 |
2014 TVCC PADDLE SCHOOL May 30 – June 1
PADDLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION OVERVIEW & INSTRUCTIONS
We are excited that you will be joining us for Paddle School 2014! Please make our
secretary happy by filling out the online registration form and submitting it online.
Please fill out one paddle school registration form per student attending.
So that we have time to organize students into classes and help locate rental gear,
registration forms should be submitted no later than Monday, May 19. If you
miss the registration deadline, please contact Rebecca Hendrix at vp@tvccpaddler.com
or 256.599.9703 to make sure class space and gear are still available. You will be
charged a $50 late fee. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all
late registrants.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
We try to set up our classes so that our students get the most out of the weekend. To
help us do so, please answer all questions on the registration form. All students who
are 17 and under who will not have a parent/guardian present at check in on Friday,
May 30st, need to contact Rebecca Hendrix at vp@tvccpaddler.com or 256.599.9703.
Registration confirmation will be sent via email so please provide an email address that
you check often. Also, please make sure the emergency contact you list is going to be
available the weekend of Paddle School and not off sitting on a beach somewhere
sipping on a drink with an umbrella in it. You know, just in case.
RENTAL GEAR:
We strongly encourage students with little or no experience to rent or borrow a boat
and gear for the weekend. You will be able to try out several different boats at Paddle
School so that you will have a better idea of what works best for you before making a
purchase.
Several outfitters in the area have rental equipment available and we would be more
than happy to provide you with information on where you can rent gear for the
weekend. Students are responsible for all fees incurred on rentals. Rental equipment is
first come, first serve so be sure to call early. Please see the gear rental checklist to
make sure that you bring all the necessary gear with you to Paddle School.
We strongly encourage all students renting or borrowing equipment for Paddle School
to arrive on Friday evening to receive assistance at our Outfitting Tent with any
adjustments that may be needed so that your gear fits properly. Taking care of this
Friday evening helps our classes get on the water sooner on Saturday morning.
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT GEAR?
If you have any questions about gear needed for the weekend or are unable to
transport your boat to Paddle School, please contact one of our gear gurus:
WHITEWATER KAYAK Brandon Beaty 423.322.7328, Katie Larue 423.624.7584,
or Bruce Foster 423.255.6166
WHITEWATER CANOE Lisa Lemza, 423.332.1780
WHITEWATER ALT. BOAT Rebecca Hendrix, vp@tvccpaddler.com or 256.599.9703
SEA KAYAK Rob Bartlett, 423.284.5142, rob.bartlett@kencogroup.com
or Eric Fleming, 706.996.3783
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
KIDS’ CLUB: This class is whitewater kayaking, for students age 8 through 15.
Students will be divided into groups based on skill level. All classes will be on the
Hiwassee or Lower Hiwassee.
WHITEWATER KAYAKING: our most popular course. In a whitewater kayak, the paddler
sits with feet forward in a decked boat, using a double bladed paddle.
WHITEWATER CANOING: an open boat, and the paddler kneels on a “saddle”, using a
single bladed paddle. Whitewater canoes are paddled either solo or tandem (2
paddlers in the boat)
ALTERNATE WHITEWATER BOAT: inflatable kayaks (duckies), sit on tops, and
recreational kayaks, using double bladed paddles. These boats are generally more
forgiving, easier to get back into, and self draining. This class is suggested for
students who want to learn whitewater skills without the confines of a decked boat.
SEA KAYAK: This course is on flatwater and covers boats and equipment, safety, paddle
strokes, determining where to go, and overnight/multi-day camping from a sea kayak.
More advanced skills will also be introduced. Sea kayaks are 15’-18’ in length, are less
stable, and are designed for covering greater distances with optimal efficiency. This
class is open to anyone looking to broaden their horizons on flatwater.
COURSE LEVELS:
BEGINNER: This class is for those with little or no experience river experience.
Students will learn and become comfortable with fundamental paddling skills and
maneuvers. Classes begin on flatwater and progress to easy moving water (for
whitewater). Students will work on wet exits (kayak), paddle strokes, eddy-turns, peelouts,
and ferries in class I/II water.
BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE: This class is for paddlers with some river experience, but
who are still building confidence in class II whitewater, or in smoothly navigating on
flatwater. Students will build on and refine their skills to go beyond the basic level,
review strokes and maneuvers, work on rolls (for kayaks), and gain more river
experience.
INTERMEDIATE: This class is for paddlers who are solid on class II whitewater and have
a 50/50 whitewater combat roll (meaning 50% of the time you will make your roll in
whitewater). Focus is on more advanced river running skills, surfing, playboating, and
fine-tuning your roll.
IMPORTANT: BOATERS SWIM. SOMETIMES WE SWIM A LOT, AND IN MOVING
WATER. YOU WILL BE WEARING A PFD OF COURSE, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT THAT
YOU ARE COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
YOUR SWIMMING ABILITY, PLEASE DISCUSS THEM WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR
BEFORE PADDLE SCHOOL BEGINS.
PADDLE SCHOOL FEES:
All paddle school students must be members of TVCC. Please fill out the online TVCC
Membership form and submit it along with your Student Registration Form. All TVCC
memberships are family memberships so you only need to fill out one per household.
Annual dues per membership are $20.
Student fees for Paddle School are only $40 for an entire weekend of instruction and
fun! Students who register after May 19th will be charged a $50 late fee at the door.
Because rental gear and space in classes is limited, please contact Rebecca Hendrix at
vp@tvccpaddler.com or 256.599.9703 if you are registering late. We cannot guarantee
we can accommodate all students that show up at the door.
TVCC Paddle School is an American Canoe Association (ACA) sanctioned event. If you
are not an ACA member, please include $5 for event membership. All participants will
need to sign an ACA Waiver & Release of Liability form when you check in the weekend
of Paddle School.
Camping fees are $8 per person for both Friday and Saturday night. Please include an
additional $8 per person not attending Paddle School as a student that will be camping
with you. Camping will be at the O.A.R. campground.
We strongly encourage students to purchase the Saturday night dinner. After a full day
of class on the river, you will probably not want to mess with trying to cook dinner at
your campsite. And you will miss out on all the great stories from the day. The menu
includes pork or chicken for the carnivore plate, grilled portabella caps for the
herbivore plate, stir-fry veggies, coleslaw, vegetarian baked beans, tea and cake.
Our fabulously designed Paddle School t-shirts are $12. Please pre-order to reserve
your shirt as only a limited number will be available at the door because trust us, once
you see it you will want one! They sell out quick!
Applications must be submitted online by Monday, May 19. A $50 late registration fee will be applied to students registering
after May 19.
Please fill out the online TVCC Membership Form along with your registration
(even if you have already paid up for 2014/2015)
IF PAYING BY CHECK, MAIL TO: TVCC Paddle School, P.O. Box 11582, Chattanooga, TN 37401.
Make checks payable to TVCC. Otherwise, use our PayPal link at www.tvccpaddler2.staging.wpengine.com