River 2 Stand Up Paddleboard Skills
Advanced paddleboarding in river currents. This level provides the theory and skills for paddling Class II rivers. Includes river dynamics, efficient use of the river and carving.
This course provides participants with the theory and skills to paddle Class II rivers. The emphasis is on transferring the skills of the River 1 Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Skills course to more challenging rapids and using the river to The participant’s advantage. See the descriptions in the International River Classification System section.
Successful participants will receive the River 2 SUP Skills award.
Prerequisites
Skills Certification
River 1 SUP Skills course, or equivalent experience.
Paddling Experience
Paddlers need time and practice to sufficiently develop the skills learned in the prerequisite course before registering in this course.
Minimum Course Length
At least 6-8 hours, or more at instructor’s discretion.
Class Ratio
1 instructor:6 participants
1 instructor+1 assistant:8 participants
1 instructor+2 assistants:10 participants
Minimum Staff and Certification
A minimum of one River 2 SUP Instructor is required to teach this course.
A River 1 SUP Instructor with River 2 SUP Skills certification can assist.
Course Location
A Class II river with good eddies and a wave.
Environmental Conditions
Class II rapids. See Water and River Classifications for Lakes and Oceans.
Participant Assessment
Evaluation is ongoing throughout each course. Participants can be evaluated through oral test, practical evaluation, written test, and general observation. Participants will be graded pass, weak, or fail in each category. Pass is required on all categories, but one weak skill may be accepted at the discretion of the instructor.
Learning Outcomes
Safety Skills
Safety skills concentrate on the safety of the individual paddler while paddling on Class II rivers.
River Dynamics
The participant will:
- demonstrate knowledge of hydrodynamics features including current flow, eddies, waves, holes, obstacles, and hazards, and
- manoeuvre the paddleboard within and across currents, using the principles of momentum, angle, and edging.
Paddling Skills
The focus is to introduce an understanding of the essentials of manoeuvring and control of the paddleboard in the river environment. Successful completion of the River 2 SUP Skills course indicates that the participant is competent to paddle on Class II rivers.
Off-side Forward Stroke
The participant will demonstrate effective off-side forward strokes that emphasizes efficient power and a shoulder-safe body position.
S-turns
The participant will demonstrate effective S-turns.
Teaching Note
The participant begins this manoeuvre in an eddy. The participant will peel out into the main current, stop the turn when the bow is pointing in the direction of the target eddy, paddle diagonally across the current, and eddy out (enter) into an eddy on the other side. The same criteria listed in eddy turns (River 1 skills) apply.
Jet Ferry
The participant will demonstrate effective Jet ferries.
Teaching Note
The participant begins in an eddy with an adjacent small wave, and ideally another eddy 10–15 metres across the river. The paddleboard will move across the eddy line into the current. The participant will use appropriate strokes and the small wave to jet the paddleboard across the current and into the eddy on the opposite side. The paddleboard should show good edging, exaggerated angle, and appropriate momentum.
Surfing
The participant will demonstrate catching a wave from the current and from an eddy.
Teaching Note
On a small standing wave, the participant will be able to carve the board back and forth without the use of the paddle. On a slightly steeper standing wave or breaking wave, the participant will be able to avoid pearling (burying the nose in a wave) by aggressively carving back and forth or by changing position on the board.
Paddling Without a Fin
The participant will demonstrate knowledge of when it is advantageous to paddle without a fin and be able to paddle in flatwater and in current without a fin.
Knowledge
Using the River to Your Advantage
The participant will demonstrate an understanding of using river features to move the paddleboard effortlessly around the river.
Route Finding
The participant will:
- plan a safe route through a set of class 2 rapids,
- scout the route from shore and identify hazards, identify the safe route to the instructor, and run the chosen route, once approved by the instructor.