Foot Cups | Ep. 52
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- čas přidán 30. 08. 2018
- What's your opinion on foot cups? On episode 52 of Gear Garage, Zach discusses the purpose of raft foot cups.
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Definitely a fan of foot cups up front. Subjectively I've seen many fewer of my guests fall out when the foot cups are available. It takes some experience being able to keep your foot between the floor and tube and it's certainly not as comfortable.
When I give my little speech before we head on to the river I make it a point to demonstrate how to set there feet into the thwarts as well as explain and show what could happen if you wedge your foot into them. You always want to be able to ditch the system has been a term I’ve grown to use a lot.
Love it. River Warrior Family inspiring a Gear Garage Episode. We firmly believe in "Lifting/Hinged" Foot Cups. Prior to the placement of these excellent additions to our raft we spent a considerable amount of energy trying to stay in the raft. We had Oregon Paddle Sports install our Foot Cups. I am firmly persuaded that Lifting Foot Cups are a huge improvement compared to the traditional design you showed on this video. As an athlete and human performance coach I believe it is imperative to place the foot and ankle in a strong ergonomic position that yields strong paddling (90 degree angle). I learned about this raft modification with All Outdoors on Cherry Creek. I was very impressed how all four guests were able to paddle effectively through 13 Class V rapids and numerous Class IV rapids in 9 miles with zero consideration to staying in the raft. When I inquired off river, the Manager clearly stated to me with a wink, "It's all about the lifting foot cups." I was very excited to see that Oregon Paddle Sports had these in stock and any color I wanted. The tensile strength for each foot cup they install is rated at 1000 lbs (one thousand). Spencer was extremely meticulous during the install and had me sit in the raft as I would paddle to ensure exactly how to put me and other guests in the best athletic position. I learned a lot that day. The truth is, without this raft modification we would not be crushing the kind of water we have in the last four years. Thank you for your episode. Cheers bother :) C U Downriver.
Another great video and discussion, Zach.
The only serious injury I've ever had on a commercial raft trip was at Satan's Gate on Hell's Corner, Upper Klamath many years ago. Two-thwart Riken Mohawk (the worst boat in rafting history) with footcups.
I was a little sideways over a sharp drop, and a heavy dude on the middle left fell into a woman on the middle right, breaking her tibia and fibia. As a nurse, she knew it immediately, and was very calm. We splinted her, and finished the trip.
Still, I'm a big fan of footcups if you run hard whitewater. I had four cups installed in the front of my custom SOTAR, and one center back for the paddle guide. Aggressive paddlers love them. This year, I had four more cups installed: One for the rear foot for each paddler in the two center sections of my three-thwart boat. Again, paddlers love them, and I've never had another injury.
The installation challenge isn't an issue when you have them installed at the factory! They weld them in, and it's forever.
I can see the liability in footcups. I think the risk of injury is somewhat higher for someone out of the boat in a rocky rapid than it is for the footcup injury inside the boat. (And I still call a lot of "hang on" and "down" commands.)
Thank you for another thoughtful and insightful comment
I know this an old video but I have to say that I have had my leg go under a thwart while flipping. It happened to me twice. It was a little scarry having leg there while upside down under water. Maybe a foot cup that only your toes fit in. Being a shallower cup should give enough bite to leverage a good stoke.
You’re a guide. And you’re an outfitter. ..Interesting dance.
So funny I stumbled on this topic. I have after so many years reached the same conclusion. Literally like last week. I didn’t use them in the US mostly running 3 thwart rafts..... to footcups everywhere and two thwart rafts in Brazil..... back to nothing and three thwarts in US.
I have been recently training with a commercial company on technical class 3 and 4 which gives the opportunity to switch into all the positions in the raft. I love the front but am hating having no footcups after so many years of always having them in Brazil. My feet are never happy up front they don’t have a home. The other seats I don’t miss the foot cups at all.
I now believe having two footcups(one each side) up front and that is it is the best of both worlds.
I think you hit all the points. As far as injury with footcups I think from my experience if I had to pick anything it would be twisted knee.
Swain's hat !
I think you're right about having foot cups up front; reasoning being that it gives the front paddlers confidence to lean into the rapid and keep paddling as opposed to leaning back to grab something that may or may not be there. Keep going forward.
However, I've never been on a commercial boat that had foot cups, so take it or leave it. But depending on your clientele, they may need that sense of security to put themselves out there.
That's what we largely do with ARTA on the Toulomne And America rivers. 3 thwart and foot cups up front. I also agree, I have gotten stuck on thwarts and I feel like that's easier to do.
I’ve always appreciated the input you share. I think your opinions and experience bring light to subjects that I’ve never known about, as someone with less than 10 years rafting under their belt. So please share any of those topics and if you need a subject what are the differences in frames when using metal versus aluminum?
Aluminum is a metal
I have never paddled a raft with foot cups. I like the Aire Thwart handles, and I like to straddle the thwarts with my legs. ( you essentially look like you are on one knee proposing) However, some rafts like super pumas don’t have far enough thwart spacing when running three thwarts for my legs to fit. I’d hate to glue them in my decade old Sotar.
I can't imagine the cups you showed being hazardous. I have seen cups that are just a single strap, like a raft handle, and those always made me nervous.
I like cups, especially for gnarlier runs with short pools and bad consequences. Not so necessary on the S Fork though.