- New For 2022!
- Intermediate to advanced Level Intermediate to advanced
- 14+ Ages 14+
- 4 hours Duration 4 hours
To be the best you need to learn from the best!
Quick Details
Improve Your River Running in our Steep Creekin’ Kayak Clinic in Vermont
Did you join us for our Spring Steep Creek Clinic? Have you wanted to hone your advanced skills toward running creeks and more advanced lines? This one-day clinic, for advanced closed canoe and kayak paddlers only, teaches the specific techniques of creeking including boofing, catching micro-eddies, and reading steep rapids on the fly. We will be practicing these skills on the Dryway section of the Deerfield River. If you want to explore the advanced lines on the Dryway, this clinic is for you.
The Dryway Monroe Bridge section of the Deerfield River is a Class III-IV whitewater run. The pool drop nature of the river and the many different lines through the rapids offer a great environment for working on creek boating skills in a low stress environment as well as the potential to run rapids multiple times.
This clinic is taught by top river runners who pass on their years of experience and in-depth knowledge of creeking technique. Our instructor to student ratio for this clinic is 1:3. We stress the use of good judgment in analyzing routes and minimizing risk.
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Prerequisite skills include class IV paddling ability including catching small eddies in power whitewater, ferrying and confidence. A solid class III-IV roll is required. This course is often held on narrow, shallow, high speed, low volume rivers. We recommend that you have experience running the Dryway or rivers of similar characteristics and class.
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While some of the flatwater areas we use are quite warm in June, July, and August, the Deerfield River is always cool (especially the Dryway), regardless of the time of year or air temperature. When packing your paddling clothes, please plan accordingly, especially if you are coming early or late in the season (April, May, September, and October). Our clinics will run rain or shine.
Wear items such as:
- Synthetic long underwear, garments made of polypropylene, Capilene, or some polyester/spandex blend
- Fleece or wool socks
- Bathing suit
- Fleece or wool jacket/sweater (early/late season or if you tend to chill easily)
Other items to bring:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Retaining strap for glasses
- Nose plugs
- Towel
- Required medications
- Extra money for snacks, T-shirts, or coin-operated showers
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Zoar Outdoor will provide:
- boat
- wetsuit
- paddle jacket
- booties
- life jacket
- helmet
- paddle
- sprayskirt
If you own your own equipment, we suggest you use it in the clinic to get used to its quirks.
We provide a catered picnic-style lunch on all our full day clinics.
The following statement is required by state law: “Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy.”
We do not use nuts in our food, but can not guarantee that the ingredients in our meals do not contain nuts or other food allergens. If you have food allergies or other special dietary needs, we strongly suggest you bring your own bag lunch in non-glass containers and we will pack it with the other lunches on your trip. Please inform our office at 800 532-7483 or [email protected] if you intend to do this.
(If you own your own equipment, we suggest you use it in the clinic to get used to its quirks. It is always great practice to bring your throw rope!)