Moving Water Canoe Intermediate Solo Skills

General Learning Outcome

The successful candidate should be able to use wave troughs and cross current momentum to move laterally and downstream and perform shore and water-based river rescues, including self-rescue on Class II rivers.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

Moving Water Canoe Introduction Solo Skills or equivalent skills and knowledge with permission of the instructor.

Minimum Course Length

16 hours minimum.

Class Ratio

1 instructor:6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Moving Water Canoe Intermediate Solo Instructor.

Environmental Conditions

Class II river.

Assessment

Assessment is to be done on a Class II river. Activities focus on carving the canoe using the Arc Triangle with wave troughs and cross current momentum to control the shape of the arc.

While there is a great deal to learn at this level, the activities should concentrate on personal progress and an awareness of the need for future learning. Paddlers should leave the course encouraged to continue their learning and aware of their individual limitations.

Teaching Resources

Moving Water Skills Checklists

Canoe Strokes Resource Document

Skills and Manoeuvres

Participants will demonstrate the following manoeuvres using the paddle strokes learned during the course.

• Review Moving Water Canoe Introduction Solo strokes
• High Brace
• Stern Rudder
• Reverse J and Bow Draw

Eddy Exit Using Wave Troughs

The participant will successfully carve the canoe upon exiting an eddy into the current using a wave trough. The canoe should be positioned such that it can gather potential surf momentum during the manoeuvre.

Eddy Entry Using Wave Troughs

The participant will successfully carve the canoe upon entering an eddy pool by approaching along a wave trough that ends at or near the pool's current line.

S-Turns with Wave Interference Patterns

Participants will successfully carve from one side of the river to the other using an S-turn that takes place within wave troughs present in the current.

Back Ferry: starting and finishing in current

Participants will successfully move laterally away from the hazard with the stern pointing in the direction away from the hazard, such as moving away from a rock, wave, sweeper or strainer.

Front Surf

Participants will successfully front surf a wave. Paddlers demonstrate positioning their canoe on the upstream face of a surf wave and a position without forward strokes. Paddlers safely exit the front surf. 

Jet Ferries

Participants will demonstrate lateral movement along a wave trough and end in the position they need to link to the next manoeuvre.

Shift

In current and under momentum, the participant will demonstrate a shift left while remaining parallel to the current. Participants will repeat the manoeuvre in order to demonstrate a right shift.

Introduction to the Open Canoe Roll

Participants will attempt to demonstrate an open canoe roll in calm water with an assistant.

Knowledge

Specific skills and knowledge are required for canoeists to paddle in Class II waterways. They build the introduction skill set that will enable paddlers to achieve the intermediate manoeuvres outlined above.

Wave Troughs

Participants will describe wave troughs and how paddlers can use these as doorways into the current, improve stability and assist or increase momentum while keeping a dry boat.

Surfing Troughs

Participants will describe how to surf a wave trough.

Wave Interference Patterns

Participants will describe how wave interference patterns can assist with moving the canoe across the current.

River Hazards

Participants are required to identify the following river hazards: trees, boulders, tree root balls, holes/hydraulics, and rocky river beds, in order to mitigate possible risk to themselves, the group or equipment.

River Anatomy

Participants will demonstrate their knowledge of river anatomy features and how best to navigate these. Wave troughs, wave crest, wave face, backside wave face, diagonal wave, wave interference pattern, grain of current, recirculating eddy, ledge, chute, and a hole.

Stability

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of different options to keep one stable to prevent a capsize. Forward paddling, a high brace in combination with forward paddling, to low brace in combination with a righting pry.

Canoe Dynamics

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of how canoe dynamics have a direct impact on the paddler role, stroke selection and hull control.

River Signals

Participants will demonstrate their knowledge of whistle and paddle signals and the importance of keeping them simple.

Risk Management

Review of Introduction to Moving Water Canoe Risk Management where needed. Intermediate 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 II moving water.

Managing Risk

Participants will demonstrate how to properly prepare for river travel and how that reduces the potential risks and hazards impacting the individual and group.

Paddler’s Right of Way/Etiquette

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the importance of padder's etiquette and kindness to other boaters on and off the water.

Helmets

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the importance and requirement for wearing a helmet on a river run.

Canoe Outfitting

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the importance of properly outfitted canoes and how they aid in better performance and safer paddling in class II and higher water.

Throw Bags

Participants will demonstrate throwing a throw bag to a swimmer in current, catching a throw bag in current, safely getting out on shore and properly stowed throw bags.

Swimming

Participants will demonstrate where appropriate, options for swimming defensive and aggressive and self-rescue with or without the canoe.

Canoe Rescue and Recovery

Participants will 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 (for example, canoe bumping, canoe over canoe, or towing).

Participants will demonstrate knowledge of the importance of swift water rescue courses.