Advanced Big Canoe Leader

General Learning Outcome

Participants who complete the course will be confident in leading a crew of novices to tilt the canoe, on lakes while commanding and sterning the canoe. Participants will be confident in leading self-rescues and demonstrate safe paddling practices and etiquette.

Mandate of the Advanced Big Canoe Leader

The Advanced Big Canoe Leader is certified to:

• conduct Intermediate Big Canoe Paddler Skills courses, and
• conduct Advanced Big Canoe clinics.

Prerequisites

Age

At least 16 years of age.

Skills Certification

Introduction to Lake Tandem skills or equivalent skills at the discretion of the course instructor.

Intermediate Big Canoe Leader

Instructor Certification

None.

Instruction Experience

None.

Paddling Skills

Some experience paddling a big canoe with different groups.

Other Recommended Training

None.

Minimum Course Length

8 hours

Class Ratio

1 instructor:12 participants

Certification Awarded

Paddle Canada Advanced Big Canoe Leader.

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Paddle Canada Advanced Big Canoe Instructor.

Minimum Number of Registered Instructor Candidates

This instructor course must have a minimum of three registered candidates to qualify. This is to ensure the candidate experiences an appropriate level of group dynamics and can demonstrate competence in managing those dynamics. This policy will be strictly enforced.

Environmental Conditions

Courses should be taught on a pond, lake or ocean front with minimal waves, and winds up to 20 km/hr.

Participant Assessment

• 80% competence in all strokes and manoeuvres and successful completion of Intermediate course layout with inside tilts (see recommended course layout, flexibility given to suite location as long as all aspects of buoy course are present).
• Participants can give commands to run a big canoe.
• Participants can paddle in the stern with a group of novices.
• Can perform a rescue with a flipline and re-entry stirrup or boarding device.

Skills and Manoeuvres

Participants will demonstrate the following manoeuvres using the appropriate paddle strokes. The Leader will initiate all manoeuvres prior to engaging their crew members. Manoeuvres are done with inside tilts and bow assisted strokes when required.

Turns Under Power

The leader will initiate a turn under power prior to giving clear and concise commands to ensure the canoe is turning in the desired direction. Following up with an active stern stroke, an additional bow draw stroke and commands to tighten the turn.

Slalom Course

Participants will demonstrate proper cadence and stroke technique paddling through a 4 buoy slalom course layout with inside tilts.

Advanced Course Layout (inside tilts required)

Course layout may be altered to meet the needs of the environment/location or progression of the course.

Docking

Participants will approach a dock, at 90 degrees, initiate a turn towards dock and then give clear and concise commands to ensure the canoe carves slowly towards the dock, then flattens out alongside the dock and stops at the appropriate location. The canoe must not hit alongside the dock.

Switching Sides Under Power

Participants will coordinate and command their crew to switch paddling sides while under power.

Knowledge

Big Canoes

Participants will review the Intermediate items and discuss:

• paddling concepts (torso rotation, stack hands, paddle power face and nonpower face),
• the M.I.T.H. concept (Momentum, initiate a turn, tilt the canoe and hold the tilt until the desired destination),
• fliplines and re-entry stirrups or devices,
• varied length and styles of big canoes, and
• local or national history on big canoes.

Commands

Participants will review the Intermediate commands as necessary and demonstrate the following commands clearly and concisely.

Risk Management

Lifejacket Policy - Always Wear It!

Participants will demonstrate how to properly choose, wear and secure a lifejacket.

Managing the Risk

Participants will review the Intermediate items as needed and discuss the following:

• course locations (limitations and hazards)
• additional hazards (other boaters)
• sudden weather changes, wind and waves
• paddler positions for different weather conditions
• bringing in injured, heavy or hypothermic paddlers
• canoe assisted rescues: rafting up, wind or wave blocking
• advanced communication devices
• additional first aid training

Self-Rescue

Participants will practice at least 2 flips and re-entry into the big canoe with a re-entry device in more difficult conditions (for example, wind and waves).

See Teaching Notes and Resources for Big Canoe Courses for more details and information.