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The 2010 schedule is packed full of adventures that you won't want to miss.
Details will be posted a couple of months prior to each school. We may add more schools or clinics as the year goes on, so check back often to see what's cooking
Special events and additional classes may be announced on short notice.
Check this page often!
2010 Calendar
| Month |
Day(s) |
EVENT |
| June |
12-13 |
Canoe & Kayak School |
| June |
26 |
Hot Rolls |
| July |
10-11 |
Swift Water Rescue Seminar |
| August |
14-15 |
Alternate Date for 2nd Swift Water Rescue Seminar |
| August |
21-22 |
2nd Swift Water Rescue Seminar |
| August |
TBD |
Basic River Rescue Class |
| October |
TBD |
Winter Paddling Clinic |
Swift Water Rescue Seminar
July 10-11, 2010
It’s back! The TSRA Swift Water Rescue Seminar will be held on July 10-11, 2010. TSRA is pleased to offer this important training to its members again this year. This seminar is designed to help recreational paddlers of all levels learn to negotiate whitewater without a boat. You will be taught by ACA certified instructors and will learn skills and techniques to help protect yourself and your paddling companions from the risks encountered while enjoying whitewater.
This intense seminar covers a wide variety of topics: rescue philosophy, equipment needs, use of the rescue rope, rescue swimming techniques, and gear recovery techniques. Approximately half of the instruction involves “classroom” activities, with the remainder being hands-on, active learning. You will not need a boat for this seminar, but you will get wet!
The seminar will be limited to the first 20-25 paid participants, so interested members should register quickly. We will camp and prepare lunches both days and dinner Saturday night as a group. (If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know before the seminar) You will need to provide your own breakfast for two days.
Where: Gee Creek Campgound at the Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park near Delano, TN. Look for a large tarp and a sign for “Swift Water Rescue.” If you are unfamiliar with this campground, see directions on the Tennessee State Parks website: http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/Hiwassee/
What to Bring? Bring personal camping equipment and a camp chair for “classroom” sessions. Bring full river attire including helmet, PFD, and protective footwear. We recommend a wetsuit for abrasion protection-you will be swimming around rocks! You will also need a throw rope, a water bottle, and two locking carabiners. If you have it, bring 15 feet of 1” stitched nylon webbing and a length of rope for knot practice. The rope and webbing can be purchased at most outfitters, but don’t worry, we’ll have extra. You will also need a whistle for your PFD. Leave your rescue knife at home.
Cost: The registration fee is $75.00, which covers the cost of instruction, camping (if you camp with the group, highly recommended), and Saturday dinner.
To Register: Sign up online or mail your check made out to TSRA fot $75.00 to Jim McCool. 1212 Woodvale Dr., Mount Juliet, TN 37122
2009 Winter Paddling Clinic "Trip Report".
This year’s Winter Paddling Clinic was held before the winter rather than in early spring – yet we still had cold enough weather to freeze Barnett’s paddling underwear stiff (there may be a pic floating around out there). In general, we had cool morning and comfortable afternoon temps for the weekend. Winter Paddling Clinic turned out to be a regional event. Over half of the students were from outside of TN. We had students from 6 other states in attendance – Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North and South Carolinas.
This turned out to be a very successful event. Here is what the students are saying…..
“I would have paid twice the price for this clinic! I will also be plugging it for FPC members to get with you for next year! This was an awesome clinic!” - R.F from SC
“TSRA is a real bargain for the quality of training that you get. It is a great way to hook new folks into the club. River Rats was great…easier this time of the year than camping, good location, nice, clean, comfortable facilities and the pavilion worked well for our size group. Only bad part was Charlie’s (Wilkerson) incessant snoring! J You did a great job with the weekend! I think it makes a lot of sense to have this in the fall to get ready for winter paddling and will plan to add this to my list of must attend events for the year.” – J.C from KY
“I gotta get my kits - winter & safety - together now, no reason to procrastinate any longer.” – L.C. from AL
“The clinic triggered my mind to think about the preparedness that is needed when you are on the river. I have relied on my paddling buddies for this, but it is all about self preparedness for issues. Not only for me but for the group.” – S.G. from TN.
“The instruction and support was absolutely fabulous. Will recommend this class to anyone that wants to paddle in the winter months.” – R.L. from SC
We had a wonderful turnout of volunteer instructors, support boaters, speakers, and photographers. My thanks go out to
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Jack Lyle
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Barnett Williams
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Charlie Wilkerson
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Clay Vetter
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Zac Birdwell
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Charles Jordan
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Sheila Levine
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Gene Levine
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Lee Calton
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Debra Leo
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James "Woody" Woodall
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Carolyn Hundley
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Donnie Safer
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Craig Burr
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David "007" Evans
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Fanci Worthington
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I want to give a special thanks to everyone who conducted off water training. They provided excellent information to both students and instructors.
David Evans and Gene Levine – Winter Emergency Kits, Fire Starting, and Shelter Building
Barnett Williams – Rescue Theory
Clay Vetter – Trip Planning
Jack Lyle – Trip Leading
Debra Leo and Charlie Wilkerson – How to dress for Winter Paddling
Zac Birdwell - Hypothermia
Pictures from WPC (taken by Charlie Jordan, Fanci Worthington, Lee Carlton, David Evans, and me) can be seen at:
Thank you Charlie and Lee for posting the pics.
-Trent Ganstine
ROPE!!!!!
Basic River Rescue was a huge success. 21 students learned to swim rapids, throw ropes, recover boats, and perform the Hand of God technique. 5 of the students were between the ages of 13 and 17. These young folks have excellent paddling skills and now have rescue skills to match – my thanks to the parents that brought these young folks to the event. All 21 participants are now more complete paddlers and an asset to their paddling group and the greater paddling community. Special thank to instructors – Clyde Troutman, Charlie Wilkerson, and Woody Woodall and support boaters – Clyde Gensert, John Grimes, Gary Kimball, and Steve Watson.
-Trent Ganstine
Tiffany and Rachel performing a boat over boat rescue
Swimming, wading, and throwing ropes at The Needles
We need YOU in order to make TSRA 2010 Schools a success. Please e-mail Jack Lyle at jlyle@hvud.com to let him know if you can be an instructor this year. Help us to make this year's classes the best ever!
You say you don't have any experience leading or teaching. There are opportunities to assist at any of the shcools, and also participate in the Instructor's Seminar to become TSRA Instructor.
Learning to paddle safely and correctly is loads of fun!
İRobert Pierce
by Vicki Crumpton and Ed Ford
Not long after our birth, TSRA realized the need to train our members to develop their paddling skills. So we sent a few people away to learn more about canoeing. Those folks came back to teach, and Canoe School was born.
Today, TSRA holds some kind of training event almost every month of the year. Beginning with roll school early each year, we’re training tandem boaters, kayakers, sea kayakers, solo boaters and even crazy play boaters these days. We also teach self rescue and swiftwater rescue classes. Because all of our instructors are volunteers, our schools raise money which TSRA reinvests in our other central mission: conservation.
Those of us who’ve gotten into teaching realize what a tremendous benefit it is—to us. We watch people who haven’t been in a boat or who may be apprehensive about being upside down in one of those pointy kayaks take great leaps of skill and have a lot of fun in the process. What virtually every instructor soon realizes is the student isn’t the only one who takes great leaps of skill and has a lot of fun in the process. We do, too. One year at introduction to paddling clinic, I heard a new instructor exclaim, “Now I see why y’all like to teach. It’s so much FUN!”
Effective teaching, however, takes time, commitment, and training. Each year, usually in late April or early May, TSRA provides an instructor seminar designed to prepare potential new instructors for their role and to give experienced instructors a chance to review, update, and share their skills. The TSRA training committee hopes you’ll check the yearly activities calendar and join us in the adventure of teaching others the sport we love so much.
Interested in becoming a TSRA Instructor, Support Boater or want to Volunteer to help at our Schools? Click here!
Kayak and canoe classes at Introduction to Paddling 2006
İHenry Ambrose
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