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SELF-ASSESSMENT: PADDLING SKILL LEVEL

Whitewater Kayaking: What’s Your Paddling Skill Level?

We will ask you what your paddling experience and skill level is when you register. Here’s a guideline to help you with your self-assessment. If you have questions, please feel free to call us!

First-Timer

  • No prior instruction—first time in a whitewater kayak
  • Whitewater I Kayak Clinics + Main Salmon

Beginner

  • Some prior whitewater instruction—knows how to wet exit and self-rescue
  • Basic understanding of paddling fundamentals—eddies, edging, boat control, etc.
  • Do not have the “roll”
  • Whitewater I & I/II Kayak Clinics + Main Salmon

Advanced-Beginner

  • Comfortable paddling and maneuvering in Class I and II whitewater—eddy turns, ferrying, basic river reading
  • Working on the roll though not rolling yet
  • Whitewater I/II & II Kayak Clinics + Main Salmon

Low Intermediate

  • Comfortable making harder moves in Class II whitewater and navigating Class III
  • Ability to roll in Class II and III rapids, most of the time (~70% success rate)
  • Whitewater II/III Kayak Clinics + Wild & Scenic Rogue + Main Salmon

High Intermediate

  • Comfortable ferrying, surfing, eddy-hopping in Class III whitewater
  • Learning the boof and can paddle a half slice or playboat in Class III
  • Solid roll in Class III rapids (~80% success rate)
  • Whitewater III Kayak Clinics + Wild & Scenic Rogue + Main Salmon

Advanced

  • Comfortable paddling, surfing, eddy-hopping in Class IV whitewater
  • Refining the boof stroke, comfortable paddling through hydraulics, can paddle a half slice or playboat in Class III/IV
  • Solid roll in Class IV or higher (~80% success rate)
  • Whitewater III/IV & IV Kayak Clinics + Wild & Scenic Rogue + Main Salmon

Expert

  • Comfortable paddling, surfing, eddy-hopping in Class IV+ and IV/V whitewater
  • Solid boof stroke, comfortable paddling through more powerful hydraulics
  • Bombproof roll in Class IV+ and V whitewater (~95% success rate)
  • Whitewater IV, IV+ & IV/V Kayak Clinics + Race Clinics + Wild & Scenic Rogue + Main Salmon