ZEN MASTERS™

BOATMEN/BOATWOMEN INTRO TO RAFTING

Here on our beautiful Idaho rivers, river-rafting doesn’t have to be left only to the professionals! Rowing your own raft down pristine wilderness rivers for the day or embarking on overnight multi-day river camping trips with family and friends can become your new passion. ZEN MASTERS founder Gerry Moffatt is one of the world’s most experienced river professionals, with over 40 years of river expeditions under his belt including decades operating a groundbreaking rafting company in the Himalayas and training raft guides worldwide.

 

Join Gerry on a unique ZEN MASTERS Intro to Rafting program and experience how the proper instruction, experience, equipment, and choice of water levels can open up an exciting new world of river-based adventure!

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The Program

The ZEN MASTERS BOATMEN/BOATWOMEN Intro to Rafting program is a unique, world-class education experience designed to provide enthusiastic beginners with a solid and safe foundation in self-support rafting skills. Throughout the course, students learn about selecting equipment/gear, properly rigging their rafts, efficient oaring techniques, navigating rivers safely (including through rapids), and the basics of water safety and rescue.

By immersing students in on-river instruction, including a mixture of river sections and river-based camping overnights, ZEN MASTERS ensures that students quickly grow in proficiency, confidence, and fun.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS:

Seven (7) full days of on-river instruction over three (3) weeks:

  • One (3) day trip, two (2) nights river camping- (Salmon River /Stanley )
  • Two (2) day trip, one (1) night river camping – (Salmon River /Stanley )

Course offered June and July 

CURRICULUM COVERS:

  • Pre-program strength training
  • Gear & equipment
  • Raft rigging
  • Oaring techniques
  • Navigating rivers and scouting rapids
  • Intro to Swiftwater safety & rescue training
  • Introduction to local river section
  • Practice running Class I – III whitewater
  • Intro to Beginner’s Mind
  • ZEN MASTERS reading/viewing list

PROGRAM DATES

June - July

Fill Out Spring/Summer Application

*Tuition dependent on group size: Max One Instructor: 3 Students

Applications are considered on a rolling admissions basis from March 1, 2022 until maximum enrollment is reached.  Space is extremely limited, early applications are strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Private Instruction Available

Equipment: Students can use their rafts or gear or rent their rafting gear from White Otter Adventures. Zen Masters can consult on raft purchases to ensure proper selection.
(Tuition covers instruction and US Forest Service fees only – does not include personal raft equipment, camping or accommodations, or food)

*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

Still have questions?

Read the FAQs

ZEN MASTERS multi-week Programs:

Winter Backcountry Program
Summer Whitewater Program
International Zen Masters Experiences