Whitewater Packrafting Fundamentals
This course gives you a highly solid foundation for tackling whitewater. It teaches both safety and technical paddling skills and provides the basis for our higher level courses.
Learn the FUNdamentals!
We highly recommend that all our clients start with our Fundamentals Course. We primarily run it as a 3-day course on the Derwent River, just outside of Hobart. Occasionally we will run a condensed 2-day version. Our FUNdamentals course is designed not only for those who are new to whitewater. It is also for those who have spent quite a lot of time on rivers but who have not previously received any formal training in technical paddling or river rescue skills.
This course is the best way to get off on the right foot with your paddling adventures as we aim to equip you with the correct techniques to build up your paddling and rescue skills.
Feb 7-9 | 3-days $800
April 11-13 | 3-days $800
Dec 5-7 | 3-days $800
Learn the FUNdamentals of how to paddle whitewater competently and safely with Packrafting Tasmania
The Fundamentals course provides the foundation for more technical whitewater packrafting courses and focuses on 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 self-rescue in a basic whitewater environment as well as how to rescue others. Day 1 sees us IN the water a lot, so it’s advisable to bring either a wetsuit or a dry suit.
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 foundation for all our other courses. This course is designed to set participants up to carve into the future.
The course takes place on grade 2 whitewater on the upper Derwent River about 45 minutes drive north west of Hobart, near New Norfolk (see LOCATIONS)
Participants need to come prepared and equipped for multiple swimming, wading and capsizing activities which are particularly a large focus on day 1.
The course will take place on grade 2 whitewater on the Derwent River about 45 minutes drive north west of Hobart.
Learn to read & make use of the whitewater river features
Course Logistics
Day 1 - Meet at Lee’s Corner, a small reserve/park next to the roundabout and Banjo’s Bakery in New Norfolk at 8:45 AM.
From there we will drive out together to the starting location, less than 10 minutes away.
Bring lunch, plenty of drinking water and some energy food items.
On Day 1 you will be in the water for some time so come prepared for this with a wetsuit or drysuit or a drytop/spray jacket in combination with a wetsuit.
We will finish the course on the final day around 3 PM in order to all time for participants to travel home & potentially interstate or the north of the state.
For more information on the locations of the two paddling sites that we are likely to use on the Derwent, please see the LOCATIONS page.
Some information about these sections of the rivers can be found on: WikiRiver.com
If you are unsure if this course is for you, please contact us
Please attend with the following:
- packraft with inflation bag (although thigh-straps, self-bailers or whitewater-decked boats are ideal, this course can be completed with a basic packraft). Occasionally we may be able to arrange hire of packrafts and accompanying paddling gear but this is limited.
- appropriate kayak/packraft paddle (we recommend 200-205 cm)
- 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. Alternatively, sometimes participants bring 2 wetsuits and switch between them as needed.
- 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 do not 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 normally paddle with (screwgate 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.
Meet your Instructors
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Dan Hall
SENIOR WHITEWATER INSTRUCTOR (Packraft & Kayak)
Dan is one of the most experienced and accomplished whitewater kayakers in Australia, having competed internationally across a 20+ year racing career. He is an internationally renowned coach and instructor but is best known for dominating the extreme whitewater kayak races in Australia since to 2003. -
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Jen MacGibbon
WHITEWATER INSTRUCTOR (Packraft)
Jen fell in love with packrafts in 2011 and ever since has been using them to undertake whitewater adventures all around the world. A teacher by trade, her teaching style resonates with a lot of participants as she did not come into packrafting from a strong kayak background like Dan and Mark. -
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Mark Oates
SENIOR WHITEWATER INSTRUCTOR (Packraft & Kayak)
Mark is internationally known for his passion for increasing the technical knowledge of packrafters. He is incredibly passionate about packrafting and is keen to see paddlers develop their skills and knowledge to be able to paddle whitewater with excellent boat control & an awareness of safety & teamwork.
Learn the Fundamentals!
We highly recommend that all our clients start with our Fundamentals Course. We run it as either a 3-day or a 2-day course on the Derwent River, just outside of Hobart. It is designed for both those who are new to whitewater. As well as those who have spent quite a lot of time on rivers but who have not received any formal training in technical paddling or river rescue skills.