Austria has some of the best creeking around! Coupled with one of the longest seasons in the Alps, it is a fantastic destination set in some dramatic mountain scenery. By breaking down each section, drop or rapid on a particular part of the river can help us put each piece of the puzzle together. Of course with lots of action, rapids, drops and moves to make you will have time to perfect your technique and get it right! This is our Creeking Course!
Creeking Course details
With already a basic/good knowledge of creeking. We are trying to perfect those skills which sometimes means going over the basics for instance.
Fundamentals of white water kayaking
Your body position and the skill of forward paddling are fundamental to everything that we do in our kayak. A dynamic forward paddle stroke is the key to building up confidence and maintaining a line down a rapid.
Throughout the course we work on the fundamentals of body posture, such as how we sit in our kayak. How we hold our paddle also effects our kayaking technique, be it forwards kayaking, turning the kayak, power strokes and of course boofing. Finally we also look at the connection you have with the kayak. Are you swimming around in your kayak or are you nice and snug so that when you use your feet or legs for example it transfers straight into kayak giving you confidence, support and most importantly control.
Breaking in and out
We want to make sure that we catch that small eddy above the next drop or use the current to help us accelerate out of an eddy.
Understanding and working with Momentum
The all important river speed. This is so important to us a kayaker and non more so as a Creeker! Here we work on lateral and downstream momentum to give us that competitive edge and to avoid that sticky hole at the bottom of the drop!
Body, Boat and Blade
Understanding how these 3 work together will only help perfect that boof stroke.
The more understanding of steeper whitewater you have the better lines you can make which intern all helps you to keep that rhythm or flow on the river!
Scouting
Be it necessary before we kayak a rapid or a certain drop or when we are coaching. Scouting will help us with putting the pieces of the puzzle all together.
Season and Rivers
Our Creeking season runs from May through to November as we kayak different rivers at their optimum levels! The upper reaches of the Rosanna and Lech rivers are great places to kayak some steep whitewater and deep gorges. The Swiss Inn in the Engadine Region is also close bye with the Ardez Gorge providing plenty of action. Of course the Oetz is world famous. Kayakers travel far and wide to kayak the Oetz in the Autumn. It is also home to the Wellebruecke section, made famous by the Sickline World Cup in extreme kayaking. Finally, high up in the valley the stunning Venter Ache makes a statement on its way to meet the Oetz.
Courses
We offer various length Group courses from 2 to 4 days and a 7 Day Creeking Course including bed and breakfast on different rivers around Base Arlberg. Also you can book Private Guiding on a daily basis.
Practicalities
Instructors / Coaches
All of our coaches / instructor are fully qualified through British Canoeing. They have a wealth of experience not only here in Austria but around the world. Our knowledge of the German speaking Alps is second to none and we are positive that you will not only be blown away by the variety of rivers around Base Arlberg, but just how much your kayaking will improve with us here in the Kayak School Arlberg.
To find out more, just click on the link to Our Team
Experience Required
You should have experience of kayaking class IV whitewater and also steeper rivers. Your eskimo should be solid and we would expect you to try to roll at least 3 times before banging on your boat for a re-flip! We will be kayaking for around 4-5 hours a day, so though you do not need to be an Olympic Athlete you should have a certain amount of paddle fitness or stamina. If you are not sure about your experience just get in touch and we can help you choose the right course for you.
Group Composition
Our ratio for the Creeking Course is 1:2 and we will not take more than 4 clients on this trip! This gives you plenty of creeking action in a very small and dynamic group with the maximum of safety on the steeper less forgiving side of kayaking.
When to come
With by far the longest white water kayaking season in the Alps, the region around Base Arlberg in Austria provides at least 6 months of kayaking. The Arlberg is renowned for its quality and quantity of snow. It is this that helps to keep the rivers running and with the odd rainy day topping up the levels through the season.
To find out more about each white water kayak season just click on the following links:
Spring kayaking season Austria
Summer kayaking season in Austria
Autumn kayaking season in Austria.
Kit to Bring
If you would like to use your own equipment for the course then please bring it with you. We will check your pfd and helmet to make sure they are still going to be of use on the river. Also we want you to wear river booties and not sandals. As we teach the modern dynamic way of kayaking, if your kayak is extremely old, long with no edge then we would recommend using one of our newer kayaks.
Equipment
Our equipment in the Kayak School is made by whitewater kayakers for white water kayakers!
We pride ourselves on our equipment and as we teach a modern dynamic style of kayaking we require our equipment to fulfil this objective!
We are a white water kayak school so we do not use bulky and cumbersome rafting equipment on our kayaking courses, our buoyancy aids/personal flotation device are designed and cut specifically for whitewater kayaking!
This is the ethos that runs through all of our equipment.
We have currently in our store the full range of Waka Kayaks, Spade Kayaks, various models of Zet and Lettmann kayaks. Our paddles are from Spade and AT with a choice of straight or bent shaft, please note that ALL our paddles are 30 degrees with option of right or left handed white water paddles.
Peak PS have been supplying the Kayak School with their award winning equipment since the start! The kayaking apparel fits perfectly, keeps you warm when you need to be, cool on a hot summers day and you look good. It is award winning, cutting edge and world beating whitewater kayaking equipment.
Accomodation & Food
You are spoilt for choice here in the Arlberg. The region offers camping, bed and breakfast, holiday flats and of course hotels. If you would like help searching for your ideal place to stay then just drop us a message. Our friends and partners have some fantastic places and we have plenty of feedback from previous clients to help! Throughout the season there are various restaurants open serving a variety of food. A couple of restaurants are owned by local kayakers and so they know how much energy you burn throughout the day.
7 Day Course
Bed and Breakfast accommodation is at the amazing Piltriquitron Lodge. It is included in the price and is a big hit with the majority of our guests throughout the season.
Transport
If you are staying in our local valley then we will come and pick you up in the morning and drop you off after kayaking. The river shuttle is undertaken with one of our cool little monkey motorbikes.
Dates & Prices
Course dates
We have courses planned on the following dates:
21-28 September 2024 (1 Week)
28 September - 05 October 2024 (1 Week)
No date to suite your plans? Just let us know through the contact form. We are pretty flexible here at the Kayak School giving you the best opportunity to see the region from a different perspective!
Course prices
Group Courses
2 Day Group Course: EUR 365.- per person
3 Day Group Course: EUR 525.- per person
4 Day Group Course: EUR 675.- per person
1 Week Courses
EUR 1500.- per person
Private Courses
1 Person: EUR 300.- per day
2 or more People: EUR 200.- per person per day