Skill Level: Advanced Beginner-Intermediate | Prerequisites: Beginner Whitewater Kayak Course

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Rates

• 2-Day Clinic: Midweek $355 Weekend $385

Price includes all equipment, instruction, catered, picnic-style lunch and transportation from our base to and from the paddling sites.

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Duration

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Daily

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Top 3 Reasons To Go

1. A quick introduction to the sport of kayaking.
2. Our friendly professional instructors are ACA certified and love passing on their passion for the sport.
3. Our full-service adventure resort offers onsite camping and lodging

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About

You're curious about whitewater kayaking, you've taken an introductory course, but you don't know what to do next. This is the perfect place to find out. Our river time will focus on sharpening fundamental river skills such as edging, setting angles, and performing eddy turns and peel outs. Our strengths-based learning approach makes kayaking an excellent adventure right from the start and has helped bring thousands of new paddlers into the sport. We emphasize fun on the river while teaching proper stroke techniques and responsible whitewater kayaking practices.

A whitewater kayak is an extension of your body. It fits snugly to give you maximum control and maneuverability. After reintroducing you to the sport of kayaking and to your equipment, we will build upon your foundational kayaking skills in the security of a pond. We start by reviewing wet exits--how to safely exit the kayak when upside down. Then we move on to review basic strokes, including sweep strokes, forward strokes, draws, and braces. Once everyone is comfortable in their boats, we head to moving water where we practice river maneuvers such as the eddy turn, peel out, and ferries.

On the second day, we continue to work on river maneuvers and we end the day by running a several-mile-long, Class I-II section of the river.

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Goal of the clinic:

To teach paddlers the foundational skills of river kayaking in whitewater kayaks and to continue progressing skills beyond the introductory level in order to work toward confidently paddling on their own.

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Who should take the clinic:

People who have tried out the sport of whitewater kayaking and want to build on the basic foundational skills of river kayaking in whitewater kayaks. Our minimum age for these clinics is 14.

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What will be covered:

After reorienting students to boats, gear, and proper outfitting, we re-establish basic maneuvering strokes, exiting the boat safely and edging the boat on flat water. We then move to the river where we cover basic whitewater safety and run a class I-II section of the river practicing harder moves in easier water.

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Clothing/Gear

What should I wear?

While some of the flatwater areas we use are quite warm in June, July, and August, the Deerfield River is always cool, regardless of the time of year or air temperature. When packing your paddling clothes, please plan accordingly, especially if you are coming early or late in the season (April, May, September, and October). Our clinics will run rain or shine.

Wear items such as:

• Synthetic long underwear, garments made of polypropylene, capilene, or some polyester/spandex blend.
• Fleece or wool socks
• Bathing suit
• Fleece or wool jacket/sweater (early/late season or if you tend to chill easily)

Other items to bring:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Retaining strap for glasses
• Nose plugs
• Towel
• Required medications
• Extra money for snacks, t-shirts, etc

Zoar Outdoor will provide:

• boat

• wetsuit

• paddle jacket

• booties

• life jacket

• helmet

• paddle

• sprayskirt

• We provide a catered picnic-style lunch at all our clinics.

The following statement is required by state law: "Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy."

We do not use nuts in our food, but can not guarantee that the ingredients in our meals do not contain nuts or other food allergens. If you have food allergies or other special dietary needs, we strongly suggest you bring your own bag lunch in non-glass containers and we will pack it with the other lunches on your trip.

(If you own your own equipment, we suggest you use it in the clinic to get used to its quirks.)

Hungry?

Visit our neighbors at Berkshire East before or after your clinic! They have early lunch options available at the Backyard snackbar. After your clinic, celebrate with dinner at The Crazy Horse Bar & Grill. Hours & Menu!