I just got done refreshing my swiftwater rescue training this weekend with Mike Mather. If anyone is contemplating doing this training (as anyone on the river should be) I highly recommend taking it through Mike.
www.matherrescue.com
Mike is super knowledgable and apparently has had tons of first hand experience, but the thing I really appreciated about Mike was the realworld application of the stuff he taught us. Rather than just being a safety Nazi he recognizes the realities of the risky sport we engage and teaches you how to deal effectively with the circumstances you find yourself in. His willingness to jump in the river repeatedly and put himself in real river rescue situations provides real life practice that I didn't get the last time I took a similar course.
Thanks again, Mike. Great course.
Bruno