RIGS has offered its Colorado State River Guide Certification Course since 2002 and provided the most extensive guide certification course, with the highest level of certifications, available in the region. Your instructors have been training top quality river guides since 1991 and look forward to sharing their experience with you. Your Lead Instructor for this course is Owner -Tim Patterson. Tim has 20 years experience in training Professional River Guide and has worked commercially on the Arkansas River, Gunnison River, Colorado River (Grand Canyon), Salt and Verde Rivers, as well as several rivers throughout Guatemala - C.A. Several additional RIGS Certified Guide Instructors will join us throughout the course providing a diverse level of skill, technique and experience.
*NOTE: If you are specifically looking for Rowing/Oar Boat Training, please consider our: ROW Course - Oar Boat Skills (including Float Fishing), as an aspect of your Guide Certification (separate cost). Participants who are signed up for our River Guide Certification Course, will receive a $100 discount if adding the ROW Course to their training and be more valuable to the RIGS Team by being versed in multiple skill sets! Inquire for further details.
On the first morning of training, you will be provided a River Guide Training Log Sheet, which must be signed by your Instructor and details the amount of training hours necessary to Commercially Guide River Trips in the State of Colorado. After successfully completing the course, you will have the opportunity to be "signed off" by a Certified Trip Leader, allowing you to legally guide commercial rafting trips throughout the State of Colorado. Small course size ensures a great learning environment and plenty of personal attention. We will be on the river all day, every day, and cover all aspects of river running and commercial guiding. The course will cover all topics required by the State of Colorado for commercial guides including: rigging and maneuvering, river currents, eddies & waves, river hazards, types and causes of rapids, running & scouting rapids, river rescue & emergency procedures, minimizing outdoor recreation resource impacts, proper fit, wearing, and use of personal floatation devices. Immediately following our Guide Certification Course, we will host (separate instructors) the following courses required to be a guide: First Aid & C.P.R. ( additional $100) and Swiftwater Rescue Technician (additional $350). *Payment for these additional components must be made directly to the instructor, prior to the course
This is a physical course, running class I through IV rivers. You will be required to carry rafts, flip boats, swim in the river, and be generally active. We will provide all necessary equipment including P.F.D.'s, helmets, paddles, etc. We will provide transportation and take care of all shuttles. If you have personal boating gear, bring it with you and we will determine its suitability. You will need clothing and footwear suitable for rafting (Chaco, TEVA, KEEN or similar wet shoes or booties) and a packed lunch everyday. Dry clothes for the end of the day are also a must. While completing our course does not guarantee employment, we will be hiring for the upcoming season and requires all of the above mentioned certifications. Our company's goal is to provide the best in customer safety, an energetic personality - we are looking for service oriented individuals.
Introduction to Equipment, Trips, Regulations & Company History
This day will consist of familiarizing ourselves with our equipment, reviewing the diverse sections of water, State Requirements and Regulations and learning about the history of the RIGS operation.
Lower Uncompahgre River Introduction (Boating all day)*Each day is subject to change/location: dependent on water flows, access and conditions.
San Miguel River Introduction (Boating all day)*Each day is subject to change/location: dependent on water flows, access and conditions.
San Miguel River (Boating all day)*Each day is subject to change/location: dependent on water flows, access and conditions.
San Miguel River (Boating All Day)
FIRST-AID & CPR - course hosted by Kevin Dunkak, CPR World
SRT RESCUE 3 – Swiftwater Rescue Technician Course – Eric Berg
The cost of the course is $465. A 50% deposit is required to secure a spot in the course; advanced online registration required. *Additional certifications are available from RESCUE 3 INTERNATIONAL, which will be conducting a Swift Water Rescue Course (additional cost for this certification: $350.) and CPR World: providing First-Aid & CPR certification ($100 additional). Although not a requirement for Raft Guides in the State of Colorado, successful completion on the SRT Course is a requirement for employment at RIGS, allows you to achieve a higher pay scale and allow you to become a more competent boater; STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. These courses fills up fast, so we recommend you sign up soon. We look forward to working for you during this course and providing you with the most comprehensive Official Colorado State River Guide Certification Course available anywhere.
*PRIOR EXPERIENCE GUIDES: Regardless of your prior experience level, already Certified Guides will be required to participate in portions of the training course in order to access your ability level and to learn the rivers in which you will boat this coming season. (If you already have prior commercial river training, please provide us a copy of all River Logs, Licensing, Certifications, Resumes and Documentation to us on to be considered for employment.) Most documentation - Training Logs (even out of state) will be applicable to your Colorado Certification and will help lessen the amount of training in which you would otherwise be required to participate in.
WHAT TO BRING: River Gear! Dress to swim some very cold waters and be exposed to the outdoors for the entire day. Dry top/bottoms or Paddle top/bottoms, wetsuit (if available), Warm fleece or wool layering (2 sets), sturdy river sandals (Chaco’s) or neoprene booties, gloves and hat, dry bags, chair (crazy creek or similar), notebook, pen/pencil, etc.
BE PREPARED for each day’s activities! * Please Pack a Lunch for each day, break time will be limited and more often than not, lunch will be eaten on the water. We will issue a Dry Bag/Backpack for the Gunnison River Sections.
In the event of a cancellation within 48 hours of your trip departure 100% of the balance will be charged and is considered non-refundable, (90 days out for Gunnison River trips.) * The cancellation of any reservation up to 48 hours will forfeit a standard cancellation penalty of: $15 per-person. (*Cancellation of any Gunnison River trip outside of the 90 days will forfeit a per-person cancellation penalty of: $200 per-person.)
RIGS is not responsible for any cancellations or modifications of tours due to weather condition, road hazards, vehicle breakdowns, or other unforeseen conditions that may hinder the ability for the tour to take place as scheduled. We reserve the right to cancel or modify any trip due to circumstances beyond our control. Clients will have the option to reschedule during the current season based on trip availability. However, trip insurance is always recommended, please contact your local travel agent to acquire trip insurance appropriate for this type of trip.
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