New Course Launch: Reading & Understanding the River

 We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new online course:

Reading and Understanding the River. This course is designed to give paddlers of all levels the knowledge and skills to choose, assess, and navigate whitewater rivers confidently. Whether you're an experienced kayaker or just stepping up to more challenging rivers, this course provides a solid foundation for making safe, informed decisions on the water.

Delivered in partnership with Jamie Greenhalgh from Paddle365, the course blends technical insight with practical advice gained from over 15 years of international whitewater experience.

Course Overview

The Reading and Understanding the River course is all about helping you achieve those perfect paddling days – where you've picked the right river, the water level is ideal, your decisions flow seamlessly, and every line feels smooth and confident. The course is designed to support that goal in a few key areas:

Choosing the Right River

Before even getting on the water, your decisions shape the day. The course starts by exploring how to:

• Understand river grades and match them to your skill level
• Use forecasts and river level tools to find the right conditions
• Assess the suitability for your group or team's ability
• Recognise when a river may be too high, too low, or just right

We'll introduce a range of tools and resources to help you build good habits around trip planning, safety, and river selection.

Reading the River from Your Kayak

A large section of the course is focused on recognising and understanding river features while you're on the move. We will break down the key characteristics of features such as:

• Stoppers
• Waves
• Whirlpool areas
• Undercuts
• Pillows and deflecting water

You'll learn how to identify these from your kayak and use that information to choose cleaner, safer, and more efficient lines. There's a particular focus on understanding flow and direction, spotting how water moves across rocks, ramps, and drops, and how those movements affect your paddling.

 

Reading the River from the bank

While reading from your boat is important, knowing when to get out and scout is just as crucial. This part of the course walks through:

• Signs it's time to inspect from the bank
• Structured approaches to scouting
• Techniques for breaking down a rapid into clear decisions
• Judging difficulty from a distance

By learning to read from both perspectives – boat and bank – you'll be more confident in assessing risk, planning lines, and leading others through complex sections.

Learn at Your Own Pace

Like all our courses, Reading the River is fully online and accessible at any time. You can:

• Watch and rewatch the videos at your own pace
• Leave questions in the comment section of any lesson
• Get support directly via email if you prefer

We're here to support you through the learning process. If something doesn't make sense, just ask – we'll get back to you.

Final Thoughts

Reading and Understanding the River isn't just about spotting obstacles — it's about developing river sense, sharpening decision-making, and becoming a more independent and capable paddler.

This course will help you build the awareness and skills to paddle more confidently, whether you're running a technical section for the first time or leading a group through a familiar stretch.

We can't wait for you to dive in.

Check out the course