Wild Sky Guides Announces ICA Spring Training Courses in Costa Rica February 2026.
When: Late February – March 2nd 2026
Where: Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica
What: ICA Direct Access Guide Course and Auxiliary Rope Techniques Module.
Wild Sky Guides was born out of a mission to promote safety canyoning by being a bridge between American and European canyoning communities.
In pursuit of that mission Wild Sky Guides is launching our 2026 Spring Training initiative in the world-class canyons of Costa Rica.
In partnership with our hosts; the team of professionals at DROPS Canyoning in Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica and the International Canyoning Academy (ICA), we are offering two professional-level courses in canyon rigging and rescue. This is an opportunity to earn an internationally recognized ICA certification and become part of the foundation for a landmark project: The Canyon Games.
Here are the details on the courses:
Course 1: ICA Auxiliary Guide Rope Techniques Module
This intensive 8-day course is focused on developing mastery in efficiency and safety. Participants will engage in a deep dive into advanced rigging, rapid rescue techniques, and the core principles of risk management essential for every serious canyoneer.
- Dates: February 23rd – March 2nd
- Focus Areas: Efficient rigging, fast rescue techniques, and introductory risk management concepts.
- Certification: ICA Auxiliary Guide Rope Module Certification
Course 2: ICA Lead Guide - Direct Access
This is the Direct Access path for professionals to earn the ICA Lead Guide professional certification. The 12-day course begins with three days of intensive “homologation” to align all participants with proven ICA rope technique standards. The program then progresses into a comprehensive leadership curriculum, focusing on high-level risk management, group dynamics, and complex rescue scenarios.
- Dates: February 19th – March 2nd
- Focus Areas: ICA rope standards, advanced risk management, and rescue techniques for professional guides.
- Certification: ICA Lead Guide Certification
Prerequisites and Commitment to Excellence
These are advanced courses designed for dedicated canyoneers. To ensure a high-caliber learning environment, a minimum skill level is required for entry. Aspirants must submit a video performing a set of timed rope techniques. This standard ensures that all participants arrive with a shared foundation and a serious commitment to learning, regardless of their years of experience.
The Vision: The Canyon Games
This Spring Training serves as the official launch for a project we hope will become a staple of the canyoning community for years to come: The Canyon Games. Our vision is to establish a premier, training-focused canyon rescue and risk management competition in the US for the summer of 2026. This course will use the concepts that ICA has developed for their own European canyoning competitions. We will take those rules, best practices and concepts and design our own competitions.
- Become a Founder: Anyone who completes the 8-day Rope Systems Module in Costa Rica will be eligible for a future ICA workshop on designing our own Canyon Games in the Pacific Northwest. The date for this workshop will be determined based on participant interest.
- The Objective: Our goal is to leverage the proven ICA framework to establish our own event. This is our opportunity to unify around a common set of standards and cultivate a community of canyoneers skilled enough to compete internationally while fostering a robust competition circuit here in Washington.
- A Challenge for All: The Canyon Games are being designed to challenge every participant, whether you are driven by competition with others or focused on achieving your own personal best.
Future ICA Courses: September 2026
Pricing details are being finalized and will be announced soon, along with the specific rope skills assessment criteria.
For those unable to join us in Costa Rica, we will also be announcing another ICA Training course in Seattle next September.
Finally, our signature Canyon Challenges will be available in Costa Rica for interested school groups. We encourage inquiries for available dates.
This initiative represents a pivotal moment for the canyoneering community. We invite you to join us in elevating our collective skills and building the future of the sport, together.
Stay tuned for more details.