With Nouria Newman & Jacques Gilardone
Valsesia, Italy | May 2–7, 2026 | Level: III–V | Space limited to 10 participants
The Ultimate Progress Week in Whitewater Kayaking
One week before the kayak festival “Boss of Valsesia” , join two of Europe's most respected river coaches — Jacques Gilardone , founder of Kajack and professional high-speed kayaking instructor, and Nouria Newman , multiple world champion and the world’s strongest female kayaker — to improve your technique, sharpen your mindset, and prepare you to perform at your best.
Whether your goal is to compete at the festival or simply paddle with more control and safety, This is not just any course: it's a masterclass about river reading, precision technique, and mind flow, set in one of Europe's most spectacular river valleys.
Plan
Day 1 – Reading the Water
Sesia Classico (Class III)
Let's start with connection: understanding each participant's goals, aligning expectations, and reviewing the fundamentals of technique and safety.
A full day of technical warm-up, focusing on timing, posture, and clean lines.
Day 2 – Precision & Power
Lower Sermenza (Class III+/IV)
Let's raise the bar by working on boof technique, paddling timing, and position during passes.
Personalized video analysis at the end of the day.
Day 3 – The Art of Efficiency
Mastallone (Class IV)
A day dedicated to fluid paddling — learning to do more with less.
The goal: minimal shock, maximum control. Feel the flow instead of fighting it, learning to align your body and kayak with the current.
Day 4 – Air & Water
Piode–Scopello section + Gronda and Sorba waterfalls
Morning: double descent including the Piode jump (5 m).
Afternoon: Masterclass on boofing, air control, and body positioning on slides and waterfalls—how to get your kayak into the air and land with control.
Adrenaline and precision guaranteed.
Day 5 – Race Mindset & Power
Sermenza Gorges & Alpin Sprint section
In preparation for the races of Boss of Valsesia , we will work on specific competition techniques: power generation, acceleration, efficient line selection and mental focus under pressure.
Video analysis and mental preparation session included.
Day 6 – The Final Test
Egua & Sermenzino (Class IV+/V)
The last day is pure progression: we explore the most technical streams in the valley.
An opportunity to put into practice everything you've learned—lines, reading, concentration, and confidence.
A perfect ending to control, trust and connection .
Main Themes
- Advanced whitewater kayaking techniques.
- Boof mechanics and in-air control.
- River reading and hydrodynamics.
- Mental flow and race strategies.
- Safety, self-rescue, and team communication.
More than a Course
There Kajack Masterclass It's a complete immersion in the art of kayaking from every angle — six days of focus, feedback, and flow.
Small group, lots of energy, zero ego.
Details & Reservations
Level: For Class III canoeists, confidence in Class IV
Date: May 2–7, 2026 (6 days)
Group: maximum 10 participants
Price: €1,500 per person
Equipment: staff (rental available on request)
Base: Boss Kayak Shop, Scopa, Valsesia (Italy)