
Learn to Packraft: A Whitewater Paddling Skills Course
Learn Whitewater Packraft Paddling, River Reading & Swiftwater Rescue Skills. This is a mixed Level 1 & 2- course to be tailored to the skills of the people who sign up.
Course Introduction
This Level 2 paddling course will enhance your paddling and river reading skills. You will review some key whitewater rescue skills that will be utilized during the course. But the focus of the course will be on deepening your understanding of Level 1 paddling & river running skills, and provide practice drills to perfect these skills.Â
This course is part of the new Level 2 Packraft Essentials series we implemented in 2024, based on the American Canoe Association’s packraft instruction curriculum.
To ensure personalized attention, we always maintain a 4:1 participant to guide ratio.
Price $675.00
A 50% deposit is required when you sign up. The remaining balance will need to be received through 30 days prior to your course. The remaining balance is due immediately if you are registering inside of the 30 day window.
Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.
What's Included
An open Alpacka Classic packraft, PFD, paddle, helmet. We recommend you rent a whitewater boat, as you’ll be spending a lot of time learning whitewater skills.
What's Not Included
Food and lodging, though you are welcome to add 1-4 nights at Scullbinder Ranch, which includes breakfasts and dinners. Transportation is also not included. You need a car or to carpool. We do not have a shuttle. Finally, we do not include: whitewater boats, drysuits, river knives, whistles or throw bags.Â
You will need a drysuit for this course. You may rent them locally for 10% off at 4CornersRiversports.com (they only have four), or get a 15% discount if you order them online at BackcountryPackraft.com We’ll give you the discount code once you sign up.
Instructors
Tyler Marlow
Born in the lush green forest of the American south, Tyler has never been one to sit still. At 18 they left home to thru hike the Appalachian trail and havenât stopped walking yet. Educated as an Anthropologist, Tyler seeks to understand the connection between humans and the landscape; where environments meets culture. Called to the desert, Tyler moved to Southeast Utah and began a love affair with the Colorado Plateau; working in youth conservation, trail work, and now as a carpenter and guide. With their dog Mira riding shotgun Tyler migrates seasonally, from the Sonoran desert, to the Four Corners, and McCarthy, Alaska with detours far afield. Tyler is a Level 4 American Canoe Association-certified Packraft Instructor.
OR
Waldo Aguayo
Waldo is a professional adventure tourism guide who specializes in water sports, mainly in packrafting. He has nine years of experience touring the Northern and Southern Chilean Patagonia. He first started packrafting seven years ago and quickly pioneered several routes on various rivers, fjords and lagoons in Patagonia. In 2019 he founded @scoutingrios, a guide service that runs tours, classes, clinics and packrafting expeditions in Patagonia.
What You Will Learn
Please note you may or may not learn all of these skills. It depends on the motivation and existing skill level of participants, along with the length of the course. Generally you will not learn as much on a two-day course as on our three-day courses.
Paddling & River Running Skills
âEquipment (use and care + boat rigging, fit, and release of thigh straps)
âPosture, safety, comfort, rocking and balance
âSwimming and general water confidence
âSelf-rescue & buddy assistance
âDealing with currents
âAggressive & defensive swimming position
âRiver hydrology/dynamics, features & hazards
âBeginner to Intermediate Paddle strokes: Forward, Draw, Sculling draw/brace, Sweep (including stern draw), Reverse sweep, Rudder, Bracing
âManeuvers: Spin: boat pivots in place; Draw Stroke to move the boat sideways without headway; Forward: boat goes forward in a reasonably straight line; Turns: boat turns in a broad arc while underwayÂ
âFerries: Facing downstream (to stop in current and move laterally to avoid hazards) and Facing upstream to move laterally with control
âUsing eddies: Eddy turns, Deep into eddy vs. near eddy line, Peel outs, Deep into current vs. pivot near eddy line, C-turns (eddy turn and peel out from the same side of an eddy), S-turns (eddy turn on one side of an eddy, peeling out from the other side)
âSurfing
âRiver communication: Paddle, hand, and whistle signals
âTrip planning â 6Ps: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
â Review elements of a float plan (who, what, when, where)
â Sourcing local beta such as river sections, flows, weather conditions, forecasts, etc. (i.e., online groups, guidebooks, websites, apps, businesses, gauges, etc.)
â Local rules, regulations, and permitting requirements
â Shuttle logistics (where do the keys go?)
âEvaluate current weather conditions, forecasts, and other environmental hazards
âField repair-tips & tricks
âStrategies in running rivers: Spacing, Avoid tunnel vision, Paddle your own route,. Scouting, Portaging, Group organization on the river, Cohesiveness (lead, sweep boats, etc.), Safety boats (group members with repair kits, first aid kits, and first aid and CPR training), Communication and signalingÂ
âDiscuss danger vs. difficulty
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Swiftwater Safety: Handling common emergency situations on the river
âIdentify and demonstrate the use of appropriate rescue and safety gear for packrafting
âResponsibilities of the group, rescuer, swimmers
âBoat-based rescues
âGroup communication
âUsing throw bags
âSwimming in rivers & water confidence (aggressive & defensive swimming position)
âSelf-rescue & buddy assistance (we re-entry)
âRescue priorities: people, craft, paddle, gear
âDiscuss how to avoid and prevent cold water shock, hypothermia, and hyperthermia by choosing proper clothing and recognizing and treating early symptoms
âDiscuss the safety implications of access to remote paddling environments
âBow and stern towing for a tired swimmer
âTowing or bulldozing a capsized boat
âShoreline Rescue: Extension rescues, Use of throw ropes/bags, Pinned craft
âWading principles: Avoiding foot entrapment & foot entrapment extrication: Limitations (water depth and speed, bottom conditions, downstream hazards, debris in water); One and two person techniques
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