High Side
A High Side is a critical river rafting maneuver where guides must quickly shift the weight of passengers to prevent the raft from flipping when hitting a wave or obstacle. It's a fundamental safety technique in whitewater rafting that requires good communication, quick thinking, and proper passenger coordination. When you see this term in job descriptions or resumes, it indicates experience with advanced rafting safety procedures and passenger management in challenging water conditions.
Examples in Resumes
Successfully managed High Side commands on Class IV rapids with 100% safety record
Trained junior guides in proper High Side techniques and passenger coordination
Demonstrated expertise in High Side maneuvers during certification assessments
Typical job title: "River Rafting Guides"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find River Rafting Guides
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Social Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you train new guides in High Side maneuvers?
Expected Answer: Should explain their teaching method, including dry land practice, shallow water demonstrations, and progressive difficulty levels, while emphasizing clear communication and safety protocols.
Q: Describe a challenging situation where you had to coordinate a High Side with an inexperienced crew.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership skills, quick decision-making, and ability to maintain calm while effectively directing passengers in emergency situations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key indicators that tell you a High Side might be necessary?
Expected Answer: Should show ability to read water conditions, understand wave patterns, and anticipate when the maneuver might be needed before reaching the obstacle.
Q: How do you prepare your passengers for potential High Side situations?
Expected Answer: Should explain their safety briefing process, including clear instructions, practice runs, and how they ensure passengers understand the commands.
Junior Level Questions
Q: Can you explain the basic concept of a High Side maneuver?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe the basic mechanics of weight shifting, proper timing, and basic passenger instructions for the maneuver.
Q: What commands do you use when calling for a High Side?
Expected Answer: Should know standard verbal commands and hand signals used to initiate the maneuver and demonstrate understanding of clear communication importance.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-1 years)
- Basic river navigation
- Understanding of High Side commands
- Basic safety procedures
- Class II-III rapids experience
Mid (2-4 years)
- Advanced river reading
- Efficient High Side execution
- Passenger management
- Class III-IV rapids experience
Senior (5+ years)
- Guide training and supervision
- Emergency situation management
- Advanced safety techniques
- Class IV-V rapids experience
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to clearly explain High Side procedure
- Lack of proper safety certification
- No experience with passenger communication
- Poor understanding of river reading
- Limited experience with different rapid classifications
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Cutting HR Costs Without Sacrificing Quality: A How-To for Savvy Executives
From Passive to Active: Nurturing Candidates Over the Long Haul
Beyond Spreadsheets: Why Executive Dashboards in ATS Systems Are Your Secret Hiring Weapon
