"Oci-One Kanubi" wrote in message
oups.com...
Two terms for customers:

"SPORTs": Stupid People On Raft Trips. Elegant, because the guide can
address the customer with this term right to his face, without
jeopardizing his tip.

"Carp". Refers to their appearance when they are out of the boat and
trying to suck air (and probably borrowed from the verb used to
describe a kayaker grabbing breaths between unsuccessful roll attempts:
"carping").

One of my favorites. We also used to refer to 'carping' as what you did when
you were swimming, floating about chin deep and gasping for air, flailing
about. This term was used for sports as well as guides.



And several terms for -- shall we say -- "things going not exactly as
planned":

Myron the Riverman mentioned "tacoing", which refers to the shape of a
raft folded over upon itself pinned against a rock, or, alternatively,
briefly folded over upon itself in an encounter with a hole
(hydraulic).


Can't take credit for posting that. But we all know about 'postage
stamping': when you do a vertical pin of a raft against a wall. Then there's
'getting launched'; when the raft partially folds (we used to say it
'clamshells') against a hole, and snaps flat, sending the guide flying.
People have been knowns to get launched the length of the boat and gone into
the water over the bow.

Also, not to forget "celebrity boater"; when a retired or transplanted river
guide revisits an old stomping ground, and gets the royalty treatment from
old friends and the wonderous stares from young guides who too easily
believe all the tales they may or may not have. Its always nice if there is
an old legendary story still hanging around ("Whoa, so THAT'S the guy who
did such-and-such way back when!")

"Fairy tale": riverside story. Of course, we all know how these begin...

"Burger"; whatever is for lunch, regardless of whether its a steak, a
sandwich or a hotdog. OK, I confess....I'm the only one who uses that.

"A-team": an excellent paddling crew.

--riverman