Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Downstream V • Safety Kayaker • Oar Rig

Eddy

Term from River Rafting Guiding industry explained for recruiters

An eddy is a natural feature in a river where water flows in a circular pattern behind obstacles like rocks or riverbanks, creating a calm spot where the water moves upstream or stands still. In river rafting and kayaking, eddies are crucial safe zones where guides can stop boats, regroup, scout upcoming rapids, or rescue people. When you see this term in a resume, it often relates to a guide's ability to navigate and use these river features for safety and group management.

Examples in Resumes

Successfully maneuvered large rafts into Eddy|eddies during high-water conditions

Trained new guides on identifying and catching Eddy|eddies for safe river navigation

Led safety demonstrations using Eddy techniques for guest orientation

Typical job title: "River Guides"

Also try searching for:

Whitewater Guide Rafting Guide Kayak Instructor River Guide Outdoor Adventure Guide Whitewater Raft Guide

Where to Find River Guides

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Online Communities

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you use eddies in group management and safety planning?

Expected Answer: A senior guide should explain how they use eddies for staging large groups, maintaining spacing between boats, and creating safety plans for difficult rapids. They should discuss how they teach others to identify and use eddies effectively.

Q: Describe a challenging situation where your understanding of river features helped prevent an incident.

Expected Answer: Should share specific examples of using eddies and other river features to manage difficult situations, showing leadership and decision-making skills in high-pressure scenarios.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when deciding whether to catch an eddy?

Expected Answer: Should discuss water levels, boat size, guest capability, and current speed. Should explain how they evaluate risk versus necessity in different situations.

Q: How do you explain eddy usage to new guides during training?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate teaching ability by explaining how they break down the concept of eddies, including identification, entry techniques, and common mistakes to avoid.

Junior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain what an eddy is and why it's important?

Expected Answer: Should be able to describe an eddy in simple terms and explain its basic uses for safety and river navigation.

Q: What are the basic steps for catching an eddy in a raft?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the fundamental techniques of approaching and entering an eddy, including basic paddle commands and timing.