PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE CONTACTING US WITH QUESTIONS. YOU WILL FIND THAT MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ALREADY ANSWERED BELOW.
This event requires a $50 deposit that will be refunded to you after participation. If you register and later cannot attend, please contact the Treasurer, BG Smith, at Treasurer@tvccpaddler.org before the end of registration so your refund can be processed. If you do not cancel your registration and do not attend, you will forfeit your refund. To learn more, go here: TVCC Refund Policy. In the past, people have donated their deposit because they were very happy with the program. Donations are always appreciated and are never expected.
What: L4 Swiftwater Rescue
Where: Ocoee River & Ocoee River Experience (basecamp)
Dates: August 23-24, 2025
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm (approximately)
Cost: $50/person (Refundable after participation in course)
Registration Dates: July 29 (8:00am)-August 19 (midnight)
Class Size: 15 students (others will be waitlisted)
Contact: Rob Theurer at tellicorob@gmail.com or Carl Schoonover at training@tvccpaddler.com
Lodging: Camping and lodging is available at Ocoee River Experience. Call (423) 281-4959 or go to https://www.ocoeeriverexperience.com/ to make a reservation.
Other Info: An ACA L4 Swiftwater Rescue course taught on the Ocoee River by TVCC's Team Safety, the club's current and qualified SWR instructor team. Students must be comfortable paddling Class III whitewater. This course is on the Ocoee river, but we will not be paddling any of the named rapids. Saturday will be a half day water training in the morning, half day land based training at camp in the afternoon. We will meet at the Ocoee private boater take out on Saturday at 8:00am. Link to location Big Creek Access-Ocoee Private Boater Takeout. This is not river time! Please be there and ready to go by 8:00am! Land based training and camping will be at Ocoee River Experience. Link to location Ocoee River Experience. Sunday will be a full day on the water. Make sure to bring water and food with you. We highly recommend dry suits because the water will be cold.
Required equipment to participate in the course.
All gear can be purchased at an outfitter store (Gearhead Outfitters, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Endless River Adventure). The club also has loaner gear that you can borrow.
- Normal paddling gear (boat, paddle, helmet, etc.)
- Closed toe shoes
- Rescue PFD (some may be available as loaners)
- Rescue tether
- Three locking carabiners (screw or twist gate)
- A throw rope (50 foot length and 1/4 inch minimum)
- One 20 foot section of 1 inch tubular nylon webbing
- Two 6 foot sections of prussic cord (5mm preferred, 6mm can work)
- Two rescue pulleys (1" prussik minding--smc crx, omega ice, fusion rescue all work)
This event is free to all TVCC membership in good standing. This will NOT be open for One Time Guests. If you are new to TVCC then we would love for you to join us on this event. Please join our club or renew your membership. Joining is quick and easy and only $20 for individual and $25 for a family membership. You can join by clicking here.