Introduction to Canoe Poling Skills

Emphasis is on skills and safety. This level is to introduce participants to canoe poling on Class I and Class II water and then expanding knowledge and skill so participants should be able to have greater control and precision in more challenging moving water conditions.

General Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, participants should feel comfortable when standing and performing basic strokes to manoeuvre the canoe where they want it to go.

Prerequisites

Paddling Skills

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 Canoe Poling Instructor

Course Location

Flatwater progressing to Class II rivers (less than 1.0 metre depth).

Environmental Conditions

Little to no wind.

Participant Assessment

Polers should leave the course demonstrating confidence and the ability to move the canoe where they want to go. Focus is on safety and comfort poling on rivers up to Class II. While there is a great deal to learn at this level, activities should concentrate on progress and an awareness of the need for future learning. Polers are encouraged to continue learning and aware of their individual limitations.

Skills and Manoeuvres

In general, power strokes, sweep strokes, cross draws & kayak strokes are the most important strokes while prys are of limited use. The poler should be aware of caution in use of bow prys. An on-side draw is not effective and hence, not a canoe poling stroke.

All manoeuvres are to be performed by a solo poler on Class I-II. Testing will be done on one poling side only. PFD/lifejackets are mandatory, and helmets are required to be worn on Class II rivers.

Polers will be introduced to the following skills:

• Entering a canoe and launching the canoe
• Where to stand in the canoe to suit various conditions
• Stance and switches (hop): square (modern) vs diagonal (traditional)
• Radical turns (skid and carved)
• Pivots
• Boat tilt

Balance

The poler will rock the canoe from side to side with feet planted against the chine of the canoe. Upper body shall remain erect, with rocking motion being generated from the hips down (movement of lower body, legs and feet).

Standing Jump Forward

Poler will demonstrate the proper method of changing position in a canoe by the method of shuffling forward and backwards with short hops, while feet are spread wide on the bottom of the canoe.

Forward Straight Course

Poler will travel forward on flat water for a distance of 50 meters using forward. Travel shall be in continuous motion and movements shall flow smoothly while travelling in a 3-meter corridor.

Right and Left Turns

While traveling forward at a constant rate of speed, the poler shall initiate and complete a 90-degree turn to the left and then a 90-degree turn to the right using appropriate manoeuvres.

S-Turns

While travelling at a constant rate of speed, the poler shall perform a turn to the left followed by a turn to the right, such that the turns are linked in what is described as an S-turn.

Sideslipping

Poler will sideslip the canoe 5 meters to the offside using appropriate manoeuvres and proper canoe tilt. Canoe should be tilted so that the leading edge is elevated. This manoeuvre is to be completed when the canoe is stationary and also when the canoe is travelling at a constant rate of speed.

Stopping the Canoe in Motion

While travelling forward (and reverse) at a constant rate of speed the poler shall demonstrate the ability to stop the canoe using appropriate manoeuvres.

Canoe must not veer off course by more than 15 degrees during this manoeuvre and should not sideslip by any more than 1.0 meter.

Reverse Straight Line

Poler will travel in a reverse direction on flat water for a distance of 50 meters using reverse strokes. Travel shall be in continuous motion and movements shall flow smoothly while travelling in a 3-meter corridor.

Walking Forwards and Backwards in a Canoe

Poler will demonstrate balance by walking from bow to stern of the canoe using the canoe pole for balance.

Upstream Travel

Poler will travel upstream a distance of 100 meters using appropriate power and corrective strokes. Travel shall flow smoothly. Poler is to use available river features to his/her advantage during the manoeuvre.

• Front ferry
• Sideslip
• Stopping and holding in a current

Front Ferry

The poler begins in an eddy with the canoe facing upriver. The canoe will move across the main current of the rapid at a distance of at least 20 meters and return; the canoe should not travel downriver more than 5 meters. The canoe is pointing upriver during this manoeuvre. The canoe should be moving slower than the current. The canoe should show good tilt to its downriver side, keep a proper and consistent angle in relation to the current, and maintain a constant speed.

Side Slip

In a rapid and travelling upstream, the canoeist will move the canoe laterally, at least 3 canoe widths and then back to the original line of travel.

Downstream Travel

Poler shall demonstrate control of the canoe while descending a 100 meter long Class 2 rapid using appropriate manoeuvres including or over a longer stretch of river during a river descent.

• Stopping the canoe during the descent
• Side slipping the canoe a distance of 5 meters
• Perform one eddy turn (conventional or reverse is acceptable), and peel-out
• Perform a 10-meter front ferry while losing no more than 3 meters to downstream movement
• Perform a 10-meter back ferry while losing no more than 3 meters to downstream

Snubbing

The poler uses short poling jabs (snubs) to the bottom of the river in order to decrease speed, stop the canoe and/or control direction.

Back Ferry

The poler will move across the main current of the rapid a distance of at least 20 meters and return; the canoe should not travel downriver more than 5 meters. The canoe is pointing downriver during this manoeuvre.

The canoe:

• should be moving slower than the current,
• should show good tilt to its downriver side,
• keep a proper and consistent angle in relation to the current, and
• maintain a constant speed.

Stopping and Holding in a Current

While ascending and descending a 100-meter long class 2 rapid, the poler shall demonstrate the ability to stop the canoe using appropriate manoeuvres.

Eddy Turns

In a rapid, the poler will initiate and execute a turn from the main current into an eddy using both conventional and reverse eddy turn techniques. The manoeuvres begin with a poler travelling downriver towards an eddy.

• Conventional – the canoe should: approach the eddy at the proper angle of entry (usually 45o or larger to the eddy line), enter the eddy no more than one metre from the obstacle creating the eddy, have good forward momentum into eddy, and show proper and an adequate tilt in relation to the current. The diameter of the arc creation by the turn should be no more than half a canoe length and be sharp and consistent. Excessive pivoting and skidding should be avoided.
• Reverse - the canoeist should be descending past the obstacle while controlling the speed of descent and angle of the canoe. At the appropriate time the poler shall slow the canoe, adjust the angle and propel the canoe backwards into the eddy using appropriate boat tilt (tilt change) on entering & crossing the eddy line.

Peel Out

The poler will initiate and execute a turn into the main current from an eddy. The manoeuvre begins with the canoeists in an eddy, facing upriver. The canoe should: approach the main current at the proper angle of exit (usually 45° or smaller to the eddy line), exit the eddy no more than one metre from the obstacle creating the eddy and show proper and adequate tilt in relation to the current. The diameter of the arc created by the turn should be no more than half a canoe length and be sharp and consistent. Excessive pivoting and skidding should be avoided. Pole plant must be on downstream side and well behind the poler to avoid stalling or tripping over the pole.

S-Turn

The canoeist begins this manoeuvre in an eddy. The canoeist will peel out into the main current, pole diagonally across the current, and enter an eddy on the other side.

The criteria for these moves are as described above for the peel out and eddy turn (excluding arc diameter in a peel out).

Kayak Stroke

The pole is centred on the body; the hands are shoulder width apart, with knuckles up and knees slightly bent. The mechanics of each stroke are about the same as a standard paddle stroke including catch, (using up to 1.0 meter of the pole instead of the paddle blade), power (including torso rotation as well as a knee bend on side) and recovery (which is also the setup of the catch for the next stroke on the opposite side). A loose handgrip (“ok grip for both hands”) will prevent hand fatigue and result in a more effective reach.

Power Forward Stroke

Objective of this stroke is to propel the canoe in a straight, forward motion. The first step is to place pole tip on the bottom, with the pole slanted 45° back from the hip. Pole line is parallel to the centre line of the canoe with the hands over or outside the gunnel. Force is exerted on the pole such that the propulsion of the canoe is forward and parallel to the centre line of the canoe. Push straight back, using arms and body rotation while “walking” hands over each other to the top end of the pole.

Leave the pole in the water to rudder for small corrections.

For recovery of the pole

• pool cue recovery: make a ring with the top hand around the pole. Use the bottom hand to flick or shoot the pole forward for resetting and catch with the top hand and plant for next power stroke, and
• make a circle around pole with the bottom hand. Flick or shoot the pole forward with the top hand, catch with the bottom hand and plant for next power stroke.

Rudder Turn

This turn is used for a turn when the canoe is in motion. The canoe pole is inserted in the water in the standing position of the poler and is used to rudder or steer the canoe in the desired direction. For on-side turns this stroke is highly effective especially when the hip is used as a fulcrum while the off- side hand applies a pulling force.

Bottom Stern Pry

Frequently used as a “J” for an on-side correction or turn at the end of a power stroke. With both hands outside the gunwales and the pole end on the riverbed, the pole is positioned to contact the canoe skin or gunwale, and then the hands are pulled sharply in-board toward the body. The stern moves away from the pole.

Water Stern Pry

Pole is used as rudder (reverse sweep) but pried sharply off the poler’s hip. The water stern pry is a turning stroke that pivots the canoe to the on side.

Forward Sweep

Using water resistance or bottom plant with the pole extended as far forward as possible and hands over the gunwale, plant on the bottom or insert end of pole into the water. Rotate the torso slowly toward the stern of the canoe while extending the pole tip as far as possible. As the pole and torso rotate toward the stern the force is transferred though the hips, legs and feet so that the bow swings away from the pole and the stern travels toward the pole. (Same action as the solo paddle sweep)

Reverse Sweep

The reverse of the forward sweep with the pole begins at the stern of the canoe. The reverse sweep can be assisted by firstly utilizing the full length of the pole and then placing the pole against the poler hip (as a fulcrum) and pulling with the offside hand (top hand). The poler should be aware what part of the reverse arc is most effective.

Cross Bow Draw

Pole is planted on the offside, at a 45° – 90° forward angle (as far forward as possible) as a result of upper body rotation to the offside to the canoe with both the top and bottom hands extended in front of the body. The bottom hand applies pressure across and toward centreline of canoe (a pull) while the top hand applies pressure away from the body (a push), causing the bow of the canoe to travel in an arc toward the planted pole.

(Note: Maybe a waterway bottom plant or a water plant in calm water.)

Teaching Note

Participants have a tendency to utilize the pole to perform on-side draws which, as stated, are ineffective.

Stopping

With the body bent forward, knees bent, the arms extended and the top hand at shoulder height, the pole is pushed forward parallel to the centre line of the canoe and as close to the gunwale as possible. As the pole contacts the bottom, the bottom hand pushes up on the pole, allowing the flex of the pole to absorb some of the shock. (The poler should be aware why the bottom hand pushes up on the pole for safety.) The arms and body absorb the remainder of the shock, stopping or greatly reducing the boats forward momentum. The pole is recovered straight backward to reduce the danger of a pinned pole and a second and third stopping stroke is applied as necessary. In swift water, strokes may be applied on alternating sides to help avoid and to maintain the boats line to the current.

Aggressive Power Turns (left & right, turning under power)

The most effective means of turning the canoe while under power is to use forward or reverse sweeps (depending on which direction you want to turn the canoe). Emphasis will be on low pole position (parallel to the water surface) and using as much pole length as possible.

Turning to the pole side

• Turning to the pole side: begin a standard power stroke with the pole touching the gunnel. As power is applied, the hands are drawn sharply across the body, jamming the pole on the gunnel and forcing the stern away from the pole. The canoe should move forward and the bow should turn sharply toward the pole side.

Turning to the offside pole side

• An offside turn under power: plant pole away from the stern. As power is applied, the bottom hand pulls in and the top hand pushes away. As the canoe moves forward the hand action on the pole draws the stern toward the pole & turns the canoe away from the pole side.

Reverse Power Stroke

Plant pole approximately 45° to the poler ahead of the poler and parallel to the centre line of the canoe. Apply force pushing off the bottom maintaining the parallel line to the centre line of the canoe.

Hand Over Hand or Windmill Stroke (done from square stance)

The stroke begins as a standard forward stroke. As the power phase of the stroke is completed the bottom hand releases the pole and grasps is loosely with the knuckles down to the water while the top hand draws the pole back and up in a partial recovery. When the bottom hand is near the middle of the pole, the top hand pushes the pole toward the water beside the poler, while the bottom hand lifts and serves as a pivot, allowing the top of the pole to drop vertically into the water beside the poler hip. The forward momentum of the boat should place the pole at the proper angle behind poler. Replacing the top hand on the pole and applying a normal power stroke begins the next stroke. Variation: Switch sides with each stroke to reduce the need for a steering phase

Pry (Bow)

Usually done one-handed with the on-side hand. The pole is inserted under the canoe and as far forward as possible. The on-side hand, holding the pole, is extended as far outside the gunwale as possible. With the pole planted firmly on the bottom and in contact with the side of the boat the pole is pulled sharply toward the poler, forcing the bow of the boat away from the pole.

*Caution! All prys should be employed cautiously in order to avoid pole jamming. Pole jamming may result in any or all of the following: falls, pole breakage, loss of pole or a capsize.

Knowledge

Participants will discuss the following:

• canoe parts (include pivot point, centre line, low centre of gravity, etc.),
• types of canoes and poles and pole storage,
• canoe characteristics and outfitting (for example, padding) as they relate to poling - trimming principles (passengers, pets, gear): flatwater and wind,
• poling grips and stances,
• poling strokes,
• poling accessories (pads, gloves, helmet (optional), proper dress, etc.),
• pole making (optional),
• Lifts, carries and transporting of canoes,
• sport, recreational and traditional poling,
• down river boat tilt,
• spare pole stowage,
• river classification, and
• rescue organization.

Poling Heritage

Participants will describe the historical and modern use for canoe poling.

Types of Canoes and Poles

Participants will describe the physical characteristics of a canoe pole such as materials, length, diameter, and shoes.

Care and Maintenance of Poles

Participant will describe how to care for various types of poles.

How Canoe Characteristics Affect Poling

Participants will explain how the design of a canoe, its shape, width and length affect its ease for poling.

Trimming Principles

Participants will describe the importance of trim in poling and how it affects the performance of a canoe for flatwater: forward and backward directions.

Poling Stances and Grips

Participants will demonstrate the difference between square and diagonal poling stances and uses of batters and kayak grips. Poler shall describe when each will be used.

Poling Accessories

Poler shall list and describe the purpose of typical poling accessories that make the sport more comfortable and easier to perform. Poler shall describe different types of pole shoes and tips and shall describe when each would be used.

Poling Stances and Movement in Boat

Diagonal (traditional) stance

• The rear foot is in the chine of the boat on the side where the poling occurs.
• The front foot is at shoulder with, 45° and just on the offside of the centre line of the canoe.
• Knees are slightly bent.
• When the poler switches sides, the stance is switched to match the power side as described above.

Square (sport) stance

• Each foot is placed in or near the chine of the boat and hips are perpendicular to the centre line of the canoe.
• Stance is moved backward and forwards more for trimming purposes but foot position, relative to each other, remains relatively constant.

Movement in canoe is accomplished by small hops, forward and backward.

Principles of Moving Water

The participant will demonstrate knowledge 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
• ledges.

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 (shallower water) and to utilize the slow water in ascending and descending a river.

Given a topographical map, the participant will demonstrate knowledge of how 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 of the "International River Classification System" and use it to classify various sections of the river where the course takes place.

Risk Management

The participants will demonstrate knowledge of the following safety items:

• coice, fit & wearing of PFD/lifejacket (dependent on prior experience of students),
• hypothermia, hyperthermia, hydration,
• retrieving a swamped canoe,
• canoe over canoe rescue,
• parallel rescue,
• communications,
• personal gear and comfort, and
• safety gear and boat dressing (include DOT regulations) - Equipment List.

Safety

Participants will demonstrate the following:

• self-rescue,
• river signals/communication, and
• pole pins & recovery.

Safety Procedures

If required by the course instructor, participants will review the safety procedures as outlined in the Introduction to Moving Water Program.

Participants must also identify potential hazards in a variety of canoeing situations and state appropriate preventative safety procedures (risk management).

Communications

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of and will employ appropriate communication signals within the group while on this course. These communication signals may be by voice, whistle, hand, and/or pole signals, decided upon by the group.

Swimming a Rapid

The participant will swim through a Class 1-2 rapid wearing a PFD/lifejacket and helmet. The participant should show the proper swimming position and demonstrate proper body position in relation to the current and where necessary, utilize appropriate back paddling with arms. The participant must appear calm and relaxed.

Canoe Rescues

Participants should be able to pole out to a capsized canoe in a Class II rapid and bring it back to shore within a reasonable time.

Canoe over Canoe, Towing rescue, Parallel rescue and bumping rescue will be at the discretion of the student to employ.

Introduce canoe over canoe rescue, parallel rescue, towing rescue and bumping rescue.

The canoeist in the rescue canoe will approach a swamped or overturned canoe, with the victim in the water; complete a canoe rescue (the rescue includes getting the victim back into his/her canoe). Emphasis must be placed on the safety of individuals involved in the rescue. The rescuer and victim should be wearing a PFD/lifejacket and a helmet throughout this exercise.

Retrieving a Swamped Canoe

While descending a rapid of adequate depth to be considered safe, the poler will voluntarily swamp or tip the canoe. Without losing contact with the canoe, the canoeist will move to the upstream end of the canoe into the ready position, and float with the canoe down the river for a distance of approximately 25 meters. The canoeist shall attempt to tow/swim the swamped or overturned canoe to shore, remaining at the upstream end at all times. The canoeist will demonstrate making use of current to effectively land the canoe. When safely at the shore, the canoeist should empty the canoe.

Canoe over Canoe Rescue

The canoeist should perform a rescue of a canoe and swimmer in Class I water.

The poler in the rescue will approach a swamped or overturned canoe, with a conscious victim in the water, and complete a canoe over canoe rescue (the rescue involves getting the victim back into their canoe).

The rescue should be completed in a moving water setting.

The entire procedure should be completed within 3 minutes.

Emphasis must be placed on the safety of all individuals in the rescue.

Parallel Canoe Rescue

A parallel rescue can be very fast and effective dependent on the weight and buoyancy of the canoe to be rescued. A canoe poler has an advantage from a comfort point of view because the rescue is normally performed from a standing position. However, like any intervention, it requires practice. For paddlers/polers who are quite strong, it can also be done from a kneeling position very quickly: see variation below. Like all rescues, make sure that the persons to be rescued are stable. Dependent on water conditions that may mean fixing each rescued paddler to the bow and stern of the rescue canoe.

Caution: with the paddlers in this position be sure of the position of the rescued canoe in relation to the paddlers during the rescue.

As the name implies, the two canoes are lined up side-by-side parallel to each other.
The person performing the rescue moves towards the centre of the rescue canoe where it is wider and more stable. The canoe being rescued is rolled to present the open side of the canoe towards the rescue canoe resulting in the rescued canoe to now float on its side; this can be done in either the kneeling or standing position. While gripping the raised gunwale equidistant to the centre yoke of the rescue canoe, the rescuer can now stand using one's legs to lift the canoe while tilting the top gunwale of the rescued canoe towards the rescue canoe allowing water to drain from the rescued canoe. Ideally, the bottom gunwale of the rescued canoe is above water level ensuring a completely drained hull.

Teaching Notes

Dependent on the shape of the canoes, it may be very effective to simply pivot the top gunwale of the rescued canoe off the gunwale of the rescue canoe (toward the rescue canoe) in order to drain the water from the canoe being rescued. Maintain vigilance to the amount of tilt resulting in potential contact to the stabilized paddlers being rescued.

Once drained of water, the rescued canoe is flipped back to its normal upright position by pushing the top gunwale away grabbing hold of the bottom gunwale; hence, maintaining hold of the canoe to prevent being blown away.

Variation dependent on weight of rescued canoe & strength of person rescuing: remain kneeling in wider part of canoe and again role canoe on its side to face rescuer. Making use of buoyancy of the canoe (depend on the canoe to be rescued, the rescuer may choose to push the canoe to be rescued deeper in order to take advantage of the return rising of the canoe from buoyancy for retrieval) raise the canoe by using the forearm under the centre yoke, pivot off the gunwales flipping the canoe in one motion.

Line Toss and Rescue

Using a swimmer floating through a rapid 10 to 15 metres from shore, the rescuer will throw a safety line (throw bag) from the shore to the swimmer and bring the swimmer safely to shore. The rescuer should be successful in “hitting” the swimmer with the line in at least 2 out of 3 attempts. The swimmer will catch the safety line and pendulum to shore, floating in the correct position.

Both rescuer and the swimmer shall be aware of proper verbal cues and proper use of the throw bag before heading out onto the water.