Advanced Canoe Poling Skills

General Learning Outcome

The poler will expand their knowledge and skills to river reading. They will demonstrate effectively the use of a pole in optional depth conditions (shallow water) and to leverage slow moving water when navigating upstream and downstream.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

Intro Canoe Poling, or comparable skills and experience, at the discretion of the course instructor.

Paddling Experience

Solo moving water knowledge and paddling skills would be an asset.

Minimum Course Length

10-14 hours minimum.

Class Ratio

1 instructor:6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Solo Advanced Canoe Poling Instructor.

Course Location

Class II-III shallow rivers.

Environmental Conditions

Little to no wind.

Participant Assessment

Polers should leave the course demonstrating confidence, control, finesse, and the ability to move the canoe where they want to go on rivers up to Class 3. Polers are encouraged to continue learning and aware of their individual limitations.

Skills and Manoeuvres

The review of any or all skills from Introduction to Canoe Poling is at the discretion of the instructor.

All manoeuvres are to be performed on Class II-III rivers. Polers will be tested on one poling side only.

While there is a great deal to learn at this level, activity should concentrate on progress, skill development and finesse. Emphasis will be placed on proper trim, downstream tilt, stubbing to slow, stopping, back ferries and the introduction of reverse eddy turns.

Review Manoeuvres

At the direction of the instructor, polers will review and practice the introduction skills and manoeuvres on the appropriate Class II and Class III shallow rivers.

• Upstream Travel
• Front Ferry
• Side Slip
• Downstream Travel
• Snubbing
• Back Ferry
• Stopping and Holding in a Current
• Eddy Turns
• Peel Out
• S-Turn

Knowledge

Principles Of Moving Water

The participant should be able to competently discuss any of the following topics:

River topography and its effects on the flow of water including:

• river gradient,
• speed of water in typical flow conditions,
• flow of water around obstacles,
• speed and direction of water in an eddy and how an eddy can be used to the advantage of,
• the poler in ascending or descending a river, and

Causes and characteristics of:

• standing waves,
• downstream V’s,
• curling waves, and
• hydraulics

Trimming Principles

Participants will describe the importance of trim in poling and how it affects the performance of a canoe for upstream and downstream poling.

River Reading

The participant will walk the shore of a rapid describing the various moving water features and hazards, describe the route of choice through the rapid, and why the route was chosen. A thorough knowledge of all river obstacles, even those not present in this rapid, is required. The skill of river reading is to include the ability to utilize the pole in best depth conditions (for example, shallower water) and to utilize the slow water in ascending and descending a river.

Given a topographical map, the participant should be able to determine the gradient of a river, the possible access points, escape routes, the trip distance and time, the surrounding landscape, etc.

River Difficulty

The participant will demonstrate knowledge with the “International River Classification System” and use it to classify various sections of the river where the course takes place.

Hydrology

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the effects of increased speed; volume and the elevation change of the river.

River Features and Current Differentials

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of how river features and their current differentials can aid in manoeuvring the canoe upstream and downstream.

Topographic Maps

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the basic components of maps.

Portaging, Lining and Tracking

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of how to move the canoe downstream and upstream on land and on the water.

Risk Management

At the direction of the instructor, participants will review and practice the safety items:

• river signals/communication,
• swimming and rescues,
• line toss and rescues.
• self rescue,
• communication,
• canoe rescues,
• pole pins & recovery, and
• pinned canoe recovery (directional pulls and Z-drags).