Adventure Racing Camps Asheville

Adventure Racing Camps and Skills Certification Training

Book Your Adventure

Beginners to Advanced Programs available with most gear provided

Joe Moerschbaecher
Owner of Pura Vida Adventures

Instructor Bio

Joe Moerschbaecher, owner of Pura Vida Adventures, has years of experience as an adventure racer including successfully completing the four Primal Quests (three of which his team finished in the Top 20). He has also been on the winning team of numerous races including the Asheville Mountain Sports Festival, Endorphin Fix, Odyssey One Day Race, and Mega Dose. Joe has instructed at the Odyssey Adventure Racing Academy and worked as a course designer for the 2003 Beast of the East.

These past experiences, combined with knowledge gained as an outdoor instructor who has taken courses through the American Mountain Guide Association, American Canyoneering Academy, and the American Canoe Association, allow Joe to provide comprehensive skill and knowledge based programs specifically designed for adventure racers.

Swiftwater Rescue

American Canoe Association Swiftwater Rescue Courses

The Experience

These courses are designed to provide you with competence and confidence on whitewater. Topics include, but are not limited to, outfitting, water reading, paddling techniques, rescue of a capsized boat, portaging, identifying river hazards, rope throw, stabilization lines, and whitewater swimming. We also offer paddling courses that focus on sea kayak instruction and self rescue techniques.

This course is recommended for people who have some previous experience and are looking to simply review skills.
Minimum 2 people, Max 8
$225 per person

This course is recommended for people with less experience on the water and provides the ability to have more time to practice necessary skills. Course includes a paddling trip (inflatable kayak) on the Upper Green River or French Broad River (up to class IV rapids) where we will learn and apply required skills throughout the day.
Minimum 2 people, Max 8
$350 per person

Adventure Racing Camps Asheville: Ropes and Climbing Courses

Adventure Racing Camps Asheville: Classes and Certification Courses

The Experience

This course is designed to provide you with competence and confidence on ropes and rocks. It covers all skills adventure racers are expected to know including: proper gear and how it should be rigged, rappelling and ascending techniques, fixed lines, passing knots, prussic knots, and Tyrolean traverse technique.
In addition to these courses Pura Vida Adventures also offers additional opportunities for you to become comfortable using ropes by discussing and practicing efficient climbing techniques and showing how they translate to more effective and faster climbing.

Minimum 2 people, Max 8
$225 a person

Total Cost $350 a person

Land Navigation/ Orienteering

Map and Compass

The Experience

Goal 1:How a compass works.
Goal 2: To orient a map using a compass and land features.
Goal 3: To name and identify topographic features on a map and use them to assist with navigating.
Goal 4: Adapt navigational skills to a variety of weather conditions.
Goal 5: Learn to use and plot UTM coordinates.
Apply these concepts in the field and show the ability to teach these concepts in the field in the context of adventure racing.
Programs available for beginners to advance

$225 a person

$400 a person includes classroom instruction, day field navigation, and night time navigation field exercise

6-7 hours navigation and instruction each day $350 a person, classroom instruction, day of field of exercise, second day longer field exercise and classroom session.

Adventure Racing Camps Asheville

The Experience

Pura Vida Adventures also offers adventure racing camps for groups as small as 2 people. These camps can range in length from 2-5 days and can be customized to meet your needs. We also offer open enrollment five day and three day camps in the Fall and Spring.
Five Day and three day Adventure Racing Camps
Schedule your course by email contact@pvadventures.com or calling 772-579-0005
Focused on Beginner and intermediate racers looking to gain the skills and knowledge to make the jump to the next level of competition.
Instruction in Whitewater Paddling, Ropes, Navigation, Mountain Biking, Race training and logistics planning, Mountain Biking, River Rescue, Flatwater Paddling, Nutrition, and ending with a 6 hour adventure race.
Does not include food and lodging, however many accomodations are available in Brevard from cabins, hotels to camping.
Most equipment is provided.r that is waist deep.

$900 per person 5 day, $500 per person 3 day

These courses are designed to provide you with competence and confidence on whitewater. Topics include, but are not limited to, outfitting, water reading, paddling techniques, rescue of a capsized boat, portaging, identifying river hazards, rope throw, stabilization lines, and whitewater swimming.

Participation in lecture and hands on learning scenarios regarding various medical issues including, but not limited to: head injuries, fractures and splinting, patient care, basic life support, wound care, sprains, trauma, shock, medical conditions, spine stabilization, and scene assessment.

Instruction in paddle stroke technique, basic rescue skills and techniques for entering and exiting the boat, as well as introduction to necessary equipment, and advanced rescue skills such as boat over boat rescue, and self rescue with paddle float.

Completion of land navigation course Topics included:
Goal 1:How a compass works.
Goal 2: To orient a map using a compass and land features.
Goal 3: To name and identify topographic features on a map and use them to assist with navigating.
Goal 4: Adapt navigational skills to a variety of weather conditions.
Goal 5: Learn to use and plot UTM coordinates.
Outcome: Ability to apply these concepts in the field in the context of adventure racing.

This course is designed to provide you with competence and confidence on ropes and rocks. It covers all skills adventure racers are expected to know including: proper gear and how it should be rigged, rappelling and ascending techniques, fixed lines, passing knots, prussic knots, and Tyrolean traverse technique.

This program focuses more on instruction in technical riding and includes longer climbs and more technical and aggressive down hills it can be shaped to suite the needs of the adventure race participant. It includes instruction on bike maintenance: changing flat tires, adjusting breaks, and additional repairs.

This covers the information on what you need for adventure racing and what you do not need. What things should no adventure racer go without and what things are not necessary and just add additional weight. This course includes items useful for emergencies and items that just add weight and slow you down as a racer. This course is also taught in relation to race climate, specific discipline, and specific race length.

The concepts of what racers should eat in relation to climate, race length, discipline being competed in, and environment are covered. Other topics covered are the strength of various food groups in enhancing energy level and performance including use of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Hydration techniques and supplement consumption, such as electrolytes are also covered.
Adventure Racing Camps Asheville

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions or to discuss the course more in depth.

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