Lake Canoe Advanced Solo Skills

The Lake Canoe Advanced Solo program provides individuals the highest level of skill and knowledge. Technique and boat control are refined through new and challenging manoeuvres.

General Learning Outcome

Participants will leave with the confidence, skill and knowledge so they are prepared to paddle in dynamic paddling environments, thus travelling longer distances.

Prerequisites

Lake Canoe Intermediate Solo Skills

Course Length

16 hours

Class Ratio

1 instructor: 6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Lake Canoe Advanced Solo Instructor.

Environmental Conditions

Class-1+ conditions, mild to moderate wind effect (0-25 km/h). Participants should have the opportunity to paddle in stronger wind however if this is not possible, then a clear understanding of paddling in wind (15-25 km/h) and waves as noted in the Knowledge section.

Participant Assessment

Assessment at this level occurs throughout the course as the instructor observes the performance of each participant's skills and overall development as a paddler.

Teaching Resources

Lake Canoe Skills Checklists

Canoe Strokes Resource Document

Skills and Manoeuvres

The following skills will focus on further refining stroke technique, boat control, introducing new strokes, effective body position, and precision when performing manoeuvres.

Strokes

Progressing from the Intermediate level, participants will demonstrate the following strokes:

• Canadian
• Silent
• Compound Reverse
• Cross Cuts and Draws
• Cross Forward

Canoe Stability

Participants will demonstrate how to keep the canoe stable in windy conditions (if present).

Launching and Landing a Canoe

Participants will demonstrate how to safely enter and exit a canoe from alongside the shoreline or dock if windy conditions are present.

Pivot Turn

Participants will pivot the canoe one complete revolution in one direction, and then one complete revolution in the other direction. No forward or reverse movement.

Forward and Reverse Paddling

Participants will paddle:

• forward in a straight line for 25 metres within a 3 metre corridor.
• reverse in a straight line for 25 metres within a 3 metre corridor with no yaw.

Forward Paddling with Turns

Participants will paddle a rectangular course, forward and reverse, ensuring a tight carve around each corner. Rectangular course: 25 metres x 12 metre.

Stopping

Participants will be able to demonstrate stopping the canoe in any direction of travel with no yaw.

Circles - 2

Participants will demonstrate carving two connected circles with a smooth transition between them, and with no yaw. 

Docking

Participants will demonstrate precision docking, maintaining a consistent pace. Participants will stop the canoe, with no yaw or roll, with the centre thwart between two points, one (1) metre apart. The participant or the canoe must not touch or skid into the dock.

Sideslip (stationary)

Participants will sideslip the canoe laterally around a canoe (or square object) maintaining a consistent distance from that object, within 30 cm. No forward or backward movement. The canoe must be perpendicular to the stationary object at all times. No yaw. Both directions.

Shift / Running Sideslip

Participants will shift the canoe laterally approximately 1 metre while maintaining consistent forward momentum in the direction of travel. Both onside and offside.

Knowledge

Concepts

Participants should have a general understanding of the following:

• cross waves, reflections and wave interactions, and
• wave dynamics: deep water waves to shallow waves.

Equipment and Knots 

Participants will discuss:

• advanced names of canoe parts (amidship, sheer, draft, stem, aft, forward), and
• gear for extended day trips.

Participants will demonstrate two knots from the following: clove hitch, taut-line hitch, figure eight, or sheet bend.

Hazards

Participants will review the Intermediate items and expand on potential hazards based on longer day paddles:

• sudden weather changes, and
• group dynamics: lack of group members skill/knowledge and collective knowledge.

Environmental Impact

Review Intermediate items where needed.

Canoe History

Participants should be able to discuss some national or local canoe paddling history.

Resources

Participants should be made aware of resources from Paddle Canada, possible provincial organizations, canoe clubs, etc.

Risk Management

Lifejacket: Always Wear It!

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

Personal Preparation

Participants will review the Intermediate items if needed.

Safety Considerations

The participants should review intermediate items, if required, and discuss the following:

• emergencies: rain, tarp set up,
• open lake crossing, the risks, individual and group, and
• cold water preparedness.

Safety and Rescue

Participants demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• review Intermediate level,
• Transport Canada guided excursions,
• taking on a leadership role,
• launching and landing in waves,
• paddling in the wind: paddling on the same side, sit and switch, 
• adjusting weight/gear for paddling in wind (head wind and tail wind options), and 
• if possible, setting up a triangular course to practice paddling in the wind.

Rescue Practice

Participants will discuss options for self-canoe rescue: the “shake out” and the Capistrano Flip. If time allows participants can practice.

Participants will demonstrate a canoe rescue with the swimmer re-entering their emptied canoe in under 5 minutes.