Watch video on YouTube »
River Surfing: Essential Safety Tips and Gear
Hey surfers, Simon here from AQ Outdoors. Whether you’re brand new to river waves or coming from an ocean background, my goal is simple: to help you understand what makes rivers different and how to think more intentionally about safety and gear in moving water.
River surfing has grown quickly across the Rockies over the past 10 to 15 years, bringing a wide range of surfers into cold, fast rivers. That growth is exciting, and it also means it’s worth taking a moment to look at safety through a different lens than you would in the ocean.
Everything here is focused on cold Rocky Mountain rivers across spring, summer, and winter. Think of this as a big-picture overview of what you might want to consider as you get into river surfing.
Quick Links
Thermal Protection
Cold water is one of the defining characteristics of Rockies river surfing and thermal protection is one of the most important safety considerations.
Wetsuits
Cold water strips body heat fast. Once hypothermia sets in, decision making, dexterity, and coordination all degrade quickly and that’s when situations can escalate.
- Summer: a 3/2 mm wetsuit works well for most Alberta rivers
- Winter: a 4/3 mm wetsuit with insulating layers underneath
- Some surfers opt for a 5/4 mm wetsuit in winter for extra warmth
Booties
Booties do double duty. They keep your feet warm, and they protect them from sharp rocks and fast-moving impacts. Broken toes and torn toenails are not uncommon. Even lightweight booties in summer are well worth it.
Featured collection
Tout
Gloves or Mitts
Yes, you lose some dexterity but frozen hands lose dexterity too. Gloves or mitts keep your hands functional and offer abrasion protection if you collide with rocks.
Hoods
In very cold conditions, a hood makes a big difference. A lot of body heat escapes through your head, and keeping that warmth in makes sessions longer, safer, and far more comfortable.
Flotation
For surfers coming from the ocean, flotation often feels like only a big wave consideration. Rivers are different. Moving current, eddies, boils, and shallow rocks all work against you. The goal is to stay on the surface and give yourself the best chance of swimming back to the eddy.
Options include:
- A traditional PFD like those used by kayakers
- An impact vest, similar to what wakeboarders wear
Combined with the natural flotation of neoprene, this setup can make you extremely buoyant. River swims can be long, bony, and exhausting flotation helps make them safer and more manageable.
Leashes
A crucial mindset shift for ocean surfers
In some local zones, like the Mountain Wave in Kananaskis, many surfers choose not to wear a leash at all. They swim to their board, then paddle or push it to shore. This avoids entanglement risks, but it can also mean long downstream swims chasing boards.
If you do use a leash, it must be releasable.
Releasable Leashes
Waist-mounted releasable systems, like the BadFish Re-Leash, allow you to disconnect quickly and under load. Other systems clip to flotation devices. What matters is that you can release it instantly.
What Not to Use
Never use a standard ankle leash in a river.
If your body goes to one side of a rock and your board goes to the other, water pressure builds shockingly fast. Traditional Velcro ankle leashes tighten under load and may be impossible to release, even if you can reach them. In many cases, it’s safer to have no leash at all than a non-releasable one.
Safety Gear
Helmets
Rivers move fast and things happen quickly. Rocks, boards, and shallow features are constant hazards.
A helmet provides:
- Impact protection
- Added insulation
- Increased survivability if you’re knocked unconscious
Signalling Devices
Borrowed from whitewater kayaking, a simple whistle can be invaluable. If someone is floating downstream and others haven’t noticed, yelling often isn’t enough over rushing water.
A whistle clipped to your wetsuit or gear is lightweight, simple, and effective.
Throw Bags and Rescue Gear
You’re not likely to carry a throw bag while surfing, but having one staged downstream on shore can be a game changer. If someone is struggling in the water, a throw bag offers a fast, effective rescue option.
If friends are filming or taking photos from shore, having someone trained and equipped with a throw bag is a smart move.
We also recommend that anyone using ropes around rivers carries an accessible knife in case of entrapment. This is standard for kayakers and worth considering for shore-based safety setups.
First Aid and Communication
A basic first aid kit that belongs in your river surf bag:
- CPR mask
- Gauze for bleeding
- Splinting supplies
Equally important is communication, a phone is only useful if there’s reception. Know the phone coverage where you surf, and consider bringing an InReach or Spot device to remote locations.
shop packraft equipment
Tout
Situational Hazards to Know
Foot Entrapments
When swimming in fast-moving water, never put your feet down.
- Swim aggressively on your stomach toward eddies
- Or float on your back with feet and hips up, eyes downstream
Feet can wedge under rocks or logs. Water pressure can pin you face-down in seconds. Keep your feet up until you’re in calm, shallow water.
Board Entrapments
Board entrapments often result from trapped leash ropes. If you and your board end up on opposite sides of a feature, pressure increases rapidly. This has caused multiple fatalities in river sports. A releasable leash or no leash at all is the only real mitigation technique.
Strainers
Strainers are trees or branches in the river. Water passes through them, bodies do not. Never swim toward a strainer. They trap you against them under intense water pressure, creating extremely dangerous situations.
Final Thoughts
River surfing is an incredible way to experience moving water, but it demands respect for the environment and thoughtful preparation.
This overview covers some of the core safety gear and hazards worth considering before you paddle out. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s a solid foundation for making smarter, safer choices on the river.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for surfing responsibly. We’ll see you on the wave.