Introductory Courses

Below is an outline of the items covered in our Introductory Courses. Note this is a guide - the actual content may vary.

Session 1

• Safety drills and hazards
• Correct method of lifting and carrying the kayak/canoe
• Allocation of buoyancy aids, paddles and boat
• Boat set-up, seats fixed and foot rest
• Warm-up session (on land)
• Drill in the event of a capsize of a kayak
• Launching and getting into the kayak/canoe
• Put boat on water and get in with help
• Balance in the boat (without a paddle)
• Paddle the boat with hands only
• Hold the paddle correctly
• Paddle boat forward 50m with paddles
• Stopping the boat
• Paddle to jetty and get out of the boat with help
• Help put the boat, paddles & buoyancy aid back into to racking spaces

Session 2

• Review safety drills
• Buoyancy aids, paddles and boats
• Review boat set-up
• Warm-up session (on land)
• Put boat on water and get in without help
• Paddle 200m without stopping
• Paddle forward and stop the boat
• Paddle boat backwards and stop
• Rotate the boat 360 degrees on the spot using forward/reverse sweep strokes
• Turn the boat 180 degrees to the left and right using the rudder and sweep strokes
• Paddle a figure of eight course
• Move sideways using draw stroke and sculling draw
• Preventing a capsize using low brace and sculling for support
• Paddle to jetty and get out of the boat without help
• Relaunch, capsize, swim 5m to the bank and empty out
• Put the boat, paddles & buoyancy aid away without coaches help (work with other paddlers)

Session 3

• Review safety drills
• Buoyancy aids, paddles and boats
• Warm-up session (on land)
• Introduction to a variety of boats
• Try a variety of boats (get in and out without help)
• Moving sideways
• Preventing a capsize
• Get in and out of boats without help
• Put the boat, paddles & buoyancy aid away without coaches help (work with other paddlers)

Session 4

• Review safety drills
• Buoyancy aids, paddles and boats
• Set up boats without help
• Warm-up session (on land and water)
• Paddle a figure of eight course (using rudder and sweep strokes)
• Turning the boat around through 180 and 360 degrees (in both directions)
• How to prevent a capsize
• Moving sideways over 5m (using both draw stroke and sculling draw)
• Reverse paddling
• Efficient forward paddling ( 1000m without stopping)
• Paddle to jetty and get out of the boat without help
• Put the boat, paddles & buoyancy aid away without coaches help (work with other paddlers)