Designed for

• New paddlers looking for a foundation from which to build river-running skills
• Experienced paddlers looking to refresh their rescue skills 

Course content

Packraft Safety & Rescue combines the most relevant parts of a standard Swiftwater Rescue Training course with boat control skill development.

The biggest difference between this course and Alaska Packraft School's Level 2 is that we spend more time practicing self- and team-rescue.

• Two days at Eagle River and/or Willow Creek, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Throw ropes
• Swiftwater swimming
• Wading
• Foot entrapment
• Swimmer and equipment recovery
• Boat control
• Packrafts as rescue crafts
• Scenarios

Safety first

• 6:1 instructor ratio for shore-based exercises, 3:1 or 4:1 ratio for water-based exercises.
• Led by Luc Mehl: Swiftwater Rescue Instructor certified (Swiftwater Safety Institute), WFR certified, author of The Packraft Handbook.
• Assisted by Kevin Kelly: WFR certified, ACA L4 Swiftwater Rescue certified, ACA L3 River Packraft Instructor certified, State of Alaska Remote Worker Swiftwater Rescue Instructor certified.

Package pricing

• Includes access to Paddle Up a Level Modules 1 & 2: Equipment and swimmer/equipment recovery.
• The full Paddle Up a Level course is available as a $95 add-on at any time. The full course includes paddle strokes, boat control, river running, and access to a private community forum for Q&A, sharing insights, and finding like-minded partners.

Designed for

• Professionals who use packrafts for work (guides, State/Federal employees, Search and Rescue teams, etc.).
• This course is also appropriate for recreational enthusiasts.
• Anyone who needs an internationally-recognized certification for their training.

Course content

In partnership with the Swiftwater Safety Institute, this course modifies the standard Swiftwater Rescue Training PRO-I curriculum to better suit people using packrafts. The primary differences are that we will use limited equipment and replace large raft exercises with packraft-specific scenarios. More information is available here.

• Three days at Eagle River and/or Willow Creek, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Throw ropes
• Swiftwater swimming
• Wading
• Foot entrapment
• Swimmer and equipment recovery
• Packrafts as rescue crafts
• Knots and anchors
• Mechanical advantage
• Scenarios

Safety first

• 6:1 instructor ratio for shore-based exercises, 3:1 or 4:1 ratio for water-based exercises.
• Led by Luc Mehl: Swiftwater Rescue Instructor certified (Swiftwater Safety Institute), WFR certified, author of The Packraft Handbook.

Package pricing

Package pricing is not available for SSI courses.

Designed for

• New paddlers who want to know how to safely rig their boat, practice swimmer and equipment recovery exercises, and start developing boat control skills.
• Intermediate paddlers looking to improve boat control: catching eddies, peeling out, ferrying, etc.

Course content

Paddle Up a Level accompanies Part I: Foundations, in The Packraft Handbook. Learn the concepts and exercises that I bring to every in-person Safety & Rescue and River running course.

• Equipment review and considerations
• Swimmer and equipment recovery
• Paddle strokes
• Boat control and river running

Course design

• Unlimited access to videos
• Membership in a community forum shared across all Things To Luc At courses: ask questions, share insights, and find like-minded partners

Package pricing

• Members of Paddle Up a Level will receive a $100 discount on a Packraft Safety & Rescue course (*not SSI PRO courses).