Not only a technical paddling program, this course offers an intercultural immersion experience. Participants will be surrounded by the Spanish language throughout the week, experience local food culture and community life in Jalcomulco, and have the option to visit significant archaeological and historical sites:

• ✔️Daily Spanish language immersion in Jalcomulco
• ✔️Local family-owned restaurants and regional Veracruz cuisine
• ✔️Overnight expedition in Barranca Grande canyon — wilderness and local ecology
• ✔️Optional Alseseca Kayak Race — annual regional event

Learn More About Veracruz Paddling!

Want to learn more about this world-class paddling locale? Check out our 3-part series on paddling in Veracruz, by Lizzy, Doom and our Mexico partner, Juan Femat.

• ✔️Packrafting in Veracruz: Back to Mexico for the 1st Packraft RoundUp & World-Class White, Part 1
• ✔️Quick Guide to Packrafting the Classic Rivers of Veracruz, Mexico, Part 2
• ✔️Past & Present: Storytime With Doom, Veracruz, Mexico, Part 3

We will only run this course with 4 or more clients. With 7+ clients, the price drops to $1395.

A deposit of $850 is required to secure your space. Full payment is due 90 days prior to your course. If you are registering inside of the 90 day window, the remaining balance is due immediately.

Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.

Food, lodging, transportation to and from the airport, packrafting equipment. We take care of transportation once the course starts.

Steve Fassbinder

Steve, aka “Doom,” is one of the country’s first Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructors. And he is a certified International Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO) and IRF Whitewater Packraft Guide. 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.

Juan Femat

Coming soon…

You may not cover every skill listed below — progress depends on participants’ motivation and experience, and on the length of the course. For more details, visit our [curriculum page](https://fourcornersguides.com/packrafting-curriculum/).

PADDLING & RIVER-RUNNING SKILLS

• ✔️Equipment: use and care, boat rigging, and fit and release of thigh straps
• ✔️Posture, safety, comfort, rocking, and balance
• ✔️Paddle strokes: forward, draw, sculling draw/brace, sweep (including stern draw), reverse sweep, rudder, and bracing
• ✔️Maneuvers: spins (pivoting the boat in place), draw strokes (moving sideways without headway), paddling forward in a reasonably straight line, and turning in a broad arc while underway
• ✔️Ferries: facing downstream (to stop in current and move laterally to avoid hazards) and facing upstream (to move laterally with control)
• ✔️Using eddies: eddy turns, peel-outs, deep entries vs. pivots near the eddy line, C-turns (eddy turn and peel-out on the same side of an eddy), and S-turns (eddy turn on one side, peel-out from the other)
• ✔️Surfing
• ✔️Trip planning — the 6 Ps: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
  •    ✔️Elements of a float plan (who, what, when, where)
  •    ✔️Sourcing local beta: river sections, flows, weather, and forecasts (online groups, guidebooks, websites, apps, gauges, and local businesses)
  •    ✔️Local rules, regulations, and permitting requirements
  •    ✔️Shuttle logistics (where do the keys go?)
• ✔️Evaluating current weather conditions, forecasts, and other environmental hazards
• ✔️Field repair: tips and tricks
• ✔️River-running strategy: spacing, avoiding tunnel vision, paddling your own route, scouting, portaging, group organization (lead and sweep boats), safety boats (group members with repair kits, first aid kits, and first aid/CPR training), and communication and signaling
• ✔️Danger vs. difficulty

BASIC SWIFTWATER SAFETY

Want a more complete set of rescue skills? We recommend our Swiftwater Safety Training course.

• ✔️Safety talk
• ✔️River communication: paddle, hand, and whistle signals
• ✔️Swimming in rivers and building water confidence: aggressive and defensive swimming positions
• ✔️Self-rescue and buddy assistance, including wet re-entry
• ✔️Dealing with currents
• ✔️Responsibilities of the group, rescuer, and swimmers
• ✔️River hydrology and dynamics: currents, features, obstacles, and hazards
• ✔️Rescue priorities: people, craft, paddle, gear
• ✔️Preventing cold-water shock, hypothermia, and hyperthermia: choosing proper clothing and recognizing and treating early symptoms
• ✔️Safety implications of remote paddling environments