How to Packraft: Hitting rocks

What should you do when you hit a rock sideways ? Read on !
In the video, you will see me ferrying across and then doing the same ferry hitting the rock.
This is a mistake that catches a lot of people out at the beginning.
The current pushes you downstream you are paddling 90° to the current, suddenly you end up hitting a rock sideways in the middle of the river. So what do you do ? You lean away from the rock !Too bad, you get flipped.
Why, because your downstream edge gets pushed on the rock causing the water to grab your downstream and... You know what happens next... You go from packrafter to swimmer !
So, what should you do ?
-Be pro-active, LOOK AHEAD WHERE you WANT to go (if you look at the rock, you'll end up on it !So look at the exit point you want to go instead).
-If it is too late and a "collision" with the rock cannot be avoided, don't worry, I have go a solution for that as well !
-LEAN DOWNSTREAM towards the rock(I know, counter intuitive, I know...), as if you wanted to hug the rock, and don't be shy : LIFT your UPSTREAM edge ! To gain stability, put your downstream hand/arm on the rock and use it to push yourself off on one side or the other, away from the rock. I like to "rest" my paddle shaft on my upstream shoulder.
Lifting your UPSTREAM edge allows the water to go underneath your boat and prevents the water from grabbing your upstream edge (which, remember ,causes you to flip !)
If you pay attention, you can see that when I am doing my first ferry across, I am actually looking at the eddy, where I want to end my crossing.
Whereas in my second ferry, when I hit the rock, I am actually looking at the rock. So look where you want to go, and commit to it !
That's it for today !
You can learn more about packrafting on my website : packraft101.wordpress.com
The video was shot mid-may on the lower Guil river, in the Hautes-Alpes region of France.
I am in a Self bailor Alpacka Raft Wolverine.