Lake Canoe Advanced Tandem Skills

The Lake Canoe Advanced Tandem program provides the highest level of skill and knowledge within the Lake Canoe Tandem program.

Participants will refine their technique and boat control through new and challenging manoeuvres.

General Learning Outcome

Participants will achieve confidence, skill and knowledge so they are prepared to paddle in dynamic lake paddling environments, thus allowing them to travel longer distances.

Prerequisites

Lake Canoe Intermediate Tandem Skills

Course Length

16 hours

Class Ratio

1 instructor: 10 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Lake Canoe Advanced Tandem 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 and waves is taught 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

Canoe Games

Lake Canoe Skills Checklists

Canoe Strokes Resource Document

Skills and Manoeuvres

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

Completing manoeuvres within corridor limits would be done without wind and waves.

Strokes

Progressing from the Intermediate level, the participant must demonstrate the following strokes with proper technique.

• Sculling Draw and Pry
• Bow and Stern Jam (and Cuts)
• Compound Reverse
• Canadian
• Silent
• Low Brace
• Righting Pry

Canoe Stability

Participants will demonstrate excellent canoe stability throughout the course.

Lifting and Carrying a Canoe

The participant will review the Intermediate level if needed.

Launching and Landing a Canoe

Participants will safely launch and land a canoe in the wind, if conditions allow.

Forward and Reverse Paddling

Participants will paddle:

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

Forward and Reverse Paddling with Turns

The participants will paddle a rectangle course, carving an arc around each corner. Rectangular course: 25 metres x 12 metres.

Stopping

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

Circles - Edge to Edge Transition

Participants will be introduced to carving and demonstrate carving two connected circles, with edge to edge transition between the two circles. Emphasis should be placed on applying the Momentum Initiate a turn Tilt Hold (MITH) method when carving. Upon completing the first circle (an inside circle) the canoe is flattened and a correction stroke applied to straighten out the canoe. The second circle (an outside circle) is then initiated. The stern paddler may ask the bow paddler to assist with controlling the shape of the arcs when paddling the outside circles.

Sideslip (stationary)

In calm conditions (no wind), participants will side-slip the canoe laterally around a canoe (or square object) maintaining a consistent distance from that object, within 30 cm. No forward or backward momentum. The canoe must maintain perpendicular alignment to the stationary object at all times. No yaw. Both directions.

Docking

Participants will demonstrate precision docking:

• maintaining a consistent pace,
• participants will stop the canoe, with no yaw or roll, and
• with the centre thwart between two points, 1 metre apart.

The participant nor the canoe must not touch or skid into the dock.

Shifting / Running Sideslip

Participants will shift the canoe laterally approximately 1 metre while maintaining forward momentum and remain parallel to the direction of travel. Timing of stroke (Cuts and Jams) placement is critical to limit yaw.

Participants will perform this manoeuvre twice: one shifting to the onside, another shifting to 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 Parts and Knots 

The participants will review: 

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

Participants will demonstrate the following:

• one knot to teach the group, or
• two knots from the following (clove hitch, taut line hitch, figure eight, sheet bend, etc.).

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, collective knowledge.

Environmental Impact

Participants will review and discuss the impact they could have on the environment.

Canoe History

Participants will participate in a brief discussion on the history of the canoe.

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, wear, and secure a lifejacket.

Personal Preparation

Participants will discuss advanced items for extended day paddles in adverse weather conditions and cold water paddling.

Safety Considerations

The participants should review Introduction safety items and discuss the following:

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

Safety and Rescue

Participants will discuss 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 these.

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