Master your boof Steep Creeking in Piemonte. In Valsesia we offer the best spring low volume steep creeking trip in Europe.

Great paddling with fine wine, fine food with fine people. There’s no better place to refine your skills than the Sesia Valley, where water and smooth granite come together to form the perfect steep creeking training ground.

For a short window each spring, crystal clear meltwater pours down the valleys of Piemonte in northern Italy, and paddlers arrive from around the world to enjoy the finest combination of whitewater, culture, food, and wine available on the planet.

The region’s paddling is characterised by smooth granite slides and bedrock rapids, which offer steep and technical, yet surprisingly forgiving paddling. Set against a backdrop of ancient villages, beautiful cafes, and soaring snow capped peaks, there’s no better place in the world for the steep creeking connoisseur, and for the lover of good food and wine, there’s truly no better kayaking destination than Val Sesia.

Pool drop, bedrock falls and slides will leave you speechless, whilst top level instruction will give you the tactics and techniques you need to handle them in safety and in style.


Trips Content

  • We’ll help you figure out how to tackle complex rapids and we’ll give you some serious boofin’ practice
  • We’ll work on reading water dynamically, with a focus on driving your boat through turns, arcs and drops
  • We’ll look at understanding whitewater features and learning to use the water's features to your advantage
  • We’ll help you develop tactics to take on steeper whitewater in safety
  • WW safety and rescue skills workshop
  • We’ll help you find where you are with your paddling and we’ll give you a progression plan to work to

Adventure Itinerary

  • Day 1 Arrival day. Settle into your accommodation and take in the village of Campertogno.
  • Day 2 Hit the water! After a quick gear review and boat outfitting session, we’ll go for a chilled out paddle on the Sesia. It’ll give us the chance to look at how you’re paddling and find out what you want to work on
  • Day 3 Today’s a technical skill review and the chance to set some goals for the rest of the week. We’ll head to a more challenging river section and introduce you to some of the key concepts of dynamic river paddling such as angulation, pro-active balance and driving your boat.
  • Day 4 Today we’ll look at your river awareness. We’ll focus on group dynamics and leadership principles on one of the classics.
  • Day 5 Boof! Our first real day on the bedrock steeps will give you a real chance to work on your essential techniques and the team’s group dynamics.
  • Day 6 More of the steeps: another classic pool-drop river and chance to get some photos.
  • Day 7 Piemonte classic. We’ll head for an all day trip with steep drops, scenic surroundings and world class whitewater. The ideal finish to a perfect week.
  • Day 8 Departure day: time for a debrief and the end of the course.

Of course, this schedule’s only a guideline: we’ll chop and change depending on how you’re getting on, what the levels are like and what everyone wants to do

Group Composition

The trip will be led by an experienced Gene17kayaking appointed trip leader.

In selecting suitable leaders, we not only look to ensure that they have the relevant qualifications but we also ensure that they have an excellent track record of white water paddling from around the world.

Whilst qualifications and experience are essential requirements, we also make sure that our leaders have the right temperament to lead a trip group comprised of individuals who have a range of previous experience and expectations.

The leader is a vital contributor to the enjoyment and well-being of the trip members and he or she will be there to deal with any unexpected problems. To that end, we aim to provide a leader who will make the trip both successful and enjoyable throughout.

Our leaders hold current wilderness first aid certificates and have experience of dealing with remote river related medical conditions.

We will take a maximum of 6 paddlers on each trip, although the number may well be less than this. With every 3 paddlers we have on the trip, we’ll have a highly experienced Gene17kayaking Teacher/Guide.

Experience Required

Piemonte Steep Creeking trip takes place on Class IV/IV+ whitewater.

The Piemonte Steep Creeking trip is suitable for experienced paddlers who are able to paddle for 5 – 6 hours in a day on Class IV.

Generally the rivers are accessible with near road access, but occasionally there may be some exposed terrain. This trip begins on an easier section of whitewater, but will soon reflect conditions expected at the grade.  A strong kayak roll is obligatory.

Participants should therefore expect to be in a river environment during peak runoff for sometimes extended periods of time.

You are welcome to Contact Us, if you would like to discuss the trip in more detail.

What the Price Does/Does not Include

TRIP COST: 1300€ for COACHING/GUIDING ONLY 
What the price does include
  • Guiding and Instruction†
  • River shuttles

† Our Coaching/Guiding Only solution, is simply that, our first rate excellent Coaching & Guiding, and assistance with river shuttles.

Accommodation & Catering

We will facilitate and assist with your accommodation request. There are numerous local restaurants, food stores and the alike.  Plus there is excellent camping is also available on site in Campertogno.

The Personal Paddling Equipment you should bring:

A good semi-drytop or drytop or drysuit
Whitewater PFD, spray deck and good helmet
Solid footwear for bank support – no sandals
Rescue gear, including a throwbag, knife, sling and karabiner

What the price does not include

Accommodation
Catering
Airport Shuttle*
Kayak Rental**
Visa fees
Flight
Bar bills
Travel & Boat insurance
Kayak Rental
Tips

* Airport Shuttle is to and from Milan Malpensa Airport can be arranged with a local shuttle service, where by the whole group can be collected. All arrivals to any of Milan’s other airports, will need to make their way to Malpensa Airport for pick up prior to 18:00 on the day of arrival. NB many people hire a car and make there own way to Campertogno.
** Gene17 has access to a small yet excellent selection of kayaks for a range of different sized paddlers, & these are available on a first come, first served basis ONLY

Booking

Piemonte, Italy – Steep Creeking - COACHING/GUIDING ONLY 1300€

Pay Deposit 450€

Choose a Date:

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Do not have a week for paddling? We offer many shorter courses, see Piemonte Short Courses for that option.