Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Hi Folks,

We will be offering a Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue course November 2-3 on the Ouachita River in Malvern, AR, at the lower ledge (Tanner St.) site. The winter drawdown of the lakes will be in progress, which should provide us with plenty of water!

For course content details, please click here - http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.americanca ... skills.pdf

As you know if you have taken our courses in the past, we focus heavily on hands-on practice and skill development.

The cost will be 125.00 for the weekend

If you have any questions, please contact me by email- SwiftwaterRescue@gmail.com or call 479-595-1655

We are going ahead and opening registration for this event, be aware that these often fill quickly.

Best Regards,

Tom Burroughs

This will be a great class!

Do you guys think this would require a full dry suit? Just getting started and would love to do this course, but not sure I could justify the suit at this point.

Thanks

In a short answer, no. The water is cold, but we are not in it constantly. If you need cold weather gear in addition to what you currently have, we have extra wet and drysuits to loan. One of the big advantages of having programs this time of year is you get used to dealing with cool conditions in a very carefully managed environment where if you get too cool, we can easily get you warmed back up.

Only several spots left at this time.

I see this is a level four class. I have never had any formal training...is this an appropriate class for me?

Hi Mike, I sent you an email, but as it is a common question I thought I'd answer it here as well.
The answer is this. If you were only going to ever do one course, the L-4 is the one to do. It is a complete process from the most basic concepts all the way through tethered rescuer swimming and haul systems (z-drags etc..). There is no prerequisite course and very few requirements for entrance to the program, as it is designed to work for just about everyone.

Cheers,
Tom

Was just wondering if there are any slots let?





Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Yes we have several spots left and would love to have you join us!

Send me an email at SwiftwaterRescue@gmail.com and I'll send you the packet.


Best Regards,

Tom

Where is everybody camping for this?

I"m going to the class. The information stated we're staying at Porterfields.

The facilities are non-functional there, so bring everything.

I would like to thank Tom , Lorraine , T & Judy, for a fun & educated weekend . I learned a lot of very important ways to rescue myself & my fellow paddlers safely & effectively on the river or really any sort of water . Not to mention the awesome time I & believe we all had swimming down the rockport ledge . If anyone has not took a class like this I would highly recommend taking one of these courses with Tom at SwiftwaterRescue & crew . It is well worth a weekend & cost to join in!!! Never know it could save your life or someone around you, or really should say will . Thank you !!!!!

I would like to second Rob's comments.

The weekend was filled with lots and lots of information, as well as a healthy amount of personal practice on each of the new subjects.

The teachers were very well informed, congenial, friendly, easily approached and more than willing to volunteer wherever needed.

This class is a must take for anyone who paddles almost anywhere, but especially for moving water. It is akin to CPR/1st Aid for paddlers.

The cost is more than reasonable. I've taken classes on a lot of aspects of paddling, and I believe this Swiftwater class is the most practical and useful regardless of where you paddle and your skill level.

Thanks for Tom, Lorraine, Judy and T for their hard work, attention to detail and making it a fun and educational two days.

I think Rob and Mark pretty much summed it up!

Good Times

Yeah! Thanks to Tom for putting it on after a week at the swiftwater rescue conference! It great to work with everyone and I swear, I do not flip my rescuer's boat when I really need one!

See you guys on the river! ty