Kokoelma: COURSES & TRAINING

 

Whether you are new to packrafting and would like to learn the basics, an intermediate paddler looking to improve your safety and river running skills, or an experienced paddler ready to take it to the next level. Our team of professional instructors and guides can help you achieve your goals.

At Packraft Europe we offer a variety of courses, trainings and expeditions depending on your skill level, experience and desired learning outcomes. We are also the only Packraft training provider that is certified by Rescue 3 Europe and the IRF (International Rafting Federation). We also have one of the lowest instructor to student ratios in the industry, which means you are guaranteed personalised one on one coaching and direct individual feedback to help you progress faster. 

2024 COURSE CALENDAR

APRIL:  

20 to 22nd - Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO), Soca River, Slovenia.

23 to 26th - IRF Whitewater Packraft Guide training workshop, Soca River, Slovenia. 

MAY: 

4 to 5th - Packraft Whitewater Fundamentals (2 day) Lammer River, Abtenau, Austria.  

JUNE: 

8 to 9th - Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Recreational (WRT-REC), Soca River, Slovenia.

10 to 16th - European Packrafting Meetup, Soca River, Bovec, Slovenia. 

29 to 30th - Packraft Whitewater Fundamentals (2 day) Lammer River, Abtenau, Austria.  

JULY: 

13 to 14th - Packraft Whitewater Fundamentals (2 day) Lammer River, Abtenau, Austria.  

AUGUST:

3 to 4th - Packraft Whitewater Fundamentals (2 day) Lammer River, Abtenau, Austria. 

MORE 2024 DATES COMING SOON :) 

  

Also check out our Custom courses designed specifically to your needs, or our training partners!

 

TRAINING WITH PACKRAFT EUROPE 

At Packraft Europe our courses and training focus on the core fundamentals essential to becoming safer, and more competent paddler. You can think of these two fundamentals as the foundation on which we stand, just like two legs.


On one leg we have safety and rescue: In order to become safer packrafters we need river reading skills, an understanding of river hydrology, an understanding of the risks involved in moving water, knowledge on how to identify hazards, river communication skills, knowledge about where to position ourselves on the river, self rescue and team rescue skills. We learn how to identify hazards so we can avoid them and we also learn how to rescue ourselves, others and gear when things don’t go as planned. We also learn about pre trip planning and preparation.

On the other leg we have paddling skills and techniques: We learn how to hold a paddle properly, correct and efficient forward paddle strokes, sweep strokes, draw strokes, when and how to brace, paddle timing and placement, angle and edging skills. These are needed to become better more efficient paddlers so we can move more easily around the river, avoid the hazards, catch eddies, boof over drops and holes, help others when needed, paddle more challenging rapids and have more fun.

 

PACKRAFTING COURSES 

    • Packraft Whitewater Fundamentals: 2 days (12hours) 390€* on class II/III rivers - 
  • Maximum 4 students per 1 Instructor. Our two day Packraft Whitewater fundamentals course is great for people who are thinking about paddling whitewater or have started paddling whitewater, or those that just want to feel more confident on moving water. During the course you will learn about the two core fundamentals of becoming a better paddler. In the mornings we cover river safety and learn about: River hydrology and hazards, Personal equipment, Personal rescue equipment, River running considerations, Risk assessment, River communications, What to do if your boat or gear gets pinned or stuck in the river, Whitewater swimming techniques, The benefits and dangers of a throw bag and how to use it correctly, Shallow water techniques, Foot / body entrapments, How to self rescue, Flip drills, Rescue techniques to rescue others and gear. On the afternoons we learn about: how to best set up your packraft for whitewater, correct paddling posture, how to hold a paddle correctly, paddling techniques and strokes (Efficient forward paddle strokes, Sweep strokes, Draw strokes, Ferry glides, Eddy in & Eddy out) and how to manoeuvre around the river effectively. We also provide scenarios for you to test your skills and gain real experience. 
    • Packraft Whitewater Progression: 1 day (6hours) 250€* | 2 days (12hours) 450€* | 3 days (18hours) 600€* | 4 days (24hours) 750€* | 5 days (30hours) 900€* 
    • on class II/III/IV rivers -
  • Maximum 3 students per 1 InstructorOur Packraft Whitewater Progression training is for those packrafters who already have experience and are ready to take their whitewater packrafting skills to the next level. You must be able to self rescue, ideally have already taken a whitewater rescue course and are able to manoeuvre around the river. This course covers basic, intermediate and advanced paddling and safety techniques although it is primarily focused on, and customised for the individual levels of the group. 

*All of our Packrafting courses include rental of whitewater packrafting equipment: An Alpacka Whitewater Packraft, Paddle, PFD/ Swim Vest, and helmet. Does NOT include: travel, accommodation, food, river passes or any associated expenses. 

    • Packraft Intro:  1 Day (6 hours) 
    • 240€* on class I/II rivers - 
  • Maximum 4 students per 1 InstructorOur Packraft introduction course is ideal for people totally new to packrafting and curious to try it out. You don't need any specific packrafting gear since a packraft, paddle, PFD/ swimvest and helmet are included in the price. It is designed to give you an overview of packrafting and cover the most common questions you might have, like which gear you need for packrafting, how to pack and inflate the packraft, etc. You will learn basic river reading skills, risk assessment skills, basic safety skills and fundamental paddling techniques. 

BIKERAFTING COURSES 

    • Bikeraft Intro:  1 Day (6 hours) 
    • 225€* on lake &/or class I/II rivers - 
  •  Maximum 4 students per 1 InstructorOur Bikeraft introduction course is ideal for people totally new to bikerafting and curious to try it out. You don't need any specific packrafting gear since the rental of a bikeraft specific packraft (Caribou), paddle, PFD/ swimvest, helmet and bike straps are included in the price. However you do need to bring your own bike. It is designed to give you an overview of packrafting and bikerafting and covers the most common questions you might have, like which gear you need for packrafting, how to pack and inflate the packraft, how to secure your bike on your packraft, how to secure your packraft on your bike etc. You will learn basic river reading skills, risk assessment skills, basic safety skills and fundamental paddling techniques. 

*All of our Bikerafting courses include rental of bikerafting & packrafting equipment: An Alpacka Caribou Bikeraft Packraft, Paddle, PFD/ Swim Vest, helmet and bike straps. Does NOT include: travel, accommodation, food, river passes or any associated expenses or a bike. 

WHITEWATER SAFETY & RESCUE COURSES

Packraft Europe was the first Rescue 3 Europe training provider dedicated to and specializing in Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) training and certifications for packrafters.

Rescue 3 Europe training provider logo

Packraft Europe worked closely with Rescue 3 Europe to create the WRT-F course and tailor the renowned WRT-REC and WRT-PRO courses specifically to the needs of the packrafting community. Rescue 3 has a reputation for quality hands-on instruction, using techniques that work, and this reputation has fueled the growth of Rescue 3 and its courses over the years. The Whitewater Rescue Technician course is essential training for anyone involved in whitewater.

The importance of Whitewater Rescue training for packrafters can not be emphasized highly enough. Packrafts are too easy to use and invoke a false sense of security and often those new to packrafting as well as seasoned packrafters over estimate their abilities. You simply do not know what you do not know. Whitewater rescue training provides the knowledge, skills and training needed to identify the risks and hazards involved in moving water and the techniques needed to help avoid these risks, to self rescue, and to help others in a rescue scenario. 

  • Whitewater Rescue Technician Foundation (WRT-F) – 1 day (6 hours)– €225. The Whitewater Rescue Technician – Foundation (WRT-F) course is designed for those new to whitewater paddling with little or no experience. The course aims to teach basic safety and rescue skills required in a moderate whitewater environment, and covers the foundation skills used in all our water safety and rescue courses. The WRT-F is also part of our 2 day Whitewater Packrafting Fundamentals Course.
  • Whitewater Rescue Technician Recreational (WRT-REC) – 2 days (12 hours) – €330. The WRT-REC course is for recreational paddlers who wish to have a rescue capability whilst paddling or in a whitewater environment with their peers, eg kayak club members, informal non-paying paddlers completing a river trip.
  • Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO) – 3 days (18 hours) – €440. The Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional (WRT-PRO) course is designed for professional river users who require a rescue capability in a whitewater environment, eg packraft guides, raft guides, safety kayakers. Recreational paddlers should take the WRT-REC course.

 

EXPEDITIONS

In order to join us on an expedition you must have taken a course with us or paddled with us before!

  • Croatia Expeditions (CODE NAME: "Get your BOOF on!")  - April thru July,  5 days / 3 rivers - 1800€ + Travel & Expenses. Min 2 Person / Max 5 Person. Simply put this trip is EPIC, it combines 5 days of packraft coaching and 3 beautiful rivers that are extremely rare in Europe in that they are still wild and freeflowing. The Zrmanja, The Una, and the Mreznica. This is also one of our personal favourites for multi day packrafting in Europe. This expedition is for intermediate to advanced paddlers and those who have undertaken rescue training. Packrafting Skills Focus: Forward Stroke, Boof Stoke, Running Drops, Draw Stroke, Cross Current Momemtum, Expedition and Camp Skills, Risk assessment & Management, Scouting, Rescue Skills, Throwbags, Paddling as a team, Leave No Trace. This is a self suported expedition, we will be camping on the river side, paddling with all of gear, and hiking.

 

TESTIMONIALS

"A really important course for every packrafter. It sharpens your senses for possible things happening and trains you with the tools to react to it. Instructed by Seon with a lot of commitment. This won't be our last rescue course!" Stephan, Germany

 

"Earlier this month had a fabulous 4 days with Packraft Europe in Gosau, Austria. 2 day packrafting clinic with Mark Oates, Jen and Seon, focusing on paddle strokes, choice of line and positioning within the paddling group. Massively impressed by the knowledgeable and detailed coaching, analysis of particular paddle strokes and theory of line choice. Fabulous two days paddling. Very impressed by all the time taken, after first long day of paddling, of watching back tape of us all paddling, analysis of technique and where and how to improve.
Then did the 2 day Rescue 3 WRT-Rec course with Seon. Learnt a heap on hydrology, river features and characteristics, knots, rescue techniques and considerations, and then drilled them thoroughly on the river.
All this in the stunning surroundings of the scenery around Gosau, where there is a crazy wealth and range of water, from lakes to Grade 5. Fabulous instruction. Can’t recommend enough." Sam, UK

 

"I am happy that I made the rescue course. 
The execution of the course was great. 
We got all the time feedback when something was well done or could be improved. 
All topics were shown before for better understanding. 
And - important - we were challenged afterwards to apply the learned in scenarios. 
Great experience!" Anja, Germany