Welcome to River Sport School of Paddling

2019 Fall Hours: Friday to Sunday

9-6 pm

(Any other time is appointment only if available)

 2020 Program Dates Coming Soon

– Our Easy and Secure online Square Payment site to Register For Rentals and Instruction

Riversport Online Registration Payment Link

******for Rentals and Instruction (Please add the date you want to depart in the comments section)******  

Call 724-880-4384 for questions and further information

Kids Camp Dates for the 2020 Season 

#Advanced Camp (Drop off Sunday at 1-3 pm at Riversport Store) to  (Pick up Friday at 5 pm.)

#July  (Drop off Sunday at 3 pm at Paddlers Lane Campground.) to July  (Pick up Friday at 5 pm.)

#August (Drop off Sunday at 3 pm at Paddler’s Lane Campground.) to August (Pick up Friday at 5 pm.)

#Advanced Camp Aug  (Drop off Sunday at 1-3 pm. at Riversport Store) to Aug (Pick up Friday at 5 pm.)

# Parent Child Camp  TBD (Meet at Riversport at 9 a.m. on Friday for Breakfast)

Programs Levels        Beginner to Advanced

We take a combination of having a excellent location with great rivers, and take a excellent kayaking staff of diverse instructors. When you add the kids into the mix you get a great week of fun progressive instruction based learning. Our staff includes a pro paddler from Team IR US, PSIA certified ski instructors, National Ski Patrol members, College professors, to ACA Level 4 Certified Instructor. Most of our Beginner students go from Class I to Class III and master the Lower Yough and rolling. Our advanced group will learn new play boating moves, technical river running techniques, like “the boof”, and how to run class IV. Also, during the week, students are able to check out the new sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. We hop on boards at the Yough Lake during our evening cook out, and then take it down the river through class II rapids. Then work on River Rescue Skills. Each session we paddle at the Adventure Sports Center Institute, Yough River, Cheat Narrows, Valley Falls, or Cassleman Rivers. Basically where ever the water levels take us.

Our program’s main focus is to build confidence and skills in younger paddlers, while providing a safe learning environment. Each day we take our students through a progression that allows river running techniques, self rescue, river rescue, play boating, and creek boating skills. Our week begins on the Yough Lake above our river store location. From here we divide groups in to appropriate levels of abilities to begin a great week of building skills and confidence on the water.

——Request any equipment at the time you sign up——

-Camping and Drop off & pick up held at The Outflow Corp of Engineer Campground directly across the river from Riversport and Lucky Dog Cafe

-Supervision by instructors at all times

-Meals at the Lucky Dog cafe

History of Riversport

Originally known as River Paths in the late 1970’s, the operations moved across the river and evolved into Riversport during the early 1980’s. Since the mid 80’s, Riversport has been a family owned business and premier instructional paddling school with a retail store located along the majestic Youghiogheny River in Confluence, Pennsylvania. We have a knowledgeable staff of ACA certified instructors, young National Geographic sponsored paddlers, professional ski instructors, and teachers that provide safe and positive learning experiences on the water. Our rental location specializes in recreation on the Youghiogheny River and Lake with stable Kayaks, stable SUPs and relaxing Rafting trips. The retail store staff are experienced paddlers that sell the best products.

Directions

Our main store, instructional, and rental location is right next to the Youghiogheny Bridge on 281. We are across the river from the Outflow Campground, and next to the Lucky Dog Café.

Directions From East on Turnpike: Take I-76 West (PA TurnPike) Exit at Somerset (exit 10) drive straight from the toll booth to main intersection and follow 281 South signs to Confluence, PA (24 miles). Continue to follow 281 South through town. Then 281 S will take you across the Castleman River bridge and we are located just on the left before you cross the Yough River Bridge (next to the Lucky Dog Café)

Directions From Ohio & West on Turnpike: Take I-76 East (PA Turnpike) Exit at Donegal (old exit 9) turn Left out of toll booth and drive 1.5 miles to 711/381 intersection. Follow 711 to Normalville, then turn left onto 381 and continue to Ohiopyle. In Ohiopyle take Sugarloaf Road (between boater change house parking lots). Sugarloaf Road brings you to 281. Take a left, and continue down the hill on 281 N. You will cross the Youghiogheny River Bridge. We are located on the Right (next to the Lucky Dog Café)