Paddle School - Class and River Info - Tennessee Valley Canoe Club

HomePaddle School - Class and River Info

Whitewater Course Descriptions – Kayak & Canoe

Whitewater kayak and whitewater canoe courses are offered at Paddle School. Each class typically includes 5–6 students, one instructor, and two support boaters. Our Training Team forms classes based on students’ goals, experience levels, and other factors to create the best learning environment for Paddle School students.

Because of this, course schedules may vary. For example, a Class III - Beginner class can spend 2 days running the Ocoee Lite*, or 1 day running the Ocoee Lite and 1 day running the full Middle Ocoee.

When completing your registration form, please describe your training goals and how hard you would like to be pushed on the river as clearly as possible so we can place you in the most appropriate class. While we will always do our best to accommodate student requests, ultimately the classes that we are able to offer at Paddle School are dependent on the availability of Instructors and Support Boaters! If you have any questions, the TVCC Training Team is happy to help. Contact us at training@tvccpaddler.org.

* Ocoee Lite is defined as the rails below Grumpy’s rapid to Go Forth Creek consisting of class II-III rapids.

Class II - Beginner
Location: Hiwassee (both days)

Perfect for paddlers with little or no river experience who want to build confidence on Class II whitewater.

What you’ll learn:

Wet exits
Fundamental paddle strokes and boat control
Reading current and river features
Catching eddies and peel-outs
Ferrying across current

Instruction takes place on the Hiwassee River, a Class II river ideal for learning and practicing new skills in moving water.

This level is ideal for those who:

Have never been in a boat before
Have only paddled a few times (fewer than 5 trips)
Want to build confidence paddling Class II whitewater

Class II - Beginner students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Hiwassee, Towee Ferry	Keeping downstream edge while keeping boat facing upstream at the Towee Creek put in.
Hiwassee, Thread the Needle	Ferry both directions. S-turn both directions. Practice eddy turns.
Hiwassee, Goldilocks	Maintain an active blade through rapids. Maintain balance through rapids, and eddy out at the bottom. Practice ferry at the end past tunnel.

Class II - Intermediate
Location: Hiwassee (both days)

Designed for paddlers with some river experience who want to build confidence and expand their skills in Class II whitewater.

What you’ll work on:

Surfing and eddy hopping
Attainment ferries and edge control
Stroke refinement and boat control
Ferrying and S-turns in stronger current
Flatwater rolls and T-rescues

Instruction takes place on the Hiwassee River, with a focus on exploring eddies, linking moves, and building comfort moving around the river.

This course is ideal for those who:

Have some river experience (at least 5 trips)
Are comfortable with basic paddle strokes and maneuvers
Feel confident paddling Class II rapids

Class II - Intermediate students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Hiwassee, Thread the Needle	Attainment ferries, edge control, stroke refinement
Hiwassee, Three Chutes	Strong-current ferries, S-turns
Hiwassee, Rock eddy	Surfing, eddy hopping
Hiwassee, Pee Creek	Flatwater rolls, T-rescues

Class II - III Developing
Location: Hiwassee day 1, Ocoee Lite day 2

Designed for paddlers who are comfortable on Class II and ready to begin stepping into Class III whitewater.

Students will build precision and confidence in stronger current on the Hiwassee before applying beginner Class III skills on the Ocoee.

This class is ideal if you:

Feel comfortable paddling Class II
Have strong technique in foundational Class II skills
Are ready to begin developing Class III skills

Skills practiced on Hiwassee:

Catching micro eddies
Ferries and S-turns in stronger current
Eddy hopping and attainment moves
Combat roll practice

Skills practiced on Ocoee:

Boofing
Interacting with waves
Reading and navigating Class III current

Class II - III Developing students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Hiwassee, Thread the Needle	Catching micro eddy, ferries and s-turns with minimal strokes, attainment circuit.
Hiwassee, Ledges/Lunch Stop	Eddy hopping and side surfing.
Hiwassee, Three Chutes	Jet ferry/S-turn combo move. Combat roll practice.
Hiwassee, Devil's Shoals	Devil's Shoals attainment circuit
Ocoee, Slice and Dice	Ferrying and peel-outs in Class III current.
Ocoee, Left Right Left	Top of Left Right Left - There's dozens of eddies here. Catch as many as you can.
Ocoee, Flipper	Boofing, peel-outs in strong current, interacting with Class III waves

Class III - Beginner
Location: Ocoee River (2 days Ocoee Lite, or 1 day Ocoee Lite, 1 day Middle Ocoee)

This course is designed for paddlers who are solid in Class II whitewater and have a combat roll that works about half the time. The focus is on developing more advanced river-running skills, improving surfing, and strengthening your combat roll.

Participants should be able to comfortably ferry across Class II current, move between eddies, and perform more challenging maneuvers on rivers such as the Hiwassee and Nantahala without becoming overly fatigued.

This level is ideal for those who:

Are comfortable practicing harder maneuvers in Class II rapids
Have a combat roll that works 50% of the time

Class III - Beginner students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Ocoee, Double Trouble	Large eddy above Double Trouble. Long swiftwater peel out while maintaining proper boat angle facing upstream then facing down stream powering through two large waves. Angle and edge control are essential.
Ocoee, Jump Rock	Below Double Suck is a boulder that rafting companies use to slide down. There is a chute next to this rock. Use this to practice ferries, peel outs, combat rolls, and stern squirts.
Ocoee, Staging Eddy and Slice and Dice	Ferries, peel-outs, stroke refinement

Class III - Intermediate
Location: Ocoee River (both days)

This class is designed for paddlers who are interested in progressing beyond Class III - Beginner, but who are not yet comfortable with the requirements of the Class III - Advanced class.

Class III - Intermediate students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Ocoee, Staging Eddy	Jet ferry spot on the outflow of staging eddy. Use the surf wave on near the top of the big river-left eddy at the bottom of staging eddy to practice jet ferries and S-turns in more powerful flow.
Ocoee, Below Grumpy's	Just below the rails river left - boof the rock on the left, it can be done from putting in at the rails but requires a good ferry to get above it.
Ocoee, Hell Hole	This is a great place to practice ferrying across the hole, using it to get comfortable with a hole. (you can't get stuck in it, but it is intimidating to people who worry about their roll). Learning to blast (best ferry angle for speed across).

Class III - Advanced
Location: Ocoee River (both days)

This course is for paddlers who are already comfortable running the entire Ocoee River. It is not intended for those attempting their first descent or who still feel nervous on the Ocoee.

Students should expect to work hard as they refine their skills on Class II–III rapids. The class will focus on edging, ferrying in stronger current, advanced technical moves, and surfing and playing in holes. Paddlers will also work together as a team throughout the course.

This level is ideal for those who:

Feel comfortable paddling the Ocoee River
Have a solid combat roll
Can self-rescue and help rescue others
Are ready for a physically demanding class

Class III - Advanced students can expect to work on skills such as:

River/Rapid	Skill
Ocoee, Slice and Dice	Top of Slice and Dice - Take the center line. After boofing the rock, there is a hole immediately downstream, with a eddy to the right. This is called Nope Eddy. This requires a quick turn to peel into. Afterwards, peel out of the eddy into the hole, and let it shoot you out and downstream.
Ocoee, General	Playboating skills, attempting to get your stern down and throw some stern squirts or platting.
Ocoee, Flipper	Eddy next to Flipper hole - paddle downstream, but stay in the river left eddy. This is the start of the Watauga move. Spin your boat upstream, ferry between two rocks just before the drop, peel into the main current, and catch the eddy below on river right.
Ocoee, Table Saw	Challenging or more technical boofs, either the left or right through Table Saw.

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)

Location: Ocoee River at Big Creek Take Out

This SUP class will take place on flat water and will cover Level 1 paddleboarding skills, including basic strokes, maneuvering, safe falling, remounting, and simple rescue techniques. A certified yoga instructor will co-teach the class, combining foundational paddleboarding skills with SUP yoga.

This class is ideal for beginners who want to improve their balance and paddling skills, as well as experienced paddle boarders interested in incorporating SUP yoga into their time on the water.

The class will be held at the Private Boater Takeout on the Ocoee River and is limited to seven (7) students.

Flatwater Course Descriptions – Kayak & Canoe

Traditional Flatwater

Location: Parksville Lake & Big Creek

This class will focus on paddling safely around power boats, selecting and using proper gear, practicing self-rescue and assisted rescue techniques, and developing fundamental paddle strokes.

Suitable boats for this class include sea kayaks, recreational kayaks, canoes, and sit-on-top kayaks.

Most paddling will take place on Parksville Lake and a flatwater section of the Ocoee River. No prior experience is required.

Recreational Kayaking / River Running on Class I Water

Location: Lower Hiwassee River

This class is designed for recreational kayak paddlers who want to improve their ability to maneuver their boats on creeks and rivers with current and obstacles.

Suitable boats include recreational kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks. Kayaks that can fill with water must have flotation installed.

Students will learn basic paddling techniques and self-rescue skills. Day one will take place on flatwater, and day two will move to the Lower Hiwassee River (Class I), paddling from Reliance to the Highway 411 bridge. Some flatwater paddling experience is preferred. Please note that this section of river contains rocks and current.

Students should expect to exit their boats during the class to practice skills and participate in both self-rescue and assisted rescue drills.

Rivers

Paddle School is primarily conducted on the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers.

HIWASSEE RIVER: The middle Hiwassee, from the Powerhouse put in to the Reliance Bridge take out is a Class II river. River Running and SUP courses use the lower Hiwassee from the Reliance Bridge to Hwy 411 Bridge. The lower section is predominantly Class I with two Class II wave train rapids. Learn more about the Hiwassee River here (opens in new tab).

OCOEE RIVER: The middle Ocoee, from the Dam #2 put in to the public take out at Big Creek is predominantly Class III with some challenging Class III/III+ rapids. The Annual TVCC Ocoee River Race is held on this section. Learn more about the Ocoee River here (opens in new tab).