Recreational River Kayak Skills

The emphasis of this course is on mastering the fundamentals of river kayaking, along with a strong grounding in water safety and safe kayaking practices.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

None

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

At least four hours on flatwater plus eight hours in current for a total of 12 hours.

Class Ratio

1 Instructor:6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Beginner River Kayak Instructor.

Environmental Conditions

Course will start on Flat water and progress to a Class I river run appropriate for Recreational River Kayaks.

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

Safety Skills

Wet Exit

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

• completely capsize (if applicable), 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 if applicable to craft.

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 skill 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 should be done in flat water.

Lifting and Carrying a Kayak

The participant will:

• demonstrate the ability to safely lift and carry their recreational boat from a car/boat storage to the put-in, and
• be careful of slippery ground near the water’s edge, and aware of their kayak’s surroundings when carrying, so as to not cause injury other participants.

Self-Rescue

While out of reach of land, and in water of adequate depth to be considered safe, the participant will:

• voluntarily tip over and wet exit their kayak, and
• use the self-rescue technique that makes the most sense based on the type of craft being paddled, either swim the boat to shore, or re-enter the boat.

Teaching Note

These rescues should be practiced in calm moving water.

Assisted Rescue

In deep water, the participant will:

• wet exit and attempt to re-enter the kayak with assistance from another paddler. The capsize must be natural with spray deck in place, if applicable. If unable to re-enter the boat, the rescuer must tow the boat and swimmer to the shoreline; rescue is complete when the paddler is able to reach the shoreline to finish emptying the boat, and
• perform this skill as both swimmer and rescuer.

Teaching Note

Depending on kayak size and design the participant may not be able to re-enter the boat even if it is completely empty of water. This exercise is meant to make participants aware of the limitations of some river kayaks.

Throw Bag Rescue

The participant will:

• be familiar with throw bags, and be able to: stuff, care for and be aware of multiple toss techniques, and as well as be aware of the risks involving rope in moving water and how to manage those risks when using a throw bag, and
• 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

Participants should try throwing from both hands but shouldn’t be evaluated on their offhand throws.

Paddling Skills

Balance and Posture

The participant will understand the effects of their posture and weighting on the kayak. 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 (e.g., washing machine).

Forward and Reverse Strokes

The participant will:

• demonstrate an effective forward stroke that moves the kayak in a general straight line for an extended period of time, shorter times are allowed for shorter boats with flat plaining hulls which resist going straight,
• effectively use 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

Emphasise fewer, slower, and more effective strokes. Start with a slow stroke cadence and have participants practice increasing the cadence without losing effectiveness.

Sweep Stroke

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

Draw Stroke

The participant will:

• demonstrate effective draws to move the boat sideways on 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.

Edging (if applicable to boat)

The participant will:

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

Low Brace

The participant will use a low brace to recover from a simulated capsize.

Forward Ferry

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

Teaching Notes

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 and 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 (if applicable), 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 practice forward ferry on a gentle wave, or downstream current, and understand how surfing works and can be used to hold position on a river.

Knowledge

River Hazards and River Reading

The participant will understand and be able to identify hazards in a river including (but not limited to) low head dams (aka weir), strainers, undercuts, river debris, ice and pin hazards.

Teaching Notes

These features will not be present where 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 before they visit a river.

The descriptions should be brief at this level.

Boat Design and Outfitting and Equipment

The participant will:

• understand 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
• understand paddle and blade design so that they can select a paddle that fits for them and meets the requirements of their paddling environment.

Teaching Notes

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.

Strong emphasis should be placed on importance of flotation and ideally a bulkhead behind the seat.

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 kayaking in spring or in 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 course.

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.