Our Skills & Thrills Class III-IV is designed to give you the confidence to run different styles of white-water, be it: big volume, technical, continuous rapids or just getting used to the Alpine style of river running.
With our vast experience of coaching and our knowledge of the local area, it is the perfect way to improve your technique and give you an understanding of more challenging whitewater and a dynamic positive approach to river running!
Kayak Course details
Breaking in and out
Breaking in and out of the river is a basic manoeuvre that we have learned when we first went kayaking on a river, however we now want to improve our eddy skills to enable us to catch any eddy on the river. With the characters of eddys changing on various styles of river we will learn the different techniques that will help us get safely and smoothly into an eddy without the wobbles or getting caught on the edge of our kayak or stuck in the boils or eddy line.
Looking ahead, reading and predicting river features
The more understanding of whitewater we have, the easier it becomes to put in the correct technique. A positive body position helps us to stay on the line and be ready for the next move or challenge. We will be looking at features such as waves (diagonal, straight, V-waves, green and crashing waves) and holes (friendly, unfriendly and big volume) and the effects this has on our line or route down a rapid.
Understanding and working with Momentum
We are aiming to make you a more dynamic and proactive style of kayaker. Understanding and working with momentum, both lateral and downstream, working with our edges and understanding the fundamentals of body, boat and blade.
Scouting
With scouting it is not just important to see where we need to go but as we start our journey into reading and understanding the dynamics of whitewater, it will help us to plan our line and be one step ahead when we reach that certain point on the rapid or feature.
Safety and Group Dynamics
Understanding group dynamics and slowing everything down at first will give us a great insight into how we would run a typical Alpine style rapid with a group of friends. The more controlled and organised the group is, the safer the descent will be. We limit those critical situations and lowering the chances of having a real time situation.
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.
“Steve and Ute of Kayak School Arlberg deliver world class and truly personalised whitewater kayak coaching, which I have been fortunate enough to experience over the last few years.
My confidence, skills and tactics have been honed on the Class 3 and 4 river sections that surround their base in Pettneu, reinvigorating my boating, and the pleasure I derive from it, to a level I have not experienced for years. Their approach to coaching is innovative, challenging and steeped in warmth. This is without even mentioning the stunning location and wonderful food.”
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 III whitewater and though your roll does not need to be solid, you should be making at least 2 - 3 attempts to roll back up. 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.
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.
Group Composition
Our ratio for the Skills and Thrills Class 3 - 4 Course is 1:4. We will not take more than 8 clients (2 coaches with 5 or more clients) on this course and our courses are guaranteed to run with the minimum of 2 clients. This gives you plenty of whitewater action and the opportunity to improve your kayaking technique throughout the course.
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 just drop us a message. Our partners offer great prices if your are coming here to kayak.
Throughout the season you have plenty of options when it comes to restaurants. Be it a Tyroler Groestl, Wiener Schnitzel, steak, Thai food or vegetarian, there is something filling and tasty in our local restaurants.
Transport
If you are staying in the local Stanzer valley 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. If you need any answers about vehicles or getting here then just drop us a message.
Dates & Prices
Course dates
We have courses planned on the following dates:
10-11 May 2025 (2 Days)
16-18 May 2025 (3 Days)
29 May - 01 June 2025 (4 Days)
14-15 June 2025 (2 Days)
19-22 June 2025 (4 Days)
13-15 July 2025 (3 Days)
21-22 August 2025 (2 Days)
11-12 October 2025 (2 Days)
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 370.- per person
3 Day Group Course: EUR 530.- per person
4 Day Group Course: EUR 680.- per person
Private Courses
1 Person: EUR 300.- per day
2 or more People: EUR 200.- per person per day