Advanced River Kayak Skills

Participants taking this course should have considerable paddling experience beyond the Intermediate River Kayaking course, solid rolls on both sides, and rescue experience.

General Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to confidently navigate Class III rapids in a group setting on rivers that contain a mix of Class III rapids.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

Intermediate River Kayaking course or equivalent skills with the permission of the course director.

Paddling Skills

Participants must be able to perform a roll on-demand in current.

Kayak Type

Kayaks must have sufficient buoyancy, float bag / bulkhead, to float after a wet exit.

Equipment

A helmet approved for use in moving water.

Minimum Course Length

16 hours (2 days) minimum.

Class Ratio

1 Instructor:6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Advanced Kayak Instructor.

It is strongly recommended to have a second safety boater. Learn more about the role and responsibilities of a safety boater.

First Aid and Other Training

Participants are encouraged to take a Basic First Aid course and a Swift Water Rescue course.

Environmental Conditions

Rapids. All maneuvers and skills are to be performed on Class III Moving Water, unless otherwise specified.

Please see Moving Water Classifications for specific definitions of water classifications.

Participant Assessment

Assessment at the Advanced Skill level happens throughout the program. The participants must show safe river habits, and be able to identify Class III water, and water above Class III. All skills are to be performed with control. A successful candidate should be able to paddle as part of a group of experienced paddlers on a Class II/III river and understand where/when to walk around higher classed rapids.

Safety Skills

The participant will:

• demonstrate practical application of all safety items from lower-level River Kayak courses, and
• demonstrate Rolling in Class III water. The participant should demonstrate the ability to change the roll based on the environment and positioning when capsizing.

Support-Line

The participant will demonstrate how a support-line is used to either rescue a swimmer stuck in a hole or used to aid a pinned swimmer by elevating their head and upper body out of the water.

Hole Rescue

The participant will demonstrate how safely aid a hole rescue from both boat based and shore based by the most efficient and safest means (for example, provide the bow of a boat, throw rope from shore or use a paddle to reach paddler).

Swimmer Tow

The participant will demonstrate how to pull or tow a swimmer to safety.

Paddling Skills

The participant will:

• perform all skill items from the Intermediate River Kayaking level in Class III water, and
• perform all paddling skills using effective body mechanics including rotation and proper paddle technique.

Back Ferry

The participant will begin in an eddy with the kayak facing upstream. After completing an eddy turn the participant will set a ferry angle to the other side of the river and complete a back ferry. This may be done in high Class II water at the discretion of the instructor.

Boof

The participant will:

• demonstrate an understanding of what a boof is and when it should be used, and
• demonstrate the ability to boof over a drop or rock at an appropriate location on the river.

Paddling Switch

The participant will demonstrate the ability to negotiate white water in the backwards or in the switch position.

Running Drops

The participant will:

• demonstrate the ability to scout a safe line and then successfully run a rapid with a small drop or ledge, and
• identify hazards and, if relevant, set up appropriate safety before running the drop.

Teaching Note

The drop must be small enough to stay within the Class III water definition, as such, it may lack realistic hazards that would necessitate additional safety, participants should be able to explain why additional safety is not needed, and when they would use additional shore/boat-based safety.

Hydraulic Control

The participant will:

• enter and exit a safe hydraulic strong enough to require active control to exit,
• be aware of how to move around in the hydraulic left, right, up and down, and attempt to exit the hydraulic by carving off, and
• demonstrate comfort in all orientations in the hole and be able to change their position to facilitate exiting the hole.

Teaching Notes

Emphasis should be put on proper body position and balance to remain upright and using the properties of the hydraulic to their advantage. This isn’t about playboating but demonstrating comfort and control.

Discuss the practical uses of switching boat direction in a hole as it applies to navigating the river and escaping a hole.

Capsizing or swamping the kayak to create drag/catch the downstream current should be discussed, along with the risks of being underwater in a dynamic water environment.

Knowledge

The participant will:

• demonstrate an understanding of all theory items from the lower-level River Kayaking levels,
• demonstrate knowledge of, how to perform both permanent and emergency repairs on a kayak (for example, , repair hull cracks, broken outfitting, etc.),
• perform an organized multi-kayaker rescue, and be able to explain the importance of rescue practice and coordination,
• demonstrate a knowledge of rescue hierarchy: Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Swim (RETHROG) during:
  • self-rescue,
  • shore based rescue,
  • boat based rescue, and
  • in-water based rescue.
• demonstrate that the safety of the rescuers takes priority over the swimmers, and that the safety of the swimmers take priority over gear.