Moving Water Canoe Advanced Tandem Skills

General Learning Outcome

The successful candidate is considered an expert whitewater river canoeist, capable of supporting advanced shore and water-based river rescues. The candidate is able to perform advanced whitewater river manoeuvres, assess the environmental risks associated with running class III rapids and select and use appropriate gear and equipment necessary for this environment.

Prerequisites

Moving Water Canoe Intermediate Tandem (or Solo).

Minimum Course Length

16 hours minimum.

Class Ratio

1 instructor: max 8 participants, 4 canoes

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Moving Water Canoe Advanced Tandem Instructor.

Environmental Conditions

Class II - III River

Participant Assessment

Assessment is to be done on a Class II-III river.

Teaching Resources

Moving Water Skills Checklists

Canoe Strokes Resource Document

Skills and Manoeuvres

Advanced moving water paddlers are actively paddling, feeling the water, sculling their paddle blade in search of hard water, fishing for and then waiting for hard water before finally locking onto it to assist a manoeuvre. Paddlers drive the boat rather than follow its movements. Paddlers anticipate, look ahead, and are proactive in moving the canoe through current and water features.

• Review Moving Water Canoe Intermediate strokes as needed.
• Stroke Blending
• Sculling Draw
• Sculling Pry
• Charc

Advanced Launching in a Circulating Eddy

The participant will choose a suitable site and enter the canoe while maintaining control of the canoe. Method of entry may involve a seal launch (<1 metre).

Advanced Landing in a Circulating Eddy

The participant will choose a suitable site, exit the canoe, and maintain control of the canoe. The location may necessitate the candidate to use a paddle as an outrigger to help stabilize the canoe while exiting.

Back Ferry

The participant will exit an eddy (bow upstream and spin or bow downstream), traverse the main current in a back ferry, and enter an eddy (across the current). Entry may be with the canoe facing forward for the purpose of crossing the eddy line. Instructors may use discretion concerning the loss of ground experienced during the ferry, as this manoeuvre is dependent on water features such as the water flow rate, gradient, and waves. Throughout the manoeuvre, the candidate shall demonstrate river paddling concepts such as carving.

Surfing in Class II Waves

Front Surf

Participants will demonstrate the Stern Rudder with blade pitch

Back and Side Surf

Participants will be able to catch the wave, achieve control, and spin to rotate the canoe to position it in a back surf and side surf. Once back and side surfing, the candidate shall work towards safely surfing off the wave.

Catching Surf Wave from Above

Participants will demonstrate catching a wave to surf from upstream in the current.

Running Tight Bends

Participants will demonstrate running tight river bends with emphasis on positioning and controlling the canoe for safe passage throughout the river bend. If the location is not suitable, then the candidate may explain the manoeuvre.

Linking Manoeuvres

Participants will link manoeuvres demonstrating how a minimum of three manoeuvres can be combined into one continuous manoeuvre. For example, when combining eddy turns, a peel out can be linked to a surf across the current to a mid-stream eddy entry, and without losing momentum the canoe enters the current again with the intent of navigating either downstream or continuing with more manoeuvres.

River Running Techniques

Participants will demonstrate river running techniques such as avoiding taking on water. This may be achieved by route choice, boat angle relative to waves, boat tilt to deflect water and waves (for example, wave blocking), and speed adjustments (for example, back ferry).

Wave Turn

The participant will demonstrate a wave turn with emphasis placed on bow placement in the foam pile of the wave trough and the stern remaining in the current to complete the pivot.

Knowledge

Specific skills and knowledge are required for canoeists to paddle in Class III waterways. They build on the Intermediate skill set that will enable paddlers to achieve the advanced manoeuvres outlined above.

Leading the Boat

Participants will demonstrate enhanced control of the canoe by preemptively applying corrective strokes prior to crossing current differentials to prevent the canoe unnecessarily turning in the direction of the current.

Crossing the Grain: Speed and Direction

Advanced paddlers will show that they can paddle across multiple strengths of current, including differentials, such that the bow continues to point across the direction of flow.

Hazards

Participants are required to identify the following, but not limited to, river hazards: chute, ledges, size of eddy wedges and how to cross, eddy fences, differential height eddy line, strongly recirculating eddy, in order to mitigate possible risk to themselves, the group or equipment.

Balance and Stability

Participants demonstrate knowledge of how the active blade and river running techniques will be used to keep the paddler stable.

River Reading

Participants will demonstrate their knowledge of the following: movement of water (3-Dimensional), water dropping downhill and dropping left and right; gradient patterns, wave interference patterns, and scouting from the canoe.

Canoe Design

Participants demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of different canoe designs: shorter tandem and solo canoes, flat bottom, hard chines and matching canoe designs to skill level.

Risk Management

Review of Moving Water Canoe Intermediate Risk Management where needed. Advanced paddlers must be able to identify and manage potential risk associated with the people in a paddling party, the environment, and the water features of class III moving water.

Managing Risk Trip Planning

Participants demonstrate knowledge of how to properly prepare for an advanced river run and how that reduces the potential risks and hazards impacting the individual and group.

Additional Training

Participants demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of additional training in Swift Water Rescue, and Remote and Wilderness First Aid, as well as continued whitewater training (for example, creeking, boofing, surfing, etc.)

Canoe Outfitting

Participants demonstrate knowledge of the importance of properly outfitted canoes and how they aid in better performance and safer paddling in class III rivers.

Rescue Equipment

Participants will describe recommended and non-recommended specialized rescue equipment, features and equipment care.

Swimming and Swimmer Rescue

Participants will discuss and demonstrate where appropriate, options for self-rescue and rescuing a swimmer. Paddlers will also discuss the importance of Swift Water Rescue courses.

Canoe Recovery

Participants demonstrate knowledge of the importance of what options a rescuer has, and which technique matches their situation.

Participants will demonstrate one method of canoe recovery (canoe bumping, canoe over canoe, towing).