Admit it - you wish you could go canyoneering with SCOA but don't have a clue as to how.  The purpose of this note is to provide specific instructions on how to get involved in canyonering and rock climbing.  Canyoneering like rock climbing is a participatory sport.  The more you put in to it the more you get out. . .

First things first - safety.  You need to learn how to be safe not only to yourself but to thos around you.  You can do that by registering for one of these canyoneering or rock climbing courses designed for beginners.  Want more info - keep reading.
 
SCOA has been inundated with requests for information on how to become involved with canyoneering, rock climbing and 'big' hikes (4+ hours of strenuous climbing).  Quietly, in the background the SCOA crew has been putting together some amazing events.  Starting this weekend - today really - a month of events designed specifically for the beginner are in place.  The goal, to give people an opportunity to learn right, gain skills and confidence so that they can join SCOA on more adventurous activities.  Does that sound interesting?

Rock climbing and canyoneering - at least the way SCOA has them set up requires the participant to be able to safely belay.  While there are other important skills, safely belaying is the foundation to it all and we at SCOA put a great deal of weight on being able to do it properly.

The next belay course will be 07 August in Long Beach.  Space is limited so if you are interested register now.  After completion of this course, you will be qualified to join SCOA on many of our outdoor rock climbing events.

07 August - Indoor Rock Climbing and Belay Class

Now that you can belay, come join us for a day on the rocks 08 Aug at Point Dume.  For those that have never been, Point Dume is a site right on the beach.  When the whales are migrating, you can watch them from your perch high above the waves.  Depending on what you are looking for there are other things to see there too.

08 Aug - Outdoor Rock Climbig at pt. Dume

We have two classes that teach the fundamentals of canyoneering.  The 1 day course will give you the basics so you can safely join a group of canyoneers and not be a liability to the group.  After the class, you will be ready to join SCOA on any number of the canyoneering runs.

Our next 1 day course is 21 August in the Mount Baldy area.  We are limiting the class size to 12.  If you are interested.  Make sure you do not wait to sign up.  ATC's C1 course, covers everything you need to know to safely canyoneer.  They provide all the equipment too.  Normally $165 for SCOA it is $140.

21 August - Beginning Canyoneering

Everyone has a bucket list - right?  Why not join us canyoneering Mount San Antonio with a professional guide service?   The event is all day long.  You will do some hiking and you will get wet and you will have a blast!  We have limited the group size to 12.  We ran this three times last year.  Each time the event filled up and we had to push people away.

14 August - Canyoneering for Beginners

Now that you can safely belay and know how to canyoneer, why not put those skill to use?  We have several upcoming Canyoneering and rock climbing events.  Click on one and sign up!

All of our canyoneering and rock climbing events are listed in our calendar.

Rock Climbing Events 

Canyoneering Events

SCOA wishes to thank Stephen Le and Christian Rightler for their time and expertise.  If you have questions - ask them.  If they do not have the answer they can point you in the right direction!

Hey all you beginning canyoneering folks big update for YOU!

SCOA is super excited to announce some fanastic canyoneering deals supplied by Amaerican Canyoneering Association.  The American Canyoneering Association is offering SCOA killer deals on canyoneering classes. Starting this weekend in Chatsworth - Technical Canyoneering is for the person who wants to obtain in depth training in the sport of canyoneering. The specific course objectives are listed below. Normally $395 - SCOA members are in for $360 a savings of $35!  For those of you who just want the bare minimum Basics there is a Basic On Rope Skills Worksop normally $135 current SCOA Members pay $120.

Basic On Rope Skills Workshop

$135 regularly - $120 for current SCOA members

 This full-day workshop provides students with the personal canyoneering skills and techniques necessary to descend canyons with competent leaders.

Topics covered are taken from the ACA's Level 1 Skills Checklist including:

    * low impact canyoneering practices
    * equipment selection, use and care
    * knots and hitches
    * climbing, belaying and handlines
    * specialized rappelling techniques
    * adding friction mid-rappel
    * locking off on rappel
    * belaying a rappeller
    * pros and cons of self-belays
    * basic self-rescue
 

Technical Canyoneering Course

Regularly $395 - SCOA members are in for $360 a savings of $35!

 The American Canyoneering Association's extremely popular Technical Canyoneering Course has set the standard by which all other canyoneering courses are judged. This course provides students with the anchor, rigging and problem-solving skills and techniques they need to become safe, efficient and independent canyoneers.

Who should take this course? This course was designed primarily to meet the needs of recreational canyoneers, but also forms the training foundation for those planning to seek certification as a canyon leader or professional canyon guide.

Topics covered include:

• canyon topography and rating systems
• canyoneering style and ethics
• canyoneering gear selection, use and care
• climbing, belaying and handlines
• utilizing transient anchors for belays and hand lines
• how to evaluate and rig specialized canyoneering anchors and belay systems
• the importance and proper use of tension-releasing hitches and contingency anchors when rappelling into moving water
• rappelling and passive lowering systems
• efficient rope deployment and rigging
• group dynamics and problem solving
• pros and cons of using autoblocks or prusiks for self-belay
• locking off on rappel

Prerequisite: None

Lifetime ACA Membership Course includes lifetime membership in the American Canyoneering Association, which entitles you to course retakes, participation in national and international canyon rendezvous and access to our extensive technical canyoneering forums.

NOTE: Discounts are avaiable for current SCOA members only

Skydiving "Phases"

Today’s entry-level skydiver has multiple methods/student tracks for their first skydive: tandem, static line, accelerated freefall (AFF) and wind tunnel. Before we can discuss the pros and cons of each student track, we need to understand what happens during a skydive. For our discussion, skydiving is broken into five phases: suiting up, climbing to altitude, exiting the plane, free-falling and under parachute.

Suiting up involves inspecting your equipment and putting it on correctly. It sounds simple and it is. But it is important to get it right though. Forgetting your goggles or gloves can make an incredible experience not so incredible. Skydivers wear: a jumpsuit, a helmet, goggles, a harness or a parachute. If the weather is chilly, wearing gloves is a great idea too. You will need good dexterity to deploy your pilot chute and steer your main – do not forget your gloves!

Parachute attached and instructor(s) in tow, everyone will board the plane for the climb to altitude. Just like in an airliner, everyone has to put a seat belt on. Unlike an airline, you may or may not have a seat. Seats represent weight and extra weight means longer climbing times and more money out of the pilot’s pocket. Do not be alarmed if there are no seats. Find your assigned seat belt and buckle up.

Jump planes are designed to climb. Pilots who fly them are taught to fly at maximum performance. Good jump pilots will coax every bit of horsepower from the motors and as much lift as possible from the wings. The climb to altitude will be nothing like an airliner – hang on. Depending on type of plane, size of the “load”, and final jump altitude expect the climb to last 10-20 minutes.

Freefall is loud. You should expect speeds around 110-130 mph. At those speeds, it feels like you are resting on an air pillow. In freefall, look around and take in the scenery. Depending on where you jump in California, you can see the ocean and the snow in the mountains. If you can remember, ask your instructor to point out them out. Enjoy the ride; after all it is why you are here right?

Flying under parachute is the exact opposite of free fall. Things are quiet and peaceful. Instead of lying flat on your belly, you will be sitting upright suspended by your canopy. This is a great time to ask questions and take in the scenery. However most students are still swallowing their throats and processing what just happened.

For most, their first skydive was over in a quick rush of adrenaline. All told freefall was about a minute and flight under canopy 6-8 minutes.

What is next? Now that we know the phases, it is time to discuss your student track: tandem, static line, accelerated freefall (AFF) or wind tunnel. Each has distinctive features and depending on your perspective will be a pro or a con.

So you want to learn to skydive?

Perhaps you were bitten by the skydive ‘bug’ after watching a movie? Maybe you were playing a video game and one of the segments required you to skydive your character to safety? Regardless, you are bitten and the only ‘cure’ is to try skydiving – keep reading! Before we discuss methods to become involved with modern skydiving, lets take a look at skydiving’s origins.

History
According to United States Parachuting Association (USPA) the voluntary governing body of skydiving, skydiving has evolved quite a bit since, “Leonardo DaVinci’s pyramid-shaped, wooden framed parachute that Adrian Nichols jumped in the late 20th century.” USPA  Parachutes were used in World War I by observation balloon pilots as a means to escape their crippled craft. Later in World War II, military infantry units jumped into battle using parachutes. After the war, excess parachutes and people willing to jump them gave birth to the modern sport of skydiving.Parachutes used to be carried and deployed from the skydiver’s belly, opened round and were hard to steer. They were relatively heavy too. Early sport skydivers didn’t stay in the sport too long as injuries were common. Stressed backs from ‘hard’ parachute openings and knee injuries from challenging parachute landing falls (PLF) took a toll on the early sport skydiver.

Sport skydiving today
Modern parachutes are rectangular and take on the flying characteristics of a modern airplane wing. Today’s sport skydiver carries their parachute on their back, which increases skydiver stability during freefall. Packed and deployed properly, hard openings are a thing of the past. The modern sport parachute is designed for the skydiver to land on their feet and stay standing. The PLF and injuries associated with it are issues of the past.Skydiving has been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. In the last 20-30 years, application of new technology, and modern materials has made sport skydiving a safe and fun activity. Over the next week, we will discuss different disciplines associated with skydiving and how to get started.

What is next?
There are multiple entry points into the sport of skydiving: wind tunnel, tandem, static line and accelerated free-fall. Lets take a look at which one is best for you!