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