Beginner River Kayak Skills

Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of moving water and kayaking safety. Participants should be encouraged to take a Basic First Aid Course and a Swift Water Rescue Course if they wish to continue towards the intermediate level.

General Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to confidently navigate Class I Rivers in a group setting.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

None - Minimal exposure to kayaks is expected for this course, it is intended as an introduction to moving water, participants who have never been in a kayak would likely find value in taking a Flatwater River Kayak Skills course.

Kayak Type

Kayak 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 Beginner River Kayak Instructor.

It is strongly recommended to have a 2nd leader with Intermediate or higher skills certification for all courses. The inclusion of a non-instructor additional leader does not alter the number of participants allowed on the course.

Environmental Conditions

Course is expected to start on flatwater and move to Class I water after basic skills are learned.

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

Participant Assessment

Assessment at the Basic Skill level happens throughout the program. Participants must show safe river habits, and be able to identify Class I water, and water above Class I. All skills are to be performed with control. As this is an introductory level course, strokes do not have to have a high level of proficiency, but they must be effective. Inability to perform any of the safety skills results in a failure.

Safety Skills

Wet Exit

With all gear on, paddle in hand and spray skirt attached completely, the participant will:

• capsize, exit the kayak in a controlled manner and retain awareness of equipment, and location, and
• tap the underside of their boat three times and move their arms back and forth to simulate waiting for a bow rescue.

Teaching Notes

The wet exit can be one of the most stressful skills you will teach, take extra time, and teach it as a progression for those who are nervous, start with the skirt off and nothing in their hands, and move towards the final evolution as they are comfortable.

Failure to perform a controlled wet exit is a course failure, as it is critical to safety on the river.

Rafting

The participant will demonstrate the ability to raft up into a group upon request using paddle strokes learned during the course. This may be done in flat water, and or moving water.

Lifting and Carrying a Kayak

The participant will demonstrate the ability to safely lift and carry their kayak from a car/boat storage to the put in. They should be careful of slippery ground near the lakes edge, and aware of where their boat is when carrying, so as to not injury other participants.

Self-Rescue

While descending a rapid of adequate depth to be considered safe, the participant will voluntarily tip over and wet exit their kayak.

Without losing contact with the kayak, the participant will move to the upstream end of the boat, assume the ready position and float with the kayak down river approximately 20 metres. The participant will then swim the kayak into shore, remaining at the upstream end at all times, and not stand up until safe to do so.

When safely at the shore, the participant will empty the kayak.

Bow Rescue

The participant will:

• demonstrate the ability to flip over in easy current, bang their hull three times, slide their hands close to the hull and be rescued by a fellow paddle’s bow, using an effective hip flick to right the kayak, and
• demonstrate as each of the rescuer and rescue.

Teaching Notes

Discuss the risks, and practical application of this rescue especially in higher class rapids.

Be sure to reinforce the need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.

Assisted Rescue

The participant will attempt:

• In deep water, wet exit and re-enter the kayak with assistance from another paddler. The capsize must be natural with spray deck in place. Rescue is complete when the paddler is able to reach the shore to finish emptying the boat, or continue down the river if the boat was able to be emptied during the rescue.
• Perform this skill as both swimmer and rescuer.
• Success in this skill is in the attempt, not the ability to complete it.

Teaching Notes

Depending on boat size and design the rescuer may not be able to completely empty the water from the boat, or the paddler may not be able to re-enter the boat without re-swamping it. They should be able to empty enough so that it can be towed or paddled to shore. The types, outfitting and size of boats should be taken into account when participants are attempting this skill.

Throw Bag Rescue

The participant will:

• demonstrate knowledge of throw bags, multiple toss techniques, and is able to articulate the risks involving rope in moving water and how to manage those risks, and
• demonstrate the use a throw bag to rescue a swimmer in a rapid floating 10 to 15 meters from shore 2 out of three times.

Teaching Note

Encourage participants to always carry a throw bag with them when scouting, or moving around a river in case someone falls in, or if another person not in their group needs it.

River Signals

The participant will recognize the following river signals: Stop, Help, Direction signals, All Clear (Go), and whistle blast patterns.

Teaching Note

Signals are not universal, ask participant what signals they have seen used, and encourage them to review signals when paddling with a new group.

Paddling Skills

Edging

The participant will:

• paddle on edge for 5 meters while maintaining their edge, this should be done on each edge, and
• demonstrate knowledge of the use of edging in a river environment, and its effect on the boat and how it interacts with the river.

Balance and Posture

The participant will demonstrate understanding of posture and weighting and its effect on the kayak.

Teaching Note

If the size of the kayak and participant allows, have them demonstrate using body position shift and edging to rotate the kayak without the use of a paddle (washing machine).

Forward and Reverse Strokes

The participant will:

• demonstrate an effective forward stroke that moves the kayak in a generally straight line for an extended period of time, shorter times are allowed for shorter boats with flat plaining hulls which resist going straight,
• demonstrate effective use of their torso, back and shoulders to execute the paddle stroke, minimizing dependence on their arms, and
• use proper blade position relative to the water, and the boat to maximize effect of each individual stroke.

Teaching Note

Emphasize a slower cadence with a focus on fewer and more effective strokes. Start at a slow stroke per minute and have participants practice increasing without losing effectiveness.

Sweep Stroke

The participant will demonstrate using a sweep stroke to spin the kayak in each direction while in current.

Draw Stroke

The participant will demonstrate effective draws to move the kayak sideways to each side and experiment with diagonal draws.

Teaching Note

No minimum distance is required, but strokes should be effective and use proper body and paddle position.

Rudder Strokes - Stern Draw and Stern Pry

The participant will use the stern rudder while in current to angle their boat as desired.

Teaching Note

At this level, the stroke should be introduced, but without effective wave surfing, its use on a river may be hard for participants to grasp, or effectively demonstrate.

Braces - Low and High

The participant will:

• use a low brace to recover from a simulated capsize, and
• demonstrate proper technique and body position for a safe high brace. The participant should capsize to the point of their head becoming wet and use a high brace. The brace has to be demonstrated, but does not have to be effective, or allow them to recover at this level.

Forward Ferry

The participant will cross a section of current to the opposite side using a forward ferry.

Teaching Note

The participant begins in an eddy with the kayak facing up river. The kayak will move across into the current, maintaining an effective ferry angle, proper edging and body position. The participant should be able to ferry to the left, and to the right.

Eddy Turn

The participant will cross from one current into an opposing current with effective edging, power, and angle. This must be performed pointing upstream (eddy in), as well as pointing downstream (eddy out).

Teaching Notes

This is a critical skill for progressing, at this level participants should be expected to be able to reliably, if not smoothly, exit and enter eddies along the river. As this skill is critical for river running, extra time should be spent on this.

Participants who are unable to perform this skill on demand without swimming by the end of the course should be given a fail.

Introduction to Forward Surf

The participant will demonstrate effective forward ferry on a gentle wave, or downstream current, and understand how surfing works and can be used to hold position on a river. This skill becomes critical as they move on to intermediate river skills.

Rolling Demonstration

The participant will:

• Watch a demonstration of an effective roll in Class I current.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of a roll, and the safe body mechanics related to it.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the rolling requirement for Intermediate River Skills, and where they can obtain further training.

Teaching Note

Participants are only observing a demonstration of the roll at this level. There is no expectation for them to practice the skill.

Knowledge

River Hazards and River Reading

The participant will:

• demonstrate knowledge of and be able to identify the following hazards in a river: Low head dam (aka Weir), strainer, undercut, as above, ice and pin hazards, and
• identify the primary current, eddies and ideal lines through a rapid with an explanation as to why.

Teaching Note

Some of these features are not likely on parts of the river that you are paddling, if possible, show them by visiting other parts of the river, or show pictures/videos. The objective is to ensure participants can understand and avoid these hazards.

Boat Design and Outfitting and Equipment

The participant will:

• name the parts of a kayak, and what structural and outfitting components of the river kayak are critical for safety, including but not limited to float bags and centre pillars, and
• demonstrate knowledge of paddle and blade design so that they can select a paddle that fits for them and meets the requirements of their paddling environment.

Teaching Note

Discussions should include information on how to care for the various pieces of equipment, and how to inspect and identify potential issues before they become a problem.

Clothing

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of different types of clothing and the thermal properties of them, as well as what clothing should be worn based on water and air temperature.

Teaching Note

As part of this discussion, talk about cold shock and hypothermia as it relates to running rivers in spring or from snow melt.

Safety Equipment

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of the Transport Canada safety equipment requirements, and the capabilities or limitations of their own personal equipment through use during the program.

Paddling and Surfing Etiquette

The participant will demonstrate knowledge and practice proper river and surf etiquette such as downstream has right of way, no dropping in, wave line-up etc.

Trip Planning

The participant will demonstrate understanding of the equipment they should bring with them based on the length of the trip, the conditions, and the remoteness of the river they will be paddling. This includes, but is not limited to, first aid, rescue communication equipment such as a Spot or inReach, food and emergency shelters.