Course accreditation through the American Canoe Organization
This course is geared toward the professional guide, professional rescuer, or the recreational boater with at minimum Class III comfortability and experience looking to develop more advanced skills.
This comprehensive, hands-on workshop is designed to teach participants how to recognize and avoid particular river hazards, practice on-water communication, perform self-rescue, and execute rescue techniques for others. This course will emphasize personal safety, teamwork, decision making and rescue philosophy.
Common course topics are based on the intentions and goals of the participants.
Many courses may include and are not limited to the following topics:
- Personal preparation
- Paddling environments
- Personal paddling and rescue equipment
- Rescue strategy
- Wading skills
- Swimming skills
- Throw rope skills
- Rigging, anchors and knots
- Craft pins
- Craft based rescues
- Strategies and skills for entrapments
- Scenarios that incorporate one or more of the above skills
At minimum each participant should:
- Be in good health with a solid swimming ability and be comfortable swimming in moving current.
- Be able to comfortably maneuver their craft of choice in class I-II rapids.
- Be prepared for extended periods of time spent in cold moving water and dress appropriately for both the weather and water temperature.
All participants should have the following minimum equipment:
- PFD designed for whitewater use
- Whitewater helmet
- Protective clothing suitable for extended swimming in cold water
- Protective footwear
- Whistle
- Throw rope
- River knife
All participants are encouraged to have:
- Appropriate river craft and propulsion device
- 6-15 feet of one inch tubular nylon webbing
- 2 locking carabiners
- 2 prusik loops
