Foundations Core

Start your river kayaking journey with core knowledge and skills

Foundations of River Kayaking Core Program, aka Foundations Core, is an in-depth series of clinics designed for people with little to no experience with kayaking. It is a slow and steady approach that goes from dry land to class 2+ whitewater over the course of 4 months, learning about gear, logistics, Essential Maneuvers, Navigating in Moving Water, Rolling, and basic of whitewater features. At the end of the program, members from the club come together to celebrate the accomplishment of the Foundations Core students by paddling alongside them on a Graduation trip on the Nantahala River, so students not only learn skills, but also get plugged into a community in which they can thrive for years to come.

Don’t just take our word for it!

Hear from two of our Foundations Core Alumni about their experiences in the program

Foundations Core Clinics

Featured
FK103: Moving Water
May 18
FK103: Moving Water

This clinic is taught on flat moving water (class 1 river). The focus will be to work on dialing in the essential maneuvers

FK104: The Roll
Jun 1
FK104: The Roll

You will learn about the biomechanics/physics of a C to C roll.

FK105: Intro to Whitewater
Jun 15
FK105: Intro to Whitewater

In his clinic, you will practice water-reading, hazard identification, feature identification, proper paddle strokes, eddies, ferries, rolling (if desired), and surfing.

FK106: Core Capstone
Jul 20
FK106: Core Capstone

In the final clinic of the Foundations Core program, we will review all the content we have covered in the program and refine the skills we have learned.

Registration

 The Cost for the Foundations Core Program is just $250. This covers instruction fees and insurance for all clinics. To Register, open the membership portal and find Foundations Core under the “Upcoming Events” section. Registration opens January 1st.

FPC does not furnish boats and gear for the Foundations Core program.
Fee is non-refundable
By registering for the Foundations Core Program, you are committing to attending all 6 clinics in the series, and you understand that if you miss a clinic, a make up will not be offered and you may not be allow to progress to the next clinic.

Not sure Foundations Core is right for you?

If you need some more information to determine if you are ready to make the investment, you can attend the first clinic, FK101: Gear and Logistics, completely free of charge. In this clinic, you will have a chance to meet the instructors and talk them about anything from where you are as a kayaker and how to obtain the boat gear necessary to complete the program.

Graduation Trip

July 21st, 2024.
Nantahala River

Members from all over the Foothills Paddling Club come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the Foundations Core Graduates.