Intermediate Canoe Skills (Progressive Award)
The purpose of this course is to develop your skills and confidence on grade 2 (3) rivers and in Force 3/4 winds on larger areas of open water. This is a two day course which will spend a day in each environment.
By now you'll have had some experience of rivers and paddling in the wind, you'll no doubt have some gaps in your knowledge and room for improvement in your skillset. This is what this weekend is for; we'll look at our core skills, check that they're fit for a more challenging environment and then tweak and adjust them to help us achieve some challenges. These could be making progress upwind or geting our canoe into a small eddy.
Along the way we'll journey through the environment, looking to be efficient and effective in the wind and to safely run some harder rapids with an appropriate strategy.
Canoes are synonymous with a range of traditional skills and these are something we can explore as an alternative and enjoyable way to travel, we;ll look at poling, sailing and using ropes to propel and control our boat.
Skills you can expect to learn about and improve:
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Entering, exiting and crossing a grade two flow
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Making eddies with grace and style
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Running some harder rapids and maximising safety.
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Using trim to help us maintain direction in the wind
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Developing an efficient cruising speed.
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Poling, Sailing & Lining
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Staying safe, assisting others and rescues
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How to plan trips on rivers and lakes
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How best to outfit our canoe for our intended use.
FAQs
Where do we meet?
To make the best use of water and weather conditions, the exact venue will be decided day to day, this is normally a dropped pin shared in a whatsapp group chat.
How long are the days?
This is a two day course. We’ll normally meet at 9am and aim to be off the river before 4pm
What do you provide?
Two days of expert guiding and coaching tailored to the group and with emphasis on enjoyment. This course doesn’t include equipment but I may be able to help with certain items, feel free to ask and I’ll see what I can do.
What do I need to bring?
Open canoe with bouyancy & swimlines
Paddle & Spare
Pole (optional)
Any sailing equipment (don't worry we'll have some)
Bouyancy Aid & Helmet
Suitable Clothing
Packed Lunches
Personal Medication
Is this suitable for me?
This is aimed at paddlers with some grade two experience looking to paddle new rivers, improve their skills & confidence and maybe try their hand at a little grade three. If you're not sure please do get in touch and we can chat, maybe there is another course that is more suitable to your needs
Where can I stay?
Depending on where this course takes place I have got a few suggestions on where to stay. Get in touch at the time of booking and I'll give you some reccomendations.