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)