Beginners Packrafting Course in Tasmania

[Mark_O]

I know that some members of bushwalk.com are interested in combining bushwalking with packrafting…

Canoe Tasmania will be conducting an Introductory Whitewater Packrafting Course based at the Arm River Outdoor Education Centre and Mersey River Whitewater Course in NW Tasmania over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th October.

The course is suited to complete novices, beginner paddlers who intend to paddle grade 2 whitewater plus existing packrafters who are aspiring to paddle grade 3 safely & competently. The focus for the course is on developing safety and technical knowledge specific to packrafts being used on grade 2 whitewater. There will be a combination of both theoretical and on-water practical components and all participants should be prepared for sessions involving capsizes and swimming in moving water (wetsuits or drysuits will be necessary).

The course is being run by experienced professional whitewater instructors - Alex McWhirter and myself. Spaces are extremely limited with only 8 spots being initially offered. This course is ideal for those who wish to enrol in future intermediate whitewater courses that will be offered by Canoe Tasmania. We also intend to ultimately offer advanced whitewater packrafting courses on grade 3+/4 water for those who are looking to safely journey down more serious rivers and steep creeks.

Further information can be found at: http://tas.canoe.org.au/introductory-wh ... ng-course/

To secure a space on the course please return the Registration Form (available from the above link) with payment to Canoe Tasmania. Canoe Tasmania can be contacted directly via canoe.tas@canoe.org.au or if you have specific questions regarding the course feel free to post here or PM me.

For those interested in getting into packrafting but who do not currently own a packraft or suitable whitewater paddling gear - you can potentially hire equipment for the course. See the Registration Form for details and note that this needs to be arranged privately, as it is independent of Canoe Tasmania.

Not sure if packrafting is for you - to learn more about the benefits of packrafting check out this link:
https://vimeo.com/127830671

Kind regards, Mark Oates

[12Black10]

Awesome activity, great initiative.
Good on you Mark, Alex & Canoe Tas

[weeds]

We are keen to purchase pack rafts........a that price I'm not sure they will get the use required.

We are keen to do Katherine Gorge, Lawn Hill......need to find other walk/paddles.

I did find these guys........might do the job http://flyweightdesigns.com/product/cro ... -packraft/

[Mark_O]

I know there has not been a lot of interest on this forum but just to update everyone, this course is now fully booked out. We bought in a third instructor and already the associated spaces generated are now taken. For those who missed out this time, apologies however I have no doubt that we will be running more courses in the near future. If you are keen to be involved in future courses I encourage you to register your name with Canoe Tasmania. Some of you have also expressed interest in more advanced/intermediate level and specific packraft rescue training courses - again if you can contact Canoe Tasmania to register your interest then we will see what we can do.

For those on the course, all three instructors are very much looking forward to it and we will be sending out an additional information/resource pack a few weeks prior to the actual course. There is a great mix of females and males undertaking the weekend and we look forward to meeting you all there.

All the best, Mark

[simonm]

It's something I would be keen to do in the future Mark, for sure.

[sim1oz]

Mark, thanks for organising and we are looking forward to it!