Learn to Raft Guide Clinic Level 1

Overview

If you are looking for more personalized raft guide instruction for recreation and private boating, then this is the clinic for you!

Learn to Raft Guide is a three-day hands-on clinic for those looking to learn the basic skills to guide their own raft for outdoor recreation and leisure. Participants can expect top-notch training from our experienced guides in a personal setting at 4:1 student teacher ratio. Meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts for an intensive multi-day training at our 500-acre campus in the Nantahala River Gorge just outside of Bryson City.

Gain strong technical foundations that will serve you as you progress your paddling skills. River reading, water safety and communication, rescue techniques, and learning to run the river are all skill sets and knowledge bases you will grow in this clinic. It will provide all participants personal growth and the self confidence to guide rafts and instruct crew members.

What You’ll Learn

• Essential River Skills
• River and Raft Terminology
• How to Read Whitewater, Identifying River Features & Hazards
• River Running
• Proper Raft Care
• Guide Strokes & Stance
• Crew Strokes & Dynamics
• Rescue Techniques
• River Safety & Communication
• Righting a Flipped Raft

We offer a Spring Raft Guide School for aspiring professional raft guides interested in working at NOC.

What to Expect

Guests will meet their professional instructors, get issued the necessary river gear, and then head to a lake to learn the foundations of effective guide strokes. After spending some time on the lake, we will be putting that knowledge into action as we run Class II-III whitewater rivers for the remainder of our time together. While most of our time will be spent on the river, we will supplement lessons with river side “chalk talks” to ensure that students gain strong understanding and confidence in the skills being taught.

A Guide On What To Expect:

Day 1:

• Course introduction
• Discussion of raft construction, caring for a raft, lifting/loading a raft
• Discussion of crew dynamics, guide stance, and guide strokes
• Discussion of river hazards
• River time putting into action all that was presented and discussed
• Aggressive swimming and passive swimming in whitewater

Day 2:

• Discussion of river maneuvers and river features
• River time with emphasis on finessed guide strokes, river manuevers, guide confidence, and unsticking stuck rafts.

Day 3:

• Rope throws
• River time. A challenging day is planned that incorporates all of the skills presented throghout the weekend. Sunday is tailored to the students’ skills and paddling goals.