Erk! Hope all worked out well. That is a fantastic shot though: drama, angle, colour, composition. Superb.
I think it was some sort of training exercise, because not long after this shot was taken another empty canoe and paddle came floating down.
Or possibly a couple of them didn't want to go through this particular rapid and sent their canoes down to retrieve further down river,saves carrying them.Interesting shot never the less.
They got out of the water just under the bridge, and there was absolutely no panic about them and you would think they would be quite a bit stressed if it wasn't meant to be.