| Intermediate Whitewater Packraft Course Dates: Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September 2022 Venue: Mersey White Water Regional Reserve Accommodation: Arm River Outdoor Education Centre Fee: $485 non-members; $388 members (includes 2 nights of accommodation & 3 days of instruction) Course Numbers: Spaces are limited due to low instructor-student ratios Registration closing date: September 6,with all payments to be made by this date Paddle Tasmania Development Officer: Sandra Kent Paddle.Tas@paddle.org.au 0497656710 (for any enquiries about registration and payments) Course Coordinator: Dan Hall danchall@hotamil.com 043486887 or Mark Oates mark.oates.outdoors@gmail.com 0409194260 for any enquiries about course details or suitability. Course Program: PaddleTasmania will be conducting a 3-day Intermediate Whitewater Packrafting Course in north-west Tasmania based at the Mersey White Water Regional Reserve. The group will stay at the Arm River Outdoor Education Centre for both Friday and Saturday nights. This hardtop camp is 5-minutes drive from the Mersey White Water Course which we intend to use as our main teaching venue. To learn more about this section of the Mersey see:https://tas.paddle.org.au/info_uppermersey. Although we may have the opportunity to also paddle other sections of the Mersey river or nearby rivers if conditions and skills allow.
The course will be run by Paddle Australia Senior Whitewater Instructors Dan Hall and Mark Oates but may also include additional instructors. It is ideally suited to those who currently paddle grade 2-3 rivers as well as those who are aspiring to learn to paddle harder rivers safely & competently. If you are unsure as to whether this is the right level of course for you please refer to the information click here. The focus of this course is on developing safety and technical knowledge specific to packrafts being used on grade 2+ and easier grade 3 whitewater. There will be a number of in-water practical components and all participants should be prepared for sessions involving capsizes and rescues plus swimming and wading in moving water (drysuits or wetsuits are highly recommended). Potential Content:
- Group Safety Considerations & Equipment
- River Communications
- Essential Technical Paddling Strokes
- Creating Power
- Improving Edging
- Utilising Cross-Current Momentum to your Advantage
- Multiple Techniques for Entering and Exiting Eddies
- Achieving objectives through utilising Position, Angle, Speed, Head, Edging and Strokes
- Improving Efficiency on paddling a Pre-Defined Course
- Self and Assisted Rescues
- Scouting and Setting Safety
- Defensive and Aggressive Swimming in Moving Water
- Throwbagging Techniques and Practice
- Improvisation Techniques for Lost Paddles/Boats or Injured Paddler
- Practical Rescue Scenarios
- Paddling as a Team
Starting Time & Venue: Friday 23 September– Meet at 9.00 am for a 9:30 am official start.The starting venue is the Arm River Outdoor Education Centre, located approximately 850m up Maggs Road (take the first turn right after crossing the Arm River on the Mersey Forest Road). It is approximately a 1 hour drive from Deloraine. Google Maps reference: -41.691077, 146.207297 The Arm River OE Centre has basic communal bunk rooms, basic kitchen facilities and toilets/showers. Note that there are limited pots, pans and crockery available so ideally come fully self-sufficient. There is also very little phone coverage after you leave Mole Creek and none at either the paddling or accommodation venues. All participants are expected to stay at the camp for both Saturday and Sunday nights as we may do some evening theory/video analysis sessions depending on how the group is feeling. Participants need to bring ALL food for the duration of the course as there are no shops or services at all nearby. A fridge is available at the Arm River OE Centre. Course Conclusion: The course will conclude on the Sunday afternoon around 3:00pm. It is not recommended that interstate paddlers book return flights on the Sunday prior to 6:30pm however participants may leave the course early if they need to do so. Paddling Equipment:Participants will need to provide and bring their own packraft & all personal paddling gear including a decent PFD, paddle and whitewater paddling helmet. It is highly recommended that all packrafts have thigh straps. As the water can be very cold at that time of year, either a drysuit (recommended) or decent wetsuit is required. Some participants who bring wetsuits choose to bring two so that they can swap a wet one out for a dry one. Decent footwear (sturdy and warm) is essential. Equipment List: - Own packraft (ideally with thigh straps) with some form of attached bowrn and stern perimeter line.
- WW PFD (personal floatation device)
- WW kayak helmet (NOT a climbing or bike helmet)
- WW paddle
- Drysuit or full wetsuit with drytop or cag
- Appropriate footwear for paddling and walking
- Drybag for carrying essential gear during trip.
- Lightweight pack in case we need to walk into or out of a river
- Personalrn medications, sunscreen, etc
Optional if available: throwbag, river knife, slings, carabiners, personal rescue gear - Sleeping bag
- Own pillow
- Lots of warm clothes
- ALL FOOD for the 3-days
- Personal eating utensils and crockery
- Thermos or similar (optional)
Registration is a first in first on the course, if there are no tickets available email paddle.tas@paddle.org.au to be added to the waiting list, you will be contacted if a place becomes available. |
