Poudre Paddlers Canoe and Kayak Club Fort Collins Loveland Windsor Colorado
Poudre Paddlers Canoe and Kayak Club Fort Collins Loveland Windsor Colorado

Instructional Program (2009)   

Poudre Paddler classes teach beginning canoeists basic paddling strokes and river enthusiasts enhanced skills for bigger water. A fee of $10 per non-ACA member will be added to classes taught by certified instructors to cover insurance cost. All class participants must have their club dues current to begin classes. You will need to have or rent your own boats and gear. You must be a competent swimmer!
Instructors

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Poudre Paddlers Instructors (with ACA certifications)

Eric Hermann 970-482-8339 Solo and Tandem Whitewater
Debbie Hinde 970-669-6247 Basic Solo & Tandem River and Whitewater Tandem
David Karan 507-206-4768 Solo and Tandem Whitewater

Other Poudre Paddlers Instructors

Steve Cassells 303-684-9252
Katie Christensen 970-484-7857
Randy Knauff 970-663-4598
Mike O'Brien 970-482-2623
Karen Roth 970-482-4360
Joe Schmid 970-484-7857

To Sign Up for Poudre Paddlers Classes

Check fees and insurance in the listings below. Many classes are free. To sign up, just follow the two easy steps below:
  • Contact the instructor. You must register at least 14 days before the class begins. Otherwise, classes may be cancelled due to a lack of sufficient students. So everyone has the best possible experience, registration for any particular class is by instructor approval. He or she can help you select the class to fit your learning goals and skill level. The instructor can also offer preparation details, directions to the training location, and suggestions for the class.
  • Bring a check made out to Poudre Paddlers when you arrive at the training location to cover fees. Include in the check:
    • course fee
    • ACA insurance fee if applicable for the course ($10 for each non-ACA member)
    • Poudre Paddler membership fee ($20) if not a current member

Training Schedule

Introduction to Canoeing (Flatwater)

Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Riverbend Ponds
Instructor: Mike O’Brien
Fee: $25
Description: This is an entry-level class for anyone wishing to learn to canoe. No experience necessary but any experience you have paddling a canoe will be helpful. You will learn all of the basic strokes... the right way. Many of us have poor-form strokes that make paddling inefficient and less enjoyable. Paddling techniques include: forward & back strokes, sweep and pry, j- and stationary stern pry, stroke recovery, and effectively linking strokes. Some of these strokes will be learned and practiced while others will be introduced and taught in more depth in more advanced classes. Some of the basic safety issues will also be covered including: exit and reentry, personal flotation devices (lifejackets), avoiding entanglement from gear or poorly equipped canoes.

Basic Tandem River Canoeing (Moving water)

Date/Time: Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 (two full days), 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If the river is too low, day 2 will be postponed until Saturday, May 9.
Location: Riverbend Ponds and Poudre River
Instructors: Eric Hermann, Debbie Hinde
Fee: $15 per paddler
Insurance: $10 for each non-ACA member
Description: This class will build upon the lessons learned in the Tandem Flatwater class. The basic strokes will be applied on moving water (up to Class I+). Your strokes will be refined through demonstration, practice, individualized feedback and instruction. Communication and coordination between tandem partners will be discussed. The sequence of moves to accomplish eddy turns, peel outs, and ferries will be introduced and practiced. Boat tilts and other methods that also help you stay upright will be discussed and demonstrated.

Basic Canoeing Instruction [Offered by the Rocky Mountain Caone Club]

Date/Time: see description
Location: see description
Instructors: Bill Haas, 303-249-0601, bill.haas [at] rrcc.edu, Certified ACA Whitewater Canoe Instructor
Kerry Edwards, 303-722-1077, kerry.edwards [at] rrcc.edu, Certified ACA Whitewater Canoe Instructor
Fee: see description
Description: ACA Canoeing courses Level 1, 2, & 3 will be taught in succession on the following four dates/times: 1st session, Tues. May 26th, 6-8:30pm classroom session, location TBA 2nd session, Thurs. May 28th, 6 -9pm, on a lake, location TBA (probably Bear Creek Lake) 3rd session, Sat. May 30th, 8:30am - 4pm, on a lake, (probably Chatfield Reservoir) 4th session, Sun. May 31st, 8:30am - 4pm, on a river, location TBA Participating members will have the following two options: Flatwater Instruction only: cost $60.00/person - you will only need to attend sessions 1, 2, 3 Flatwater/Basic River Instruction: cost $80.00/person - you will need to attend all 4 sessions Early reservations will be necessary, checks payable to Rocky Mountain Canoe Club A packet of information will be sent to you with your paid reservation. NOTE: if paddlers attend all of the sessions, their checks will be returned to them. In other words, the class is free to those who show up and complete the course. Cancellations with adequate notice will also have checks returned.

Complete course description and outline: RMCC 2009 Basic Canoeing Instruction

Reading the River

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May add on-river session Saturday, June 6, 12:00 p.m. – 5 p.m. for those who have done Filter Plant or equivalent.
Location: Poudre River, Lower Picnic Rock parking lot
Instructor: Dave Karan
Contact via email by May 1: poudreman [at] comcast.net
Fee: Free
Description: From the safety of the riverbank, learn about friends and foes; those features of rivers which can help you have a safe and fun run... or make things wet in a hurry. Learn to read and understand features and concepts like laminar flow, turbulence, hydraulics, deadfall, strainers, pour-overs, low head dams, holes, undercuts, souse holes, eddy lines, rocks and there effects on water, techniques for navigating curves, rapids, and various obstacles. Special emphasis on the most dangerous hazards.

Beginning River Rescue and Safety Class

Date/Time: TBD, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – classroom session
TBD, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.– river session
[Class will be offered in 2009 – dates not yet set]
Location: Classroom session: TDB
River session: Poudre River
Instructors: Debbie Hinde, Randy Knauff
Fee: Free
Description: Safety and rescue skills are an essential for anyone paddling a canoe, kayak, raft, duckie, etc. This class is formulated primarily for Poudre Paddlers wanting to run rivers. Fundamental safety equipment, basic boat rigging for safety, understanding and recognizing hazards, reading rapids, self-rescue skills, and on-shore rescue of swimmers will be covered. As time allows, other safety and rescue issues may be addressed including: minimizing the risk of capsizing, safe boat entry and exit, and boat-to-boat rescue. If you attend this class, you will get wet! Please wear suitable clothing and bring extra dry clothing too. Consider renting a wet suit from a local outfitter if you do not already own one.

Canoe Poling Class

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location: TBD
Instructor: Mark Riffe, 970-224-9812 or mriffe [at] fs.fed.us
Description: What to do when up a creek without a paddle? Poling is an attractive alternative for moving a canoe when the water is too shallow for paddling, and it’s surprisingly effective for moving upstream. The stance also affords a good view of the surroundings. Equipment requirements are simple and practice is easy to acquire: poles can be found on an as-needed basis, but in the club, we make our own and find practice sites nearby that are easily accessed. We will form a class if there is interest.

Introduction to Solo Canoeing

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location:
Instructor:
Fee: $15 per boat
Insurance: $10 for each non-ACA member
Description: This is an entry-level class for anyone wishing to learn to canoe. No experience necessary but any experience you have paddling a canoe will be helpful. You will learn all of the basic strokes... the right way. Many of us have poor-form strokes that make paddling inefficient and less enjoyable. Paddling techniques include: forward & backstrokes, sweep and pry, j- and stationary stern pry, stroke recovery, and effectively linking strokes. Some of these strokes will be learned and practiced while others will be introduced and taught in more depth in more advanced classes. Some of the basic safety issues will also be covered including: exit and reentry, personal flotation devices (lifejackets), avoiding entanglement from gear or poorly equipped canoes.

Basic First Aid and CPR

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location:
Instructor:
Fee:

Basic River Solo Canoeing

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest – especially if students from the Intro to Solo Canoeing want to try moving water. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location:
Instructor:
Fee:
Insurance: $10 for each non-ACA member

Introduction to Tandem Whitewater

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location:
Instructor:
Fee:
Insurance: $10 for each non-ACA member

Introduction to Solo Whitewater

Date/Time: Offered if enough interest. Contact the instructor or instruction coordinator.
Location:
Instructor:
Fee:
Insurance: $10 for each non-ACA member

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