You know how to make God laugh, don't you?
Tell him your plans for the future.
HAH! AS IF.
When paddling through rapids, it is perfectly acceptable to go down the river backwards. I've done it many times that way, myself. And occasionally, gone down rapids without my boat. Also, more or less acceptable. Note: try to keep your legs in front of you, and your feet UP, while doing so.
Going down rapids upside-down, is to be avoided at all costs.
While here in Texas, we don't have very many rapids that pose extreme challenges for an extended run, we do have some on the Devil's River, or the Pecos that require extra care.
That involves stopping upstream of the rapids, and SCOUTING the rapids, looking for the best path to follow from hazard to hazard, or pillow, or eddy, or hole, or undercuts.
This is where God laughs. Yes, you can plan on avoiding that undercut! But the reason there is an undercut, is because the flow of the river pushes the water through there at a ferocious rate, and will do everything it can to push you through there, also. Sneaky river!
OH, AND RIVERS CHANGE ALL THE TIME!
THE RAPIDS YOU PADDLED JUST YESTERDAY MIGHT BE DIFFIERENT FROM THE RAPIDS THAT ARE THERE TODAY. .. JUST WARNING!
If necessary, unlimber your bow painter, or stern painter, and line your boat down through the rapids, as the better part of valor.
There are plenty of other rivers elsewhere in the country that have challenges that bring out the need for stopping and scouting them first.
And positioning rescuers at prominent points along the rapids in order to be able to leap into action as soon as a mishap occurs.
It goes without saying that if you get swept into a rock and the current is pushing into the rock, DON'T LEAN UPSTREAM!, The water will pour into your boat and dump you into the river, unless your boat wraps around the rock and traps you inside the bent boat.
OK, I guess it does need to be said, and I just said it.
Keep your throw-bag handy, and practice doing some rescues, just in case. Make sure all your gear is tied to your boat , just in case. And be aware of where the nearest hospital is, just in case. And wear your PFD, just in case.
Have fun storming the castle!
Be safe out there!
See you On The Water!
Harmon