$20 for those wanting the WWR1 certificate invoiced separately. For those wanting the certificate please email education.tas@paddle.org.au
The following two days will then focus on packraft specific technical paddling skills. It is designed both for those with some experience on whitewater (but no formal prior training) as well as those with no prior experience to whitewater but who are keen to progress onto it.
This course provides the foundation for more technical whitewater packrafting courses and focuses on the fundamentals of key strokes, how to competently catch and exit eddies, how to cross fast strong currents and how to use momentum and moving water to your advantage. Additionally, it ensures that participants have the knowledge and skills to be able to not only look after and self-rescue themselves in a basic whitewater environment but also how to rescue others. Although we often get enquiries from people about skipping this course (because they already have some experience on whitewater) we encourage everyone to undertake it as it provides the basis for all our other courses.
Participants should come prepared and equipped for multiple swimming, wading and
capsizing activities which are particularly a large focus on day 1.
The intention is for the course to take place on grade 2 whitewater on the upper Derwent
River about 45 minutes drive north west of Hobart. This will be the case unless the Derwent is in flood and if so, an alternative venue will be used. Participants will be informed via email 24 hours prior to course if the venue needs to be changed.
Day 1 Times &Starting Location: Saturday 11 Feb 8.45 am – 4:30 pm
Meet at the Banjos Bakery in New Norfolk at 8:45 am. Perhaps if you need to grab a
coffee/snack/lunch from the shop then get there before the official start time of 8:45 am. New Norfolk is approximately 40 minutes from Hobart's CBD. From there we will drive out together to the starting location, 5- 10 minutes further north.
If any issues with meeting the group contact Dan Hall on 0434861887. Note that Banjos Bakery will be the last chance to purchase lunch or to use a real toilet as the intention, at this stage, is not to return to New Norfolk and shops until the end of the day.
Bring lunch, plenty of drinking water plus some energy food.
You’ll be in the water some of the time so come prepared for this with a wetsuit, drysuit or
thermals-drytop/cag/spray jacket combination.
Day 2 Times & Starting Location: Sunday 12 Feb 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Meet again at the Banjos Bakery in New Norfolk for a 9:00 am departure from New
Norfolk. From Banjos we will again travel as a convoy north, most likely to a different site
on the river.
Day 3 Times & Starting Location: Monday 13 Feb 9:00 am to 2:30 pm
Meet again at the Banjos Bakery in New Norfolk. Again we will travel as a convoy but
possibly to a different site on the river. We finish early on this day to allow time for
participants travelling either interstate or to the north of the state.
Instructors: The instructors involved in the course include Dan Hall (Senior Whitewater
Instructor), Mark Oates & Jen MacGibbon. There is also a chance that trainee instructors may also be involved.
Equipment Required:Participants need to attend with the following:
- packraft with inflation bag
- appropriate kayak/packraft paddle
- whitewater paddling helmet. Please do not bring climbing or bike helmets
- whitewater PFD that fits you well
- wetsuit and cag/paddling jacket or a drysuit. Some people may be able to get away with
thermals-drytop/cag combined however we would recommend bringing a number of changes of clothes to ensure you can stay warm enough.
- water shoes that you can comfortably walk around on rocks in (note that old runners/volleys may actually work better than lightweight/soft wetsuit booties which are often uncomfortable to walk in, particularly on rough and slippery rocks)
- personal medications & sunscreen
- lunch, snacks and drinking water for each day
- warm clothes for afterwards
You may also like/opt to bring the following but don’t worry if you don’t have them:
- throwbag
- river knife
- paddling gloves (can be particularly useful if not used to handling thin throw ropes and are very useful for sun protection)
- any safety gear you generally paddle with (scregate carabiners, sling, etc)
Purchasing New Gear:We encourage you to try and avoid buying anything new for this course. We will bring along a number of throw-bags so if you don't have one yet, please simply use ours. More than likely if you are missing a key item of gear we may be able to loan you something for the course - if we are informed well in advance. After completing the course, you will have a much better idea of what is a good piece of equipment and what isn't. Hopefully that way you will spend your money wisely.
Potential Locations Utilised (note that we may only use some of these sites or others sites
nearby):
Broken Bridge Slalom Site: From the northern side of the bridge at New Norfolk head west along the Lyell Hwy for 10.7 km, (8 mins) till you spot a dirt turnoff just before a white cottage on a righthand bend. The turn off comes up quick so watch out for it.
Google Maps: -42.735330098873916, 146.95339454042602
Hayes Corner Car Park and Lookout: drive 4.7 km (4 mins drive on the eastern side) along
the Lyell Hwy, from the bridge over the Derwent in New Norfolk.
Google Maps: -42.758679937547285, 147.00800050341405
Plenty Railway Bridge Car Park (listed as ‘River Derwent Railway Bridge): drive 7.2 km
from the bridge over the Derwent in New Norfolk, along the western side on the Glenora
Road.
Google Maps: -42.75602047522549, 146.98608174243938
For information about Registration, Payments & Refunds please contact Jane Stephenson on
education.tas@paddle.org.au For information about the course itself & whether this course is suitable for you, please
contact either of the Course Co-ordinators, Dan Hall, via: danchall@hotmail.com or Mark Oates on
mark.oates.outdoors@gmail.com