Our Guide Certification Class will begin at RIGS Fly Shop at 9 A.M., May 4th 2010. 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 will be (Tim Patterson, CO-Owner) and Jason Young, (RIGS Lead River Guide). Jason and Tim have over 19 years each of Professional River Rafting experience and have worked on the Arkansas River in Colorado since 1991. *Additional Instructors may join the staff through training dates.
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. Once you have adequately completed the training, you will be "signed off" by us and be certified to guide commercial rafting trips throughout the State of Colorado. We limit the class to 12 people to ensure 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, Certification in First Aid & C.P.R.
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 shorts, shoes suitable for rafting (Chaco's or wet shoes or booties) , and a 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. Our company's goal is to provide the best customer safety and entertainment so we are looking for service oriented individuals.
Introduction to equipment, trips, regulations and company history. This day will consist of familiarizing ourselves with our equipment, reviewing the diverse sections of water that you may find yourselves guiding on, State Requirements/Regulations and learning about the history of the RIGS operation.
DAY OFF
Gear- Out: overnight equipment review and packing for the coming days overnight trip.
Gunnison Gorge NCA (including Austin Run) - BLM
(Nightly: Guide Manual review, Water hydrology clinic and equipment review.)
North Fork - Gunnison River
(Nightly: Guide Manual review, Water hydrology clinic and equipment review)
Escalante Dominguez Section - Gunnison River - BLM
Take-Out - Return to Ridgway
Clean Up & In-House Gear/Equipment Review, Maintenence & Boat Patching.
Upper Uncompahge River, Inflatable Kayak Training - All-Day
Dress to Swim!
San Miguel River - FUN TRIP - Boating all-day.
Dress to Swim
RESCUE 3 International - Swiftwater Rescue Technician Course
The cost of the course is $385. A 50% deposit is required to secure a spot in the course, (advanced online registration required.). Additional certification is available from RESCUE 3 INTERNATIONAL, which will be conducting a Swift Water Rescue Course on May 17th – May 19th (additional cost for this certification: $350.) Although not required, successful completion on the SRT course will greatly improve your chances of employment at RIGS, achieve a higher Pay Scale and allow you to become a more competent boater; STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. This course fills up fast, so we recommend you sign up soon. (Please see attached daily Guide Schedule Itinerary.) 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.
*PROIR EXPERIENCE: 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 the first day of training.) 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 Overnight Trip 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, (60 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 60 days will forfeit a per-person cancellation penalty of: $150 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.
