Guest Testimonials

I've done two kayak courses at Wet Planet. The rescue course has already helped me make one effective rescue which I would have been a useless bystander if I hadn't taken the course. The second was a creeking skills course and it reinforced the guilty feeling I had after the rescue course - I get so much more than I pay for from Wet Planet, Andy, Todd, and the staff, that I feel like I would have gotten a bargain at twice the price.

Scott, Hood River, OR

Spring is rapidly approaching, and we are all eagerly anticipating another great Spring of paddling when this winter's snowpack begins to melt. Are your rescue skills ready?

This one-day river rescue course is designed to provide hands on practice in basic rescue skills for whitewater paddlers unable to attend a three-day rescue course or for paddlers with previous rescue training interested in freshening up their skills before the season begins. The course is designed for private whitewater kayakers or other whitewater paddlers who will not be carrying the large quantities of gear typically found on commercial rafting trips or multi-day trips. We will explore rescue techniques that can be performed using basic rescue gear typically carried on private paddling trips (ropes, a few biners, prusicks & webbing, and rescue jackets). We will begin by discussing basic rescue concepts, group organization, and gear. The course will then move through basic rescue techniques, such as aggressive swimming, boat towing, throw ropes, and simple rope systems (including knots, anchors, and mechanical advantage) in order to perform rescues on swimmers, entrapped victimes, and pinned boats.

We've kept the cost of this course low, because we strongly believe that everyone should have rescue training! If you've had rescue training before, this course is a great opportunity to refresh and practice those skills.

The course is led by Wet Planet co-owner Todd Collins, a Rescue3 International swiftwater rescue instructor and a NOLS swiftwater rescue instructor-trainer.

"I believe that strong rescue skills are the best sign of respect for the other people that you paddle with. Every member of a paddling group, whether they're on class II or V, has a responsibility to the people they are with to take the time and energy to develop solid river rescue skills. These days, when I'm looking for paddling partners, I'm more interested in whether or not they've got the skills to take care of me if I get in trouble than I am in whether or not they can huck the big drop." - Todd Collins