Our Beginners Booster is the perfect way to rekindle that adventure spirit and get back in the flow on one of our stunning rivers around Base Arlberg. This is not a complete repeat of our Beginners Course but more focused on the fact that you have had some experience in a whitewater kayak but lack the technique and kilometers for our Improvers Class 2-3 Course.
Course details
The Beginners Booster is a great stepping stone to get back into whitewater kayaking, to improver your technique, gain confidence and have a lot of fun in the mountains! So whether you have completed a course with us or a basic course elsewhere our Beginners Booster is the perfect stepping stone back to whitewater, it will re-ignite your passion of kayaking and of course you get to see the Austrian Alps through a unique and very different perspective!
Day 1: on the lake
Time spent on the lake is seldom wasted! This is true for all kayakers no matter how good they are, as there is always some piece of technique improve and on a lake you have the perfect environment to really make everything feel and become more natural.
We head to the stunning Lake Verwall by St.Anton am Arlberg to remind you of those basic technics. When spending time up on the lake you get more or a feel for the kayak and blade and with good instruction comes balance and of course confidence!
We take lunch by the side of the lake where there are plenty of benches, tables and cool places to relax, enjoy your meal and absorb all of that stunning Alpine scenery Austria is renowned for!
After lunch we head to the sand pit to go over the river theory and then it is back on the water.
Since 2020 there have been a few features made up on Lake Verwall including 3 pools / eddies at the end of the Upper Rosanna river. The Rosanna feeds into the Lake and provides the perfect environment to work on breaking in and out of eddies and getting to grips with the currents and features that come from moving water.
After working on our basic whitewater techniques and exploring the lake, it is time to practice rescue techniques we will use on the river. This includes flipping over and being rescued by an instructor or rescuing yourself with the help of an instructor or their kayak.
Day 2 & 3: Whitewater Class 2
We are going to be spending the next 2 days on a river. Depending on water levels, abilities and goals we have a choice of 3 or 4 different sections of whitewater.
Lech River
The Lech is absolutely stunning. Just to reach the put-in we drive over the Arlberg and Flexen Passes to the village of Lech. Then we drive high above the Lech Gorge before descending into the valley and our put-in.
After a quick shuttle of the vehicle we start our journey. We are kayaking on a beautiful river in the heart of a Nature Park. Along the way we eddy out to work on ferry gliding, eddy drills and just admire the scenery.
There are plenty of waves and easy rapids to negotiate and with both a cycle and famous walking path following the river we kayak past the onlookers with style!
We stop for lunch by a rustic wooden bridge, there are a few benches to sit and look at the pastures and grasslands full of alpine flowers and the steep snowcapped mountains of the Lechtaler Alps.
We continue our journey down the river with stops along the way to practice and work on our fundamental techniques. The final third of the river we just go with the flow, kayaking downstream, running waves and rapids, eddying in and out maybe to catch a breath, drink some water or to reflect on the wave we just hit or rapid we kayaked.
River Inn
The River Inn is a firm favourite of ours. More known for its big rapids and whitewater, there is however a very quiet side of the River Inn and it is this section that works perfectly for our courses.
From the put-in we have plenty of places and opportunities to practice all of our whitewater fundamental skills and techniques.
We take lunch by the side of the river with fantastic views of a castle built onto the cliffs.
“Thank you very much for a very exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable course. It was, without a shadow of a doubt the most exciting course I have been on for a very long time and, from what Steve said, it was also the best course he has ever been on too. Ute is such a brilliant instructor and so calm. We enjoyed the course so much we would like to come back next year.”
After lunch the river starts to pick up and so do the waves and rapids. We bounce down fun rapids enjoying the odd break in whitewater to take all the views in. Sometimes we see climbers on the crag by the side of the river watching us running a rapid.
At the take-out our vehicle is waiting with our dry clothes. A final few photos, pack the kit away, secure the kayaks and we head back to base Arlberg.
Both the River Lech and River Inn are great places to improve our techniques and gain confidence while enjoying some of the stunning scenery this part of Austria is renowned for.
This is our Beginner Booster kayaking course!
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
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.
Group Composition
Our ratio for the Beginners Course is 1:3. This gives you plenty of opportunity to improve and get to grips with the fundamentals of whitewater kayaking. It also gives you a great feeling of security and safety with such a small group to instructor ration!
Also our Beginners Kayaking Courses are guaranteed to run with just a minimum of 2 persons.
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.
Fitness
Kayaking is a dynamic sport. Though you do not have to be an Olympic athlete, an active lifestyle will certainly help. We will be kayaking for around 4-5 hours each day.
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 to help searching for your ideal place to stay just drop us a message. Our core partners offer great prices if you are coming here to kayak.
Throughout the season you have plenty of options when it comes to restaurants. Be it a Tiroler Groestl, Wiener Schnitzel, stake or vegetarian, there is something filling and tasty in our local restaurants.
The bakery and pastries are fantastic and we can always make a stop at one of the local producers of mountain cheese, cured sausages or ham heading back from the river.
Transport
If you are staying in the local Stanzer Valley (between St.Anton and Schnann) we will come and pick you up in the morning and drop you off after kayaking. There river shuttle is undertaken with one of our cool little monkey motorbikes.
If you have questions about vehicles or getting here then just drop us a message.
Dates & Prices
Course dates
25-26 May 2024 (2 Days)
31 May - 02 June 2024 (3 Days)
01-03 July 2024 (3 Days)
26-28 August 2024 (3 Days)
28-29 September 2024 (2 Days)
Course prices
Group Courses
2 Day Group Course: EUR 365.- per person
3 Day Group Course: EUR 525.- per person
4 Day Group Course: EUR 675.- per person
Private Courses
1 Person: EUR 300.- per day
2 or more People: EUR 200.- per person per day