Given the opportunity to paddle everyday, students’ skills progress rap-
idly. They have the privilege of paddling on exotic rivers and experiencing a broader variety of whitewater in a single semester than most do in a life- time. This semester in Chile alone, students paddled the perfect waterfalls of the Palguin before spending two weeks on the high-volume rapids of the Futaleufu. Living and paddling on the same river multiple times enables students to push themselves, try new lines and gain comfort and familiarity with intimidating features. Many run their first class IV–V rapids with the school. They learn to boat in
large groups with several coaches. It can be challenging to keep kids mindful of the inherent risks despite such a supportive environment. Several years ago, a WCA student drowned while paddling with the school. This past fall, a recent alumnus passed away on B.C.’s Cheakamus River, a run the school had paddled just two weeks prior. These deaths serve as sobering reminders of the risk behind the fun. Being able to leave World Class with an appreciation for whitewater and the skills to paddle safely are at the core of our experiences. “At the end of their time here,” says coach Andy McMurray, “I want these
kids to be individuals I would want to paddle with. People who I trust on the river to make good choices and support me. People willing to help out, load boats and chip in for gas money.”
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“FOR ME, THE KAYAKING, THE ACADEMICS, THAT’S ALL SECONDARY,” says Chris Gentry, a former Outward Bound instructor and parent of a current WCA student. “It’s about the life skills, the time management, the ability to multitask and live with a group. That is what I see Tristan getting out of his time here.” Gentry plans to send his younger son to the Academy in two years time. Erica Carpenter, another parent, agrees that the takeaway from a World Class education lies not only in academics or even paddling skills and safety, but also in students learning to deal with people and manage difficult situations. “The experience of getting both the body and mind focused so highly is priceless,” says Carpenter. “For my kid to know what it feels like to be passion- ate about something at such a young age, and to have the ability to structure his life around that passion, is an experience that not many have. It has helped him enormously.”
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RAYS OF LATE AFTERNOON SUN BREAK THROUGH AN OVERCAST SKY, throwing the turquoise blue of the river in sharp contrast against the green hillside. Mountains rise in the background, the faintest dusting of snow on their peaks. For a rare moment, the students are quiet, floating, holding onto one anothers’ boats and taking in the scenery as we approach the take-out. The festival has finished for the day and the majority of our group contin-
ued downstream to run Casa de Piedra, one of the more technical rapids on the Futa. It was a long day—class in the morning, a festival competition and group paddle in the afternoon. Study hall is still ahead. We finish loading boats, pile in La Muela and head back to camp. I settle
into the van’s damp seat cushion, mentally listing all the things I have left to do today. I am tired and it seems it will be impossible to get to everything. There is a gentle tap on my shoulder. “Anna?” I turn around to see Alex still glowing from her rides at Mundaca. “Thank you for taking the time to make me not afraid of the Futa.”
I smile, and my long to-do list slips away. “No problem. It was my pleasure.” Anna Bruno first encountered the WCA in 2007. After years of running into
the traveling classroom around the world, she joined the Academy in 2012 as an English teacher and budget director. Visit
www.worldclassacademy.com to learn more about their programs.
40 RAPID EARLY SUMMER 2013 TODAY’S HOMEWORK: LIVE BAIT.
PLAYBOATING ON THE CAL SALMON PHOTO: AARON CAPO RETTIG
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