Toward an Ethical Code for Whitewater Leaders

We were brainstorming for the revision of the AW Safety Code. It was April 11, 2023. The group involved was a who’s who of people who’ve been involved in risk management and safety systems in whitewater and other sports. I didn’t know most of them, I’m the new kid in such circles.

I made this list back then. I edited it a few times. Then Kent Ford emailed me to say I should do something with that list. Get AW to put it in the journal. He also suggested that the final item about debriefing should be included. I agree.

So here’s the list. What do you think?

AS A LEADER IN WHITEWATER PADDLESPORT I WILL

1. Teach a cooperative culture of shared adventure and mutual responsibility (build the whitewater team)

2. Guide newer paddlers (when to step it up, when not to, and skills needed)

3. Model personal preparedness

4. Share my decision making process (resources, flow parameters, trip needs)

5. Model clear communication and open channels within my group

6. Teach boat control and boating within my abilities

7. Teach trip awareness (where is everyone, spacing)

8. Ask “what if” and act to prevent problems (moderate optimism bias)

9. Teach about the river (hazards, reading water)

10. Speak out before the bad thing happens (don’t wait for the river to teach them the hard way)

11. Facilitate debriefing of incidents, including my own lessons learned