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Instruction

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At Canyon River Instruction we are dedicated to bringing you the best in customized whitewater instruction. Whether you are new to the river and excited to learn a new sport, want a better understanding of river safety, need a Swiftwater Rescue training, are looking to brush up on old skills or are ready to step up your game and tackle bigger rapids, we are here to help you achieve the whitewater skills you need.

We offer one to six day clinics in rowing, paddle rafting, kayaking, and canoeing for beginner through advanced, as well as river safety courses and Swiftwater Rescue training.

Our mission is to make the pursuit of whitewater safer and more accessible for all private boaters.

All of our instructors are ACA certified and all of our courses are taught to the ACA curriculum. Why ACA? The American Canoe Association was formed in 1880 and is the nation’s recognized leader in paddle sport instruction, it sets the industry standard in paddle sports safety and education, as well as core skill sets. The ACA's rigorous training and high standards ensure the finest caliber instructors anywhere on the water. We are proud to be an American Canoe Association Pro School.

CRI is a licensed river operator through Colorado Parks & Wildlife and is permitted to operate on the Arkansas River by the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). We pay a per user free to the AHRA which is in turn used to maintain a clean and healthy river corridor with safe and ample access. We thank the river rangers and park staff for their hard work and dedication to create a positive user experience for all.

 

Please contact us to arrange one or more days of private rowing or paddle rafting instruction on the Arkansas River near Salida, CO.

FAQs & Additional Info

  • We can offer some simple car/tent camping in a field at our property. It's easy, close, and safe, and has access to a porto, but there is highway noise. Within a 2 to 20 minute drive there is ample free primitive camping throughout the valley as well. The closest developed campground would be Hecla Junction, it's just about 4 miles down an easy dirt road at the river. It does fill up, so plan to reserve early if you can. There are a couple of KOAs as well in the vicinity.

  • For a local stay in Salida, we recommend the Blue Coyote Ranch. If you are taking a class at CRI, please contact us for a code to get 15% off when you book your stay.

  • Please bring a sack lunch. CRI will not be providing lunch and we will not be near an option to get food during the day. We have a fridge on premises which you are welcome to use and we will be bringing a cooler downriver with us when appropriate. Please bring your favorite sack lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.

  • Denver International is the primary airport and is about a 3 hour drive from Salida. The airport in Colorado Springs is also an option. It’s smaller, easier to navigate, and an hour closer, but usually has higher ticket prices.

  • There is the possibility of a daily bus from Denver, but it takes longer and you’ll most likely want your own vehicle once you’re in the vicinity, so we recommend renting a car and enjoying the drive through the mountains to Salida.

  • Typically, your class will begin at CRI at 8:30 and conclude back at CRI at 5:50. We will provide all of the transportation to and from the river. Times are variable and some classes will begin or end earlier or later depending on the material covered and river conditions. In some circumstances, you may elect to drive your own vehicle to the river, but you will be responsible for the daily park pass fee. Please discuss this option with us in advance to determine if it fits with the logistics of the day. We will break mid-day for lunch.

  • It depends! If the raft and rowing frame setup are deemed appropriate, we are happy to use your raft in a Custom Private Class. Many students find it useful to practice on their own equipment. For scheduled classes that are not private, only CRI rafts will be used.

  • Yes! We encourage everyone to use your own gear such as your lifejacket, helmet, and splash wear on the river. If you do not have these, don’t worry, we have plenty for anyone to use. Lifejackets and helmets are required to be worn whenever we are on the river, your instructor will need to inspect these items to make sure that they are appropriate for the whitewater environment.

  • We have some mid-weight wetsuits for which we do not charge. For swiftwater rescue classes or other days that have a heavy swimming component, you may wish to rent a thicker wetsuit or drysuit, please contact CKS River Supply just about 15 minutes up the road in Buena Vista.

  • Cancellation Policy: Cancellations occurring prior to 7 days from the clinic can be refunded in full, minus a 10% processing fee. For cancellations 7 days to 24 hours prior to scheduled clinic, clients will be responsible for 50% of the clinic fee. There will be no refunds for no-shows or cancellations less than 24 hours prior to scheduled event.

Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

CRI courses are open to all individuals who acknowledge the ability to perform the following essential eligibility criteria:

  • Breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)

  • Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water

  • Independently hold head upright without neck / head support

  • Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion

  • 
Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance 


  • Follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion 


  • Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket


  • Get on/off or in/out of a paddlecraft independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance


  • Independently get out and from under a capsized paddlecraft


  • Remount or reenter the paddlecraft following deep water capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance


  • Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills, activities and rescues listed in the appropriate Course Outline, and have the ability to recognize and identify to others when such efforts would be unsafe given your personal situation

EQUIPMENT

Suggested Equipment to bring to a class. We are here to answer any questions and to help pair you with whatever gear you might need:

  • PFD - Type III or V

  • Whitewater Helmet

  • non-cotton sun protection

  • Fleece or Wool warm layers

  • Wetsuit or drysuit

  • Dry or splash wear

  • River Shoes

  • Rescue knife with locking sheath and whistle

  • Hat

  • Sunglasses with retainer strap

  • Water bottle

  • Dry bag

  • Sack lunch

Course Descriptions

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Rowing Clinics

Learn the basics of rowing your own raft! Whether you want to catch every golden eddy on your favorite fishing stretch, take your family on a multi day float trip or tackle the notorious rapids of the Grand Canyon, we can help you gain and hone the skills you need to feel comfortable and confidant rowing your raft. We cover everything from the basics of reading water and scouting rapids to the physics of how your raft works, river safety and advanced maneuvering. We offer one to three day clinics, and beginner to advanced courses are available.  Instructor ratio is 1-3 students to one instructor and one raft.

$500 Full Day Private Rowing Clinic + $100 additional person

4 person max, recommended 3 or less for maximum oar time.

 

Paddle RaftING

Learn the basics of captaining a paddle raft so that you can take your friends down your favorite local stretch of river any time! We cover everything from the basics of reading water and scouting rapids, to the essentials of each paddle stroke, river safety and advanced maneuvering. Beginner to Advanced courses available. One to three day clinics. Instructor ratio is 2-6 students to one instructor, one raft.

$500 Full Day Paddle Rafting Clinic for 2 + $100 additional person  2 Person Minimum.

6 person max

 

Kayak Clinics

Whether you are new to kayaking or looking to refine some concepts that you've been working on for years, a CRI instructor can help you get to where you want to be.  All kayak instructors with CRI are certified through the American Canoe Association and offer private or small group size classes.  We teach on the Arkansas River right here in Salida, CO where we have some ideal learning environments ranging from easy eddy turns in the town park, Class II & III downriver sections, and the beautiful Browns Canyon National Monument.

$400 full day of One on One private instruction.  Please contact us for group rates and more information.

 

Swiftwater Rescue training

These two or three day intensive clinics go over all aspects of advanced swifter rescue techniques as well as the basics. Upon completion of the course you receive an ACA Swiftwater Rescue completion card that satisfies the requirements of commercial outfitter needs for guides. Swiftwater rescue skills are also just super handy to have in your back pocket, especially if you have a tendency to fire up the gnar with your crew. Because, hey, I mean, you know what's funny about safety, right? Nothing! ;) Seriously though, having serious safety skills on the water leads to a better time for everyone every time!

Click here for more info on safety training

 

River Safety

Want to feel a little more comfortable in a whitewater situation? Whether you are tackling high water and big rapids or taking your kids out on the float stretch, having a basic set of river safety skills makes any day on the water safer and more enjoyable. We'll cover all the basics from safe wading and swimming, to rescuing a swimmer, even flip and recovery. One day clinics.

Are you taking your family and young children on the river? Ask us about creating a private day of river safety for the whole family. As parents, we are familiar with creating an environment that’s safe, fun and engaging for even the younger river enthusiasts.

 

Women's Specific Clinics

Because sometimes it's just that much more fun to learn on a girls day out! In a classroom environment of women only with women instructors, the energy runs high, the fun is epic and it's just a safe space for women to practice skills in an otherwise male dominated sport. In these clinics, muscles are not our biggest asset, we learn the secrets of "finesse," share all those "tips & tricks" for girls only, and have twice as much fun as the boys! We offer women's specific clinics in all of our disciplines and abilities, because- Awesome.

 

Other Classes

Don't see what you're looking for? Do you paddle a different craft? Or want learn how to paddle a different craft? Give us a call and we'll do our best to find the paddling instructor that's right for you! Whether it's SUP, C1, OC1, river board or any other river craft, we'll do our best to accommodate your passion for paddling and find the right instructor to make your day on the water the learning experience you need!

 
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For outfitters

Canyon River Instruction offers ACA skill based guide schools and Swiftwater Rescue workshops for outfitters needing to train new guides. In utilizing CRI to run your guide school, you not only free up your early season guides to be running the early season trips that you need them for, you also ensure that your new guides have a solid foundation of necessary paddling skills that build upon step by step essentials of paddling, maneuvering, reading water and river safety.