Alpine White water paddling

Course Title: Alpine White water paddling

Course Dates: 28 June - 6 July 2008

Cost: £565 (does not include transport to / from France, camping or catering)

Who Is This Course For?
This course is aimed at those who are comfortable on grade 3 white water and have a reliable roll. We will be based in the Dauphine Alps renowned as one of the finest white water areas in Europe. This is an ideal opportunity for paddlers wishing to get their first taste of Alpine paddling. The rivers range from low volume ‘creeky’ type rivers to big volume classics such as the Durance and the Ubaye.
This is an ideal course for the committed white water paddler to enjoy grade 3/4 rivers in a white water paradise

Course Aims
To Provide a guided experience to white water paddling in the Alps
To provide tailored coaching and meet individual need
To develop river running, leadership, safety awareness and skills
To develop a comprehensive level of understanding which will ultimately lead to independent boating in the Alps
To learn new skills for use in more challenging conditions
To become familiar with and aware of the equipment needed for Alpine paddling
To provide an individually tailored learning experience delivered by experienced and qualified coaches Provide pointers for future development Skills Covered

This course will provide a comprehensive level of instruction and coaching in all the necessary areas to develop a greater level of independence.
Areas covered will include:
Personal boat handling, improving connectivity and generating power in the boat, selecting and making lines, using features, river awareness,
Leadership and group management, communication, leadership styles, river running strategies
Safety and rescue, positioning and set up, safety, safer paddling techniques for negotiating holes and drops use of equipment

Outline Programme
28 June Collect from Airport - transport to Gillistre
29 June - 5 July
7 days on the water exploring, playing and developing your skills on as many rivers time and bodies will allow!.
6 July Return to airport for return flight
It is important to note that the above outline programme is a guide. Times may vary due to weather conditions or other reasons.

Our Staff
Our staff are active level 5 coaches and have the background, experienced and local knowledge to make this a most enjoyable paddling holiday.

What do I need to bring?
Although this list is not exhaustive, it contains many of the items that you may find useful on your trip to the Alps
Paddling kit as usual
Boat and air bags*
Throw bag, sling and crab*
Thermals and fleece clothing
Peaked cap for under helmet
Headtorch plus spare batteries
Water bottle Paddle *
Sun hat, sun cream
Personal wash kit
Waterproof jacket and trouser* sunglasses
Day pack *
E111 Tent,
Sleeping bag, stove etc*
Personal accident and equipment insurance
*available from Tollymore stores
Many of the above items of equipment are readily available from Tollymore stores, if you would like to paddle your own boat we can take kit and equipment across in the mini bus.
Please contact Oisin at the centre to discuss.

Food and Accommodation
The course fee does not include food and accommodation. Feed back from previous course participants has been a preference to camp. Our plan is to camp in an idyllic French family campsite on the edge of the village of Gillestre this location places us in the hub of all the white water action, allows folk the freedom to stroll on into the village for a pint and a pizza or eat in one of the many beautiful French restaurants the village boasts. Also the village boasts a large supermarket ideal for replenishing food stocks.

What next?
This course should give you the knowledge to enable you to plan future paddling trips to the Alps. It will give you an insight into how to plan and undertake such trips in a safe enjoyable way.

Travel
The course fee does not include transport to and from France, but does include transfers to and from the airport on the 28 June and 6 July. Contact Tollymore for details. If you wish to make alternative arrangements for travel to and from France, please contact us here in Tollymore Mountain Centre.

Tollymore Information
Tollymore Mountain Centre, on the edge of the Mournes, is Northern Ireland’s National Centre for Mountaineering and Canoeing Activities. It is funded and managed by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland as a National Centre. The Centre is an attractive, purpose-built facility of log construction with accommodation for 30 people in 2, 4 and 6 berth bedrooms. Quilts, pillows and bed linen are all provided. The Centre is well appointed with toilets, showers, modern kitchen, lecture room, workshop and drying room. Outside there is ample parking space, a ropes course and a floodlit granite-climbing wall. A modern indoor climbing wall is open year round.
The centre is ideally situated on the edge of the Mournes, with quick and easy access to the hills.The Central Council for Physical Recreation opened Tollymore Mountain Centre in 1969. In 1974, it passed to the newly established Sports Council for Northern Ireland Trust. In 1995, Tollymore achieved the management standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000 for the quality systems it operates.
However, as part of Sport Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the development of the National Centre, Tollymore will be undergoing a major redevelopment, commencing in 2008. The facilities will be improved and expanded, to ensure that Tollymore remains as an example of best practice in the provision of mountaineering, hillwalking, climbing and canoeing courses in Northern Ireland..