Colorado ACA Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue and Rafting Clinc

Are you sick of being out on the river, just hoping that nothing goes wrong? Do you ever have a close call and think, whew, we would’ve been totally screwed if that had gone poorly? We are here to help you gain the skills to safely manage incidents and emergencies on the river.

This is an ACA Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue clinic, meaning we’re teaching an industry-standard level of curriculum that will be helpful for both recreational boaters and professional guides. Mia and Caroline are both ACA certified Swiftwater Instructors, with over 18 years combined experience as professional guides and outdoor educators. We love creating a teaching space that feels grounded and safe and slowly expands the level of difficulty as our student’s comfort level increases!

This 2 day clinic will build confidence in moving water and deepen technical rescue knowledge. We focus on practical, real-world skills you can actually use on the river. We practice the skills in the river, and supplement with scenarios to mimic actual incidents and emergencies.

Participants can expect:

• Reading moving water, swimming rapids, river crossings

• Risk assessment, identifying hazards, and rescue strategy

• Leadership, teamwork, and communication on the river

• Knots, mechanical advantage, and rope rescue techniques

Completion of the 2-day course entitles students to an ACA participation certificate, accepted by most river outfitters, kayak schools, and outdoor programs.

This course is hosted in Gunnison, CO, in partnership with our friends at Gunnison Kayak Program.

The price for this course is $325. The additional rafting day is $100.

Additionally, we are offering a supplemental day of rafting skills. We’ll spend the day running a Class II-III section of whitewater, giving students the opportunity to enhance their rowing and paddling skills. We’ll talk about reading rapids, line choice, and boat rigging. This clinic is challenge-by-choice, and participants can expect a day of fun whitewater boating!

Please email caroline@bigwaterbabes.com to register or with any questions! We’d love to hear from you!