Trip Highlights
- Discuss modern safety and guiding techniques
- Earn an IRF guide and/or trip leader award
- On river whitewater scenarios
- Working with peers from around the world
- Refine and learn new safety techniques
Training for Experienced River Guides
Guide Training & Education Workshops
International Rafting Federation
Guide Training & Education
Guide and Trip Leader Workshops
- Location: Hood River, Oregon, USA
- Length: 3 Days for Guide Workshop or 5 days for Guide and Trip Leader Workshop
- Prerequisites: Experience as a commercial guide, logbook, and first aid certifications
- Additional Cost: IRF Award Fees
Overall great course
★★★★★
“ thank YOU Zach for hosting such a kick ass class. i really appreciated you and Mark’s style and how you guys tag teamed running the class. There was very little fluff and i loved how we quickly got down to business each day after our morning brief. another thing i wanted to point out was you do a nice job asking people to explain or repeat what they just heard you say - as a way of confirming understanding. keep doing that dude ✅. thank you.”
- Mike Wagner
Join us for an International Rafting Federation (IRF) workshop for river guides and trip leaders facilitated by Mark Hirst and/or Zach Collier. These courses are intended for experienced river guides and whitewater professionals looking to be evaluated compared to the IRF standard and learn current global best practices. IRF awards are recognized for river guiding and trip leading around the world.
Raft Guide and Safety Craft Workshop
The first three days of these workshops assess the fundamentals of commercial river guiding and/or safety boating. Assessments are completed on the level of whitewater corresponding to the level of the guide. Guides are assessed on a variety of tasks including:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Safety and paddle talk
- Whitewater boating skills and crew management
- Flip and throw-bag tests
- Whitewater swimming
- Building a 3:1 rope system with appropriate anchors
In order to receive an IRF Guide Certification you must first submit a logbook, first aid, and CPR certification. During the workshop you will need to pass a guide assessment which includes a written exam.
Safety craft candidates can also be tested on the appropriate level of whitewater in their craft of choice (kayak or cataraft). They must demonstrate a safety craft talk, swimmer rescue, and strong boating ability.
If you have questions about IRF training, please give us a call or check out our IRF Guide Training and Education FAQ.
Trip Leader Workshop
The fourth and fifth day are spent evaluating trip leader candidates with on-river scenarios. These scenarios are designed to test their decision-making, communication skills, delegation ability, and performance during a rescue. They are designed to be as realistic as possible, again corresponding to the level of the guide being assessed.
“The IRF Trip Leader class not only gave me an important certification for future guiding, it also allowed me to learn from other great guides, scenario-based situations, and improve my own skills in the process”- Ellie “Ldub” Friedmann
An IRF Trip Leader candidate also needs to have valid advanced first aid certificate that includes CPR. Upon successfully passing the qualification, the IRF issues an IRF Trip Leader Certification.
About Mark Hirst
Mark is an international rafting and safety instructor who teaches courses for Rescue 3 Europe and the International Rafting Federation. He is originally from Manchester, England and is now based in Finland. He currently teaches river guide and safety courses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Nepal, India, and Morocco. Learn more about Mark’s philosophy on this Lapin Koskikoulu Blog.
About Zach Collier
In addition to running Northwest Rafting Company, Zach is an IRF Raft, Safety Raft, and Safety Kayak Instructor. Since 1997 has guided river trips throughout the American West as well as Nepal, Bhutan, Siberia, Chile, and Costa Rica.
We are licensed by the Oregon State Marine Board and operate under special use permit with the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest. Additionally, we are an equal opportunity provider and employer.