Hi
I need a bit of advice. I was hoping to get a job as a raft guide abroad this summer but dont really know where/how to start looking for a job, i don't have any rafting qualifications but i heard most rafting companies will train you up if you arn't qualified + i've been paddling for years so know how to read a river. Has anyone here doone this before + have any advice on how to go about getting a job. There is an option to go to England to get qualified but I don't know how well recognised the course is as its on a slalom course.
Thanks
Tom
Raft Guiding Abroad
Re: Raft Guiding Abroad
I worked in Canada for River Run Rafting, they trained me there. The main reason they selected me was because I had gotten a recommendation, but that still wasn't a guarantee of a job. I had to do their training, and there is a real possibility of failing this training, and in my case there were only a certain number of spots available at the end of the week. The raft guide training was a week long with 10 hour days, mostly spent on the river, so fitness and swimming ability are key.
Things that would be to your advantage:
Theres also another more risky approach, just go over and paddle, get to know people and see if you can get a job after a few weeks there. You might not become a raft guide on the back of this strategy, but you might end up doing safety boating or support. I worked as a safety boater/ support person my first two seasons and its got its advantages, I paddled way more than the guides did and I earned more money. But the guides get the chicks
The guide training in England would help you to get your foot in the door. But you'd be better off spending that money paddling and familiarising your self on the stretch of river you want to guide for two weeks instead. As you said they will train you regardless of your qualifications and the rafts might be competently different (Oar rigs, 12-man etc.).
Some locations that are popular spots for rafting.
Canada:
Uganda:
Things that would be to your advantage:
- REC 3 Cert
- SRT (Swift Water Rescue Technician cert)
- Paddling qualifications, proficiency or instructor.
- Lots of paddling experience, especially on the type of volume rivers you want to guide on.
Theres also another more risky approach, just go over and paddle, get to know people and see if you can get a job after a few weeks there. You might not become a raft guide on the back of this strategy, but you might end up doing safety boating or support. I worked as a safety boater/ support person my first two seasons and its got its advantages, I paddled way more than the guides did and I earned more money. But the guides get the chicks
The guide training in England would help you to get your foot in the door. But you'd be better off spending that money paddling and familiarising your self on the stretch of river you want to guide for two weeks instead. As you said they will train you regardless of your qualifications and the rafts might be competently different (Oar rigs, 12-man etc.).
Some locations that are popular spots for rafting.
Canada:
- OWL
- River Run
Uganda:
- ADRIFT
- Nico Chassing's Bundu Adventures
- Safari Par Excellence.
- ??
Re: Raft Guiding Abroad
I have worked in Slovenia for two seasons and Argentina. This year I made my way down to the Futaleufu for the festival and
talked with alot of guides there.
Some of the guides that I talked with just showed up and proved that they could do the business on the river.
I personnally think that if you show up early in the season, its the prime time to start learning and get in with a company.
You can write to as many companies as you like, but if a company cant put a name to a face its a little bit more difficult.
So I would say choose your destination, write to a few companies and show up early. So you can learn the river and become a
guide. Make sure you have a bit of cash to last you for a while.
For the raft guide qualfications you can get them as you go. The main one which is Internationally accredited is IRF, International Rafting Federation. I got my IRF qualifications in Slovenia. I have friends there and they run IRF courses at the start of the season around june and at the end in september. Also with the IRF, they only give out the cards once you have presented them with a up to date First Aid cerfication. Minimum is Rec 3. I would recommend these courses. Check them out on facebook and their own site for courses.
The other qualifications that seanie mentioned are of good value to have.
So just rock up, show the company you can do it. This is what I did in Slovenia and Argentina. This year I will be working in Scotland, same story and I will do it Futaleufu next year.
Hope that was of some help to you.
If you need any more info, drop a line
Have a good Season
talked with alot of guides there.
Some of the guides that I talked with just showed up and proved that they could do the business on the river.
I personnally think that if you show up early in the season, its the prime time to start learning and get in with a company.
You can write to as many companies as you like, but if a company cant put a name to a face its a little bit more difficult.
So I would say choose your destination, write to a few companies and show up early. So you can learn the river and become a
guide. Make sure you have a bit of cash to last you for a while.
For the raft guide qualfications you can get them as you go. The main one which is Internationally accredited is IRF, International Rafting Federation. I got my IRF qualifications in Slovenia. I have friends there and they run IRF courses at the start of the season around june and at the end in september. Also with the IRF, they only give out the cards once you have presented them with a up to date First Aid cerfication. Minimum is Rec 3. I would recommend these courses. Check them out on facebook and their own site for courses.
The other qualifications that seanie mentioned are of good value to have.
So just rock up, show the company you can do it. This is what I did in Slovenia and Argentina. This year I will be working in Scotland, same story and I will do it Futaleufu next year.
Hope that was of some help to you.
If you need any more info, drop a line
Have a good Season