2025 Paddling Skills and Safety Class
Fairbanks Paddlers will sponsor a two-day paddling skills and safety class in June. The course will focus on refining or developing skills necessary to safely and efficiently enjoy your time on the water. This class will be open to participants with packrafts, river-specific kayaks, inflatable kayaks, solo canoes, and SUP’s. The class will be limited to 10 participants with two instructors. Participants need to be age 18 or older.
Cost: The course fee is $300 for Fairbanks Paddlers members, $400 per course for non-members. ( New members can join before registering at fairbankspaddlers.org/join)
Scholarships: Fairbanks Paddlers is offering up to ten stipends of $150 for club members from interior Alaska who complete paddling skills and safety courses in the summer of 2025. These scholarships can be applied to expenses for courses offered by other providers, as well as for this course. Participants may apply for the scholarships here: fairbankspaddlers.org/news/paddling-scholarships/
Cancellations: Cancellations before May 23 will receive a refund of the course fee less processing fees (approximately 3%). Cancellations after May 23 will be considered on an individual basis. If the space can be filled before the class starts, a full refund ( less processing fees ) may be issued. If the space is not filled, a partial refund will be issued ( 50% or more at board discretion).
River Paddling Skills and Safety Class
Online registration for Introduction to Paddling Skills and Safety Class
Course cost is $300 for Fairbanks Paddlers members* / $400 for non-members
(Participants should be 18 or older by start of course.)
(*Fairbanks Paddlers annual membership is $10 per person / $15 per household, or $100 for lifetime membership. fairbankspaddlers/join)
Dates: June 7-8, 2025
Course Description:
This 2-day skill development and safety course is designed to refine or develop skills necessary to safely and efficiently enjoy your time on the water. This training is open to all types of paddlecraft, and instruction will be both differentiated and individualized to meet personal goals. Utilizing both flatwater and Class 1 – 2 environments, this course is ideal for any boater seeking to develop foundational skills or improve upon pre-existing skillsets prior to boating more consequential water.
Course content includes the following:
- Appropriate equipment and gear
- River types and classes
- How to locate information about local rivers
- How to choose an appropriate river
- Introduction to hydrology
- Safety and rescue techniques
- Strokes and maneuvers
Venue: Lake and class I-II river features – Specific locations TBD
Required Equipment: Drysuit, PFD, paddle, helmet, appropriate paddlecraft, and any safety equipment you generally bring on the water. Also, bring water and food to sustain yourself on the water.
Additional costs – Participants will need to either be American Canoe Association (ACA) members ($40 per year), or join ACA with an event membership ($10 per 2-day class). Rental gear is extra. Participants may need to drive to the venue or share transportation costs with others. Depending on the selected venues, there may be day-use parking fees.
Need gear? Equipment may be available at an additional cost. Please let us know during registration. The instructors may be able to work with you to provide rental gear through the University of Alaska Fairbanks Outdoor Adventures program.