Kayak Instruction
Green River Adventures operates in the southern mountains of Western North Carolina, near Asheville. These beautiful old mountains are teeming with some of the most amazing whitewater available in the country. Ask any avid paddler, and they’ll tell you Western North Carolina is the whitewater mecca of the eastern United States. After a little investigating you will discover that some area rivers are dam controlled while others are classified as “Wild and Scenic” (a level of federal protection), therefore no matter what the weather condition, there is always whitewater to be paddled. During the summer we usually teach on the Green River, it’s in our back yard! Our other options are the French Broad, Tuckaseegee, Nolichucky, Pigeon, and Broad rivers.
We understand that every individual who comes to Green River Adventures is looking to get something different out of their experience. Whether you have never been in a kayak before or are a seasoned paddler, we tailor our clinics to meet your unique needs. Once we set a pace that works for you, we will focus on the necessary skills allowing you to have the most fun! We limit the number of clients in each clinic to 4 – considered “private instruction” at most other kayak schools.
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Clinic Size
We limit our clinic size to a maximum of 4 people, making it easy to customize the format to fit our clients’ needs. We have found that a group of 4 clients and 1 instructor is much more flexible and enjoyable than the industry standard of 12 clients with 2 or 3 instructors. We progress faster, get to know each other better, and crowd the rivers less.
What to expect
When you call or e-mail for a reservation we will ask for some personal information about yourself and each individual in your group. This is to ensure that we have the most appropriate selection of equipment and pick the best instructor and river for you. We will give you directions to our outpost in Saluda, and answer any questions. Also, please let us know if you have special dietary restrictions so we can plan lunch accordingly.
We have found that individuals pick up kayaking faster, and have more fun, by actually ….kayaking! Therefore, on your first day we will travel straight to the river, put on our gear, jump in our boats, and start paddling. Even in our Intro Clinic, you will get to paddle on whitewater your first day! Be prepared to be wet, tired, exhilarated, and feeling very accomplished by the end of the day!!! Our days usually start around 9am and end by 5pm.
We are available to help you make reservations at local hotel, cabin, or B&B. Most offer Green River guests a discount, so chat with us about it when you call to make your reservation for kayak instruction.
Toys
We use the latest equipment from the best manufacturers in the industry. If you are interested in trying out one kayak in particular, be sure to let us know when you make a reservation.
Pricing
- Private Instruction: $250/day
- 2 People: $400/day
- 3 People: $550/day
- 4 People: $700/day
Our Clinics
Intro to Kayaking
This course is designed to transform you into a whitewater kayaker. Emphasis is on safety and practical skills, allowing you to maximize your fun and minimize frustrations in this early stage of learning. We strive to make you feel comfortable, safe, and have a successful introduction to kayaking. All equipment is provided, unless you want to use your own.
Intro to Creeking
This course is a perfect next step for those who confidently paddle Class II rivers and would like to continue working on their progression of skills. The Upper Green is a beautiful river offering exciting Class II-III+ rapids in a pristine setting. The constant flow of water through this narrow gorge creates an almost tropical feel. A river with enormous trees and lush vegetation is an inspiring place to paddle. In addition to the aesthetic beauty, the Upper Green River is an ideal place to beat the crowds found on other regional rivers.
Roll Clinics
This Clinic is open to 8 people the first Friday of every month, May-September. We meet at “Fish Top Falls”, put-in for the Lower Green and take-out for the Narrows, at 4:45pm, gear up and start rolling. Taking turns one on one with the instructors, you can start to learn to roll or fix what ails your roll. Our roll clinics take place in the river so you can work in a quiet-water pool or in the current.
Custom Clinics
Let us design a clinic created to fit your goals and skill level. With a custom clinic the possibilities are endless!
Swiftwater Rescue
The 2-day Swiftwater Rescue class teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards, self rescue techniques, and rescue techniques for paddlers in distress. We place an emphasis on simple, commonly used skills. We will cover techniques for dealing with strainers, rescue vests, entrapments, and pins. A large portion of the course will consist of scenarios created to provide an opportunity for participants to practice skills individually and within a team/group context.
Advanced Creeking
Ready to step it up? As far as creekboating goes, there is no better place to learn than the Green River. Warm water, consistent water levels, regular releases – could it get more convenient? Just like all of our instructional clinics, the Advanced Creeking Clinic is customized to your specific goals, and moves at your pace. Set up as a two day course, we spend the morning of Day 1 on the Upper Green dialing in skills and concepts like; stroke timing, boofing, using rocks, catching micro-eddies, etc. From here you will evaluate your progress with your instructor and make a plan for the remainder of your clinic.
Beyond the Basics
Our “Beyond The Basics” clinic was designed to meet our clients’ request for a logical “next step” after taking “Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking.” This clinic is a perfect follow up to the information and skills gained in an “Intro” clinic, where you will continue to work on river running skills and strategies on Class II whitewater. We will likely paddle the Lower Green, Tuckaseegee, or Nolichucky River. Skills that you can work on are; eddy turns, ferries, efficient strokes, river reading, surfing, and rolling. Similar to day two of the “Intro” clinic, we will be moving down river all day, stopping at the best teaching spots and learning new skills, while reinforcing what you’ve already learned. For those of you who have let your kayak sit in the garage all winter (shame on you), this is a great way to shake off the dust and paddle with confidence!
