Laura Kurup, Lead Instructor

Laura Kurup has 20 years of experience on whitewater including racing slalom on a national level and multi-day wilderness expeditions. Laura is an ACA Whitewater Kayaking (L4) Instructor, a Solo and Tandem Canoe (L4) Instructor, and a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor (L4). She is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR/AED, and Psychological First Response (PFR). Laura serves on the ACA’s Canoe Committee and the ACA’s Safety and Rescue Committee.

Laura regularly teaches swiftwater rescue, canoe and kayak on the Potomac River near DC and the Lower Yough in PA. She was recognized as ACA Instructor of the Month in December 2025 and featured on Anna Levesque’s Discomfort Zone Podcast in March 2026. Read Laura’s full bio on the PSI Instructors page, or follow @laurakurup on instagram for more.

Private Instruction is available on the Potomac near Washington, DC and the Lower Youghiogheny in Ohiopyle, PA. Whether you are a beginner or preparing for bigger water, private instruction can help you level up your skills. PSI instructors often use video analysis to help you see and understand your technique. Private instruction starts at $100 / hr with discounts for multiple paddlers.

Contact us to schedule your session!

Private Instruction

Upcoming Courses

Featured
Main Salmon Expedition
Jul 30
Main Salmon Expedition

$3100

Six days. 82 miles. The deepest canyon country in North America. The Main Salmon flows through the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48, and it's as challenging as it is beautiful - clear water, white sand beaches, and world-class rapids.

Gates of Lodore Expedition
Aug 9
Gates of Lodore Expedition

$2500

One of the most iconic multi-day river trips in the West. This remote expedition travels 44 miles on the Green River from Colorado to Utah, through Dinosaur National Monument.

Middle Fork of the Salmon (2027)
Jul 29
Middle Fork of the Salmon (2027)

$3500

Permits for this stretch of river are scarce! The Middle Salmon offers some of the most celebrated whitewater and stunning canyon scenery in the American West. Clear, cold water, granite walls, hot springs, and Class III-IV rapids make this an incredible trip.

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