Basic Whitewater Packrafting Equivalency

The equivalency test is conducted as a one day outing on a regional class II whitewater river.  During the course we will confirm that you have suitable equipment and skills for paddling whitewater rivers.  

Equivalency outtings will be scheduled periodically as people register for this class.

Swimming and Rescue

• Jump into whitewater doing a flat jump or lateral jump
• Swim cross current at a ferry angle
• Transition to and maintain a safety position
• Transition to an aggressive swim and catch an eddy
• Exit the river in a seal crawl
• Catch a rescue rope and hold on the correct side of the head while getting pulled to shore
• Swim with paddle a short distance  in current

Individual Rescue Skills

• Capsize and wet exit
• Self re-entry from deep water in 90 seconds
• Re-enter a stabilized boat 
• Stabilize a swimmer's boat while they re-enter

Group Rescue

• Paddle to collect a swimmer.  Tow the swimmer some distance
• Right a capsized boat and boat bump to a swimmer
• Collect the paddle and bring to the swimmer (paddle with two paddles)
• Throw a line to a swimmer in current and guide them to the shore
• Backup someone who threw a line

River Reading

• identify strainers and discuss their concerns
• Identify lower and higher risk hydraulics.  Discuss what makes higher risk
• Identify routes through a rapid

Packrafting Skills

• Launch from rocky shoreline into Class II current
• Paddle through a boulder garden
• Paddle through a hole
• Break through a well defined eddy line near shore and at a mid-stream boulder
  
• Paddle through a wave train
• Demonstrate the ability to manage boat speed and spacing through choosing slower water, catching eddies, or backpaddling