Tide Race & River Skills Course
Dates
Duration
Price
Ratio
Coach
Course dates
- May 22, 2026
- June 19, 2026
- July 31, 2026
Mastering your boat in Dynamic Flow
Ready to dive into the energy of the river? (Even literally…)
This course is the bridge between flat water mastery and the high-intensity world of coastal tide races and powerful river currents. Specifically designed for sea kayakers, this training takes place in the reliable flow and legendary eddies of the Aare at Worblaufen. Here, we translate your foundation skills into the technical precision required to handle a long sea kayak in a moving water.
Under the careful guidance of our British Canoeing Advanced Sea Kayak and White Water coaches, you will learn to navigate the river not with force, but with tactical intelligence.
Working With the Water, Not Against It
Handling a 5m sea kayak in a river current requires a "different touch." Unlike short whitewater boats, a sea kayak demands a relaxed and elegant style. At HighTide, we believe that “less is more”:
- Refined Style: We move away from reactive paddling and toward purposeful, elegant execution.
- Technical Understanding: Develop a deep intuition for how volume and length react to moving water.
- River Reading: Learn to decode the flow, identify the fastest lines, and use the river's energy to your advantage.
- Confidence & Credibility: Gain the poise and technical "flair" that earns respect in any environment—even from your whitewater friends.
This is a progressive course designed for repeat attendance; with every session, you’ll sharpen your "moving water mindset" and prepare yourself for the world's demanding coastal playgrounds.
Course Goal
Turn the river into your personal training ground. Our goal is to replace "reaction" with "action," giving you the technical mastery to handle long boats in fast currents. You’ll walk away with the confidence to hunt for tide races and the safety skills to handle dynamic water with a relaxed, elegant style.
Course Details
Core Skills & Technical Focus
In the moving water of Worblaufen, we move beyond simple survival and focus on mastery. We break down the complexities of the flow into a "toolbox" of skills you can take to any coast:
- Reading the Flow: Understanding river features, identifying hazards, and recognizing safe "training zones" to build your intuition.
- The Dynamics of Motion: Mastering the relationship between boat speed, edge, and entry angles when transitioning between the main flow and eddies.
- Precision Maneuvering: Perfecting "breaking in" and "breaking out" of currents with confidence. We focus on body positioning, trim, and refined edge control to keep the long boat stable and responsive.
- Tactical Ferry Gliding: Learning to cross currents with maximum efficiency—a vital skill for navigating coastal sounds, narrows, and tidal channels.
- The "Rough Water" Mindset: Developing a calm, proactive posture in choppy conditions, helping you stay relaxed and reactive when the water gets busy.
- Dynamic Safety & Rescue: Managing scenarios, including active swims and boat recoveries in a flowing environment.
Before You Book
This course is for paddlers ready for the vibrant energy of the river. Because moving water is a journey, not a destination, this course is designed for repeat attendance. Our coaches meet you exactly where you are—whether you are making your first eddy turn or looking to find more "flair" in a tide race. We tailor the experience to your specific needs, ensuring you find success, build confidence, and stay in your "stretch zone" without feeling overwhelmed by the whitewater environment.
To get the most out of this course, you should have already taken your first steps into moving water. This means you have either attended our Tide Race & River Preparation course or have equivalent experience handling a kayak in basic currents.
The Essentials:
- Technical Foundation: You are comfortable with basic directional control and have some experience in flowing water.
- Safety Comfort: You can perform a confident, controlled wet exit with a spraydeck and are comfortable spending time in the water.
- The "Ninja" Mindset: A readiness to push your limits! Capsizing isn't just "allowed"—it’s a vital part of the learning journey. A sense of humor and a lack of fear regarding the occasional swim will help you progress much faster.
Active
This course involves full days out in moderate conditions or higher-intensity activities. While still focused on exercises and technique, it may involve increased distances, more demanding drills, or bigger conditions such as waves, Beaufort scale 3–4 winds, or flowing water.
- Sea Kayak
- Spray Deck
- Paddle
- Buoyancy Aid
- Drysuit or neoprene depending on the weather
- Water shoes
- Towline, paddle float, pump
- Own kayak equipment (if possible)
- Swimwear and personal kayak clothing
- Medication
- Sun protection
Minimum age 15
3. Cancellation by the customer
The withdrawal must be in writing and cancellation fees will be calculated as follows: NB. The Percentage refers to the cancellation fee from the total course or tour fee. For all our activities we recommend purchasing cancellation insurance at the time of booking.
3.2 Courses and Coaching in Switzerland
- More than 7 days before the start of the activity: CHF 50 administration fee.
- 7 days -24hours before the start of the activity 50%.
- 24 hours before the start of the activity/no shows 100%.
Directions to Worblaufen
Meet The Team
Jolien Gekiere
Become a part of the Hightide Outdoor & Paddle Community
We want to share our love of the outdoors and paddling with as many people as possible. We look forward to more paddling and outdoor events together. You want to be part of it? Then make sure you get your regular online outdoor and kayak inspiration and sign up for our newsletter! We would be happy if you become a part of our community.
Coaching Philosophy
At Hightide, we believe in coaching the individual. Our courses start from where you are and guide you toward your personal paddling goals.
For some, this means building confidence to paddle and enjoy nature. For others, it’s about improving efficiency for expeditions or long-distance paddling. It could also involve developing the skills to venture onto the sea or mastering techniques for rivers, rock gardens, and surf.
Whatever your aim, our extensive experience on the ocean and deep understanding of sea kayaking will help you move forward. All our coaches come from a sea kayaking background, hold professional qualifications, and are passionate not just about paddling but also about coaching. We’ve spent years refining what truly makes a difference in the sport and are committed to delivering it in the most effective way—by making you feel the learning.
When you join a Hightide course, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of how to keep improving and a structured way to retain what you've learned. We see our role as creating the right conditions for learning, so your progress continues long after the course ends.