper side of the waterscale
7: IV/V: Laksforsen. A bigbig rapid/waterfall. Haven't paddled it myself, but I've heard the left line there is pretty fun. About 8 metres high, so you'd rather not boof to hard.
8: IV- : Depends a bit on which line you go, but I guess you would find some sieves there....
9: III: Nice at the end. Is that an undercut on River right?
10: III+ : Highwater?
11: III+: Steelport?
12: IV+: Retentative holes? Looks like a bad undercut on River Left.
13: III+ : Pourover? Looks more retentative on the right side of the picture (spray coming up...)
14: III+: Pretty continous. Hard to see because the photograph is taken pretty low (almost boaters wiev)
15: IV: A technical grade 4, any sieves in there?

Number 4 looks sweet! were is it I wanna a go

Their are two REAL grades
1 Paddle
2 Portage

n thats a personal decision for u to decide on, if your feelin good bad etc!

But all the photos look quite sweet and am guesin of all the same grade but in different locations so completly different.

HAve fun and MAN UP n go back n run no. 4 ( I will go first if u2 still cant decide;) )

i think the grading system is a bit dodgy. i make the decicion on whether to make a trip on the advice and descriptions from people who have done it before, and when describing my skill to others i prefer to talk about the rivers that i have done and how hard i found them. this is mainly because i think that somone who is good on low volume creeks may not have the skills to do an equaly graded big river, and vice versa

Some comments that people can't see number 3. Here is the entry:




Here are the next two the pics that follow the one shown:






Purely out of interest sake.


Chris, I'd love to see you run number 4, at that level. It would make good photos. The guys standing there are exceptionally good boaters and none of them went for it.. I guess you can't see much in the photo anyway. Will mention a few things once I've got a better net connection.

Indeed cameras always make things look smaller but it still looks like a fun line to hit, would definatly love to go and paddle that river I'm guessing its in Sweden or Finland? But as I typed above either paddle or walk and I totally agree that the grading system is rubbish and too subjective, I think maybe either adapting the Addison Scale (for those who don't know watch Legend of the Falls) as it makes more sense, or adopting a similar open ended grading system which is used in the climbing world. The climbing tpe grading system could work well but I doubt will take off, even though several paddlers are always pushing the boundaries of what is possible thus the grades could step up a notch thus not having to drop the grade of dangerous rapid just because it is slightly easier than the newest Knaarr.

ok heres my answers:P
1 III
2 III
3 III
4 V:woohoo:
5 III+
6 IV
7 IV+
8 IV
9 III
10 III
11 II
12 IV
13 III
14 III
15 IV

I can't tell by pictures too well. #3 is one of the most confusing to me. It seems like there is a horizon line behind the pictured hole. The picture seems to be taken with a slow shutter speed so it is hard for me to judge the horizon line. The hole also has a really serous back wash so that would be really annoying if one had to be in the back wash of the hole to make it down the (perceived) waterfall, ledgehole or slide.

What class do you think this drop is?

IV

Right so here’s my 2 cents on the matter.

1. IV. Although not too challenging to run with a reasonably straight line, it is possible to get creamed in the top hole and pushed against the rock like one the other guys that ran it that day. Should you be unlucky enough to go more right, it won’t be fun with the rock backing up the hole. You won’t die but the chances of injury are reasonably high. It is the first rapid in the creeking delta of the Piteälven, Sweden. Water level would be considered average I’d say. Paddler is me.

2. IV with VI consequences. No doubt about it. As was pointed out my MrMove (Chris) and also Kleppis (Øivind), this is The Gut, also known as Johnnies Rest on the Sjoa River, Åsengjuvet Section. Fairly easy to miss although there is a hole a few meters upstream known as the Bus Hole which could potentially mess you up. This super evil pourover has killed many people and about a month after I paddled it, two more people were killed there. The suck back is very obvious in the photo and I’m surprised more people didn’t mention it. The worst hole I’ve ever come across and at low levels the rock is exposed (and then there is no hole of course) to reveal an almost perfectly symmetrical rock… Water level in this photo would be highish.

3. IV+. This was on the Kultsjöån Tuomas, remember? A river in Sweden. I think the extra pictures may refresh your memory. Although the rocks appear quite rounded in the photo, they are the sharpest I’ve ever come across and a friend of Tuomas’ received a nasty gash in his head from flipping over here. My boat took some serious licks from this river. Being so far north with clear water there is no sediment to wear down the rocks. I’m sure some glaciers at some stage had a lot to do with it too. Technically quite challenging with some twists, turns, steepish gradient, some retentive holes and a diagonal at the end. Of course the first photo I posted didn’t show much, bad choice on my part. Sorry. I’ll move on. The water level would be considered average. Paddler is me.

4. V+. This is a rapid on the Gaustaälven, Sweden. The level in this photo would be considered very high. The rocks are sharp and the water is freezing cold, as was the air. Of course that cannot be seen in the photo. There are some undercut rocks on river left and also seems to be a bit of bad spot there. Could have been a cave type area with an evil eddy. The nature of the rocks show more undercuts, even on river right where the paddlers are standing and of course this theme would probably be repeated underwater, where one cannot see anything. Only one way to find out… After the first drop is a hole and with such a sloping lip I’d have to disagree with you KayakSA (Philip) and say it probably wouldn’t be a simple boof. The water is highly aerated and staying on the surface would be the name of the game on this one. The second drop is not a clean one, look closely, seems to have a fold and another hole awaits at the bottom. I took the photo (and almost all the others unless I am in them) but don’t remember in detail this drop. No one ran it that day.

5. III+. It looked reasonably simple and even though it was, it turned out to be far pushier than what it originally looked. This is a rapid in the Bua Canyon, Norway as Øivind correctly identified. The level would be considered low. Fairly shallow with a boulder type river bed and some angular rocks making going upside a poor choice. The top hole is quite large, but not retentive at this level. A slow entry would result in a back flip, perhaps a short beating and possibly a thumped skull/paddle given the low volume. The paddler is Tuomas Vaarala.

6. IV+. This is one of the first rapids on the Upper Rauma, Norway. The level would be considered very high. (Truth be told, we portaged a lot of rapids that day as did some truly world class paddlers paddling with us.) You know your rivers Øivind, and you should. As KayakSA pointed out, there is only once crux in the photo, actually two in real life as there is another hole just to the right which is not shown in the photo. But of course judgment was made on what could be seen. Quite a bit of water moving with a lot of speed, power and definitely one where you want to be upright to avoid your head being ripped off. The rocks in the foreground are bad news but the entry is simple enough and one really shouldn’t end up there. The paddler is me.

7. V+. This is the Laksforsen on the Vefsna River, Norway. The level would be considered high. A big volume, very steep rapid. The consequences are high as the drop ends in a clean 8 meter drop. The odd exposed rock from the highly uneven river bed makes for a trickier ride down. The paddler is Mikael Lantto. Because of the width and the nature of the rock there is almost no sort of rescue that could be applied, should something go wrong. The actual rapid is probably about 6 times wider than what is shown here. A massive rapid, no doubt about it. Big boils and pressure areas complicate the run.

8. IV/Possibly V, although that might be reaching the limit. It is rated V in a guide book at high levels. This would be considered a high level. This is Long Drop rapid in Deepdale Gorge, Umkomaas River, South Africa. Reasonable gradient with a fair amount of water. Boulder type river bed mixing it up a bit and some pourovers that can spank one. Someone almost died on this rapid (about 4 months ago) when he got pinned underwater in a horizontal position. He ended up getting his knee caught on the cockpit rim, causing considerable damage and spent a very long time underwater trying to free himself. This rapid is also very remote. Nasty rocks underwater and the rocks seen in the picture already suggest that. There are a couple of minor siphons (except for the two near the top) in this rapid and swimming at the top wouldn’t be pleasant. In fact swimming right at the top could be deadly. The pourovers are probably the biggest concern and the bottom one is rather retentive, created by a super flat, symmetrical rock, as I’ve seen it at a very low level. Good to see some the more experienced people rated this decently, around a IV. It doesn’t look as spectacular as some other rapids but can dish out a massive beating.

9. III, maybe a III+. This is the Buffalo River, South Africa. Pihsk, the waves aren’t quite as big as the next picture but they are reasonably close. Øivind, not sure if there is an undercut. Might be. The sides of boulder type rapids are usually best avoided and a meaty, centre line chosen. The level would be considering pretty high. Maybe even very high. Big volume, a couple of holes but nothing to worry about. Mainly just a wave train. The entry to this was far bigger and trickier with some massive holes. Given the nature of the rocks and speed of the water, keeping upright would be a good idea. Good fun rapid and what is shown would normally not require scouting. We only scouted as far as this photo was taken anyway to check out the first part which most people portaged. The river is very remote.

10. III. Again the Buffalo River, South Africa. Massive wave train. Good fun and pretty harmless. No holes to be concerned about in the picture and the waves just really explode around one. Same day as the picture above and hence the same level. Paddler is me. The river is very remote.

11. III+. Steelpoort River, South Africa. I would consider this a low level. Nice granite river bed and therefore not too many obstructions. A couple of holes but why a + rating is maybe the length of the rapid. In the picture it looks reasonably long but in reality it is about 6 times longer. A swim would be very long and unpleasant. At least the water is warm. Not as warm as the Buffalo but warm enough. At high levels I would rate this a IV+ and it dished out a few beatings on our trip. The holes becoming extremely retentive and the water is being funneled through a narrow section. A swim would be bad and the boat almost definitely lost because of the continuous nature of the river and bad strainers. This has happened already on this river, twice! The river is very remote. Paddler is me.

12. IV-/IV+. Injusuthi River, South Africa. I would consider this level medium high. As Pihsk pointed out, lots of room to set up safety. Øivind, not sure about the undercut but it is very likely. The nature of the rocks suggests it and they certainly were there on the next rapid. The rock right at the end, on river left is undercut so maybe there are more underwater. I’ve only been here once and don’t know how it would look at a low level. Some fair sized holes for such a small river and a decent gradient. A mate and I actually ran this without scouting as we were chasing a boat (which we didn’t find) and after this rapid, approaching another one, we stopped paddling before one of us came short. The last hole is not too pleasant and luckily we ran it river right off the tongue...

13. IV- or a big III+ I’d say. This is a slide (usually when it’s lower) on the Umzimkulu River, South Africa. The level would be considered high. There is a hole at the base and yes Øivind, the hole is more retentive on river left, hence the spray. Entry is not too challenging although a beginner could mess it up. Just on the left side of the picture are some rocks and there is another channel going in there with water pushing in there. (My third ever river trip had me going in there, upside down, at a low level. Zero fun I can assure you) Going too far river right wouldn’t be smart as there is a kind of a notch is the rock shelf there. This rapid is not that easy to scout and I’ve never actually scouted it. Ok, so it probably is but the river is wide and walking around on river right would be long and one cannot get to this middle channel anyway for a proper look and cannot set any safety unless someone walks around with the boat. That day I went first to take some photos which probably wasn’t the smartest move, but it turned out to quite easy. Paddler is Brendan Bosman.

14. III+. This is the Golf Course section of Thrombosis Gorge, Umzimkulu River, South Africa. Boulder garden type stuff, technical but manageable without scouting by the average boater. A reasonable gradient, many lines to choose from and loads of fun, as long as you’re upright (which is usually the case on low volume rivers). A couple of holes are visible and lots of exposed rocks. The rocks would be a beginner’s nightmare and I’ve seen people get nicely pinned at a couple of places. My first ever river trip was down here and I took a long swim down this section, just a little further up. It was truly a horrible experience. The worst possible section to take a newbie kayaker down as this is the easy section! So one learns, the hard way.

15. IV-. This is the Umtamvuna River, South Africa. The level would be considered very low. Got to disagree with you Pishk, more water makes this rapid far harder as holes begin to form that can beat you. Look at those two ledges. Here’s a high water photo of that same rapid:



I see you were unsure Tuomas. Øivind, there are some sieves in there. Look on river left, near the bottom. See all the water exiting out of those rocks? Most people didn’t notice that and the guys I was paddling with didn’t either see it. The low level line wouldn’t take you there but at high level one might be tempted to run more left… A beating in the top hole, followed by a swim wouldn’t be good. At the top right side of the photo is another channel and I would imagine that some people would take this with more water. Technical drop with a bit of gradient. Boulder gardens always hide lots of surprises.

Wow, quite the essay I’ve just written! Any comments, thoughts? It’s just my opinion and it’s also just yours. Perhaps if there are any people that are new to kayaking then they could potentially learn a few things from this thread. I hope you’ve found it useful! That was probably the main aim of this anyway.

Take it easy,
Adrian

Great stuff, Adrian! It's fun for me, as a beginner. I printed out your "essay" and went back and looked at the pictures. Any chance I get to learn to read a river better, I figure, will make me a better paddler in the long run. Surprised I came as close as I did in my ratings. I don't really have anyone here to take me out and teach me more about the river (unless I want to keep paying for private lessons), so these little "lessons" are invaluable. Thanks, prof!

Got to say the last 3 photos u posted turned an ok but pinny rapid into sheer Hell and a very ugly place to be

Jajuma it could be worth checking out with American White Water if their are any kayaking clubs in your local vacinity, as it could be a fun way to get out and paddle n cheaper too

Thanks for the tip, Urge. I did check the website--no such luck. No clubs exist (at least none that are registered). Maybe I'll just have to get ballsy enough and go hang out at the local wave and meet people to go paddle with.

Thanks for posting up your gradings Adrian. You've obviously got more information in which to judge each situation than a non-moving picture.

I tried to grade on what I could see, and nothing more. For example, #9 I mentioned the waves only looked 1-2ft, but apparently they are much bigger. #15, the top drop looks about 1-2foot, and the 2nd looks like a scrape over some rocks. When I said more water, I just meant enough so you could float through the 2nd drop . The second photo's of this rapid you've posted are of a swollen river, I definately didn't mean that much more water!

I'm also curious what's pushing up the grading for #8? How high are the drops? From the photo they look about 1ft high each in the foreground, the one in the far background is maybe 2ft. I can't see anything that looks overly sucky. Due to the boulder garden style I also suspect there'd be either some good pin or seive (or both) places. Is this why they've noted a grade 5?

kayakSA wrote:

What you need to do now Adrian is determine the average season paddle and on what type and grade of rivers for all who replied to the grading and then you can see who graded more or less the same and see if there is a correlation between years/experience.

Hmmm, that would be some work there...

#8 has some bad holes and the water is flowing very fast, with loads of power. Lot's of exposed rocks to come short on, both above and under water. Maybe V is pushing it but there are also about 4 siphons on this rapid, 3 at the top and one at the bottom. Look at this photo taken on the same day. Thats the hole at the bottom.

Ok that photo of #8 looks much more like a 3+/4 photo. With someone in the frame you can see that there's a bit of water here and it looks pretty pushy. Also you wouldn't want to hit those rocks on the right as they look like pin material.

nathan wrote:

I can't tell by pictures too well. #3 is one of the most confusing to me. It seems like there is a horizon line behind the pictured hole. The picture seems to be taken with a slow shutter speed so it is hard for me to judge the horizon line. The hole also has a really serous back wash so that would be really annoying if one had to be in the back wash of the hole to make it down the (perceived) waterfall, ledgehole or slide.

What class do you think this drop is?

I found another photo of that rapid. Seems to be called Sunshine and is on the Green.



and another shot


Seems to have some rocks in the landing...

haha. you found some pics of my paddling buddies. Yeah, there is some serious piton potential there, with a really tough move. You actually start out on river left and surf the pillow on the rock until your bow gets angled right. Very dangerous and pretty tough. Class V+.