Intermediate Big Canoe Coastal Leader (Endorsement)
This course follows the Paddle Canada Coastal Canoeing program using the big canoe versus a tandem canoe. As such, the Coastal Canoeing program has Lake Tandem canoe prerequisites to its levels and does not attempt to “re-teach” the skills and theory of that program but only to review those elements in the context of a big canoe within coastal canoeing.
This course does not deal with the rounding of significant headlands or paddling long stretches of exposed coastline with no landing opportunities. The program does not consider those locations as “typical” recreational coastal canoeing locations.
Instructors can and are encouraged to utilize more time than the required minimum to assist the participant in achieving the outcomes of each level.
Prerequisites
Age
At least 16 years of age.
Skills Certification
Intermediate Lake Tandem or comparable skills and experience at the discretion of course instructor.
Intermediate Big Canoe Leader.
Paddling Experience
Experience in a big canoe in a coastal canoeing environment or comparable skills and experience at the discretion of course instructor.
Other Recommended Training
None
Minimum Course Length
16 hours minimum.
Class Ratio
1 instructor: 12 students (based on size of big canoe).
Minimum Staff and Certification
One Big Canoe Coastal Canoeing Instructor.
Course Location
Sheltered waters with easy landing options. No open crossings. An example would be a harbour open at one side. Some refracted swell and / or small breaking waves can be present.
Environmental Conditions
Light wind (0-11 knots) Sea state calm to light chop.
Participant Assessment
Activities focus on safety and comfortable paddling along a shoreline. Successful participants must be able to identify appropriate paddling locations in coastal environments suitable to their level. The participant will be familiar with basic symbols, distance on nautical charts and use marine and land forecasts and a knowledge of land-wind interaction to interpret the impact of that forecast on the local coastal canoeing environment. Activity should concentrate on progress, teamwork and an awareness of the need for future learning.
Paddlers should leave the course encouraged to continue their learning and be aware of their individual limitations.
Teaching Resource
See Teaching Notes and Resources for Big Canoe Courses for more details and resources.
Skills and Manoeuvres
All manoeuvres shall be demonstrated while paddling along a coastline. Manoeuvres including forward straight-line paddling, tight pivot turns, side slipping, improved stopping skills, figure 8s, and reverse straight-line will be reviewed; however, the focus in all levels of the Coastal Canoe Program is on application of Big Canoe Leader skills. Manoeuvres shall be demonstrated in “real life” situations along a coastline, for example, reverse straight line out of a sea cave or rock garden.