Packraft Mastery: Learn Intermediate to Advanced Packraft Paddling & River Reading Skills
Master intermediate skills & learn some advanced skills in this level 3 course with Steve "Doom" Fassbinder
Course Introduction
Our head guides designed this course not only to teach you more advanced paddling and backcountry skills, but also to teach you how to work together as a team.
The course is based out of Durango, and will be held entirely on the Animas River.
Breakdown
Spend the three days of this course on various sections of the Animas River learning more advanced paddling and river navigation skills. You’ll also be practicing whitewater skills you learned in previous courses.
Required Skill Level
You must be an Intermediate boater to take this course. This is not a course for beginner (Level 1) or novice (Level 2) boaters.
If you’re not sure you are experienced enough for this course, please visit our blog post, “What Level Packrafter Are You?“
Price: $1025
A 50% deposit is required to secure your space. If you are registering inside of the 30 day window, the remaining balance is due immediately.
Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.
What You Need For This Course
You need a whitewater boat, whitewater paddling equipment, your own food, lodging and transportation. We will work together with the other participants to shuttle around town. We are not allowed to have clients in our cars.
Your need to source your own food and lodging. However, you are welcome to add 1-4 nights at Scullbinder Ranch, which includes breakfasts and dinners.
You will need a car or to carpool. We do not have a shuttle.
Instructors
Steve Fassbinder
Steve, aka “Doom,” is one of the country’s first Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructors. And he will be a certified International Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO) and IRF Whitewater Packraft Guide late April. Steve is also certified in Advanced Swiftwater Safety and Wilderness First Responder. An early adopter of packrafting, he has guided or instructed bike-packrafting to kids and adults for over a decade. And he has done remote packrafting expeditions around the world for over a dozen years.
What You Will Learn
Advanced Paddling & River Running Skills
- ✔You should already have mastered all the Level 1 & 2 Course Skills.
- ✔Technical and complex strokes
- ✔Dancing with the river: running big waves and laterals.
- ✔Managing vertical drops
- ✔Advanced surfing
- ✔Paddling a expedition loaded boat in whitewater
- ✔How to read whitewater
Advanced Group Dynamics Skills
- ✔Scouting and decision-making
- ✔Group selection
- ✔Expedition group dynamics
- ✔Group downstream travel technique & communications
- ✔Eddy hopping, traveling in groups. How to travel down a river safely by eddy hopping in groups
- ✔Clear communication: hand signals
- ✔Setting safety and choosing challenges: review, practice and implementation
Packraft Hacks
✔Backcountry repairs clinic
