The most significant change for Paddle School 2026 is the updated Class and River Information page. TVCC has, for many years, categorized classes as:
While this system does a good job of outlining the different class levels offered at Paddle School, we’ve heard consistent feedback over the past few years that it can be difficult for students to determine which class best matches their current ability and goals. To help address this, the Board began work in December to look at the skills and techniques associated with each level, along with identifying specific rapids on the Hiwassee and Ocoee where those skills can be practiced and developed.
We benefited from input across the TVCC community—thank you to Carl Schoonover, Nick Barlow, Taylor Gauthreaux, Keith Quarles, Jon Appel, Aaron Peaslee, Katie Larue, Robbie Houston, Katey Neuffer, and Eric Jackson for contributing to the list. I’m sure there’s lots of folks that have great suggestions and good ideas, and we’d love to hear them. Please let us know!
We hope that the result is a clearer set of class levels, along with examples of the skills and techniques that students might consider in different rapids on the rivers we paddle. The updated class levels are:
Please take some time to review the Class and River Information page, which contains the new definitions and identifies the rapids where specific skills can be learned and applied. If you are interested in contributing to future work on this project, please reach out to Bill Farnham.