Kayaking Program

ZEN MASTERS™

INTRO TO WHITEWATER KAYAKING

Whitewater kayaking is an incredible way to experience and enjoy Idaho’s magnificent wilderness rivers. Learning to kayak with world-class expedition kayaker Gerry Moffatt through ZEN MASTERS is a special opportunity to begin a life-long love affair with the river.

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The Program

The ZEN MASTERS Weekend Intro to Whitewater Kayaking is a special, introductory experience with legendary whitewater expert Gerry Moffatt designed to provide enthusiastic beginners with a world-class, confident foundation in kayaking skills and a taste of authentic adventure.  Students build a solid foundation in; rolling, paddling technique, swift water safety, and river navigation.
Starting with a Zenergy pool session for wet exit and beginning roll practice, students familiarize themselves with basic safety skills before progressing to one of Idaho’s pristine mountain lakes to learn paddling strokes and refine techniques on flat water. Students then take what they’ve learned onto moving water – learning to navigate and maneuver their kayaks down easy, beautiful sections of Class I-II sections of river. ZEN MASTERS ensures that students grow with confidence, proficiency and fun in their boats. Students have the opportunity to benefit from personal coaching and learning material to help them cultivate a powerful “Beginner’s Mind” approach to embracing challenges, both on and off the river.

ZEN MASTERS students graduate with the skills to safely navigate Class II – III whitewater, ready to continue learning, growing and building their own lifelong relationship with wilderness rivers.

 

*ZEN MASTERS alumni have the opportunity to join ZEN MASTERS International Expeditions and experience the thrill of taking their new skills to explore exciting adventure destinations around the world – from South America to Scotland to the Himalayas!

PROGRAM LOGISTICS (over 8 weeks) :

Weekend Intro to Kayaking: July 7 – 9, 2023 (1 evening pool session + 2 full river days)

Friday July 7: 7pm – Evening Session – Introduction to wet exits and beginning rolling  (Zenergy Pool )
• Saturday July 8 + Sunday July 9: All-day, on-water paddling instruction (Stanley, Idaho area)
**Instruction for Saturday July 8 + Sunday July 9 will be based in and around sections of the Salmon river near Stanley, Idaho (1 hour north of Ketchum on Highway 75).
**Students can choose to camp, book lodging in Stanley, or commute daily from the Wood River valley.

CURRICULUM:


• Selecting gear and equipment
• Learning to correctly and calmly exit you kayak following a capsize a pool and on a river
Flat water instruction (lake) 
• Fundamental paddle strokes/technique
• Eddies
• Navigating rivers and scouting rapids
• Swiftwater safety 
• Introduction to local rivers
• Practice paddling Class I – II whitewater
• Intro to Beginner’s Mind

2023 PROGRAM DATES

July 7 – July 9, 2023

*Thunder Dragon is proud to partner with Idaho-licensed outfitters Wilderness River Outfitters and White Otter Adventures for this program.

“To watch you open yourself to “beginner’s mind” and grow through your fears & frustrations to ultimately become kayakers was incredible. Because that is what you now truly are – kayakers. In only a few short months, you went from flat water paddling in circles on Petit lake to lining up and charging into powerful rapids like Big Mallard, Elkhorn and Vinegar Creek on one of the most iconic big water Idaho wilderness river trips of all time – The River of No Return.”

 

– ZEN MASTERS Founder, Gerry Moffatt

Apply for the Zen Masters Whitewater Program

No prior kayaking experience is required, however, whitewater kayaking is not for the faint hearted! 

All students must be strong swimmers and comfortable in water.

Still have questions?