Introduction, Expectations, & Logistics

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork

• Launching, carries, landing

• Student & instructor course expectations and limitations

• Water comfort & confidence

• Course itinerary & site logistics

• Rescue Priorities: People, gear, & boats

• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure

• Wet Exits

• About the ACA

• How To Empty a Kayak

• PFD policy (always wear on water)

• The Terminology of Paddling (frequently blended in with stroke instruction)

• Appropriate personal behavior

• Types of strokes: power, turning & bracing

• No alcohol / substance abuse

• Stroke components: catch, propulsion, recovery, control and correction

• Proper etiquette on & off the water

• Effective Body Usage and Bio-Kinetics

• Respect private property

• Use of larger torso muscles
  

• Practice Leave No Trace ethics

• Arms as struts connecting paddle to torso

The Paddling Environment

• Avoidance of positions that contribute to shoulder injury or dislocations

• Wind

• Waves

• Weather

• Water

Personal Preparation

• Personal Ability

• Swimming Ability

• Water comfort & confidence

• Fitness, conditioning, and warm up

• Safe paddle and boat handling

• Safety and rescue considerations

• Personal equipment (reviewed by Instructor)

• Judgment. In addition to learning hard skills, the importance of developing personal judgment and group responsibility increases on more difficult paddling venues.

• Fundamentals of River Currents

• Strategies in Running Rivers

• Current speed, direction and changes caused by streambed features

• • How to paddle in current 

• Downstream and Upstream V's / Chutes

• • • Spacing/ Avoid "tunnel vision"  

• Eddies / Eddy Lines

• • Scouting 

• Waves/ Wave Holes

• • • From boat/ From shore 

• Bends

• • • How to establish the "best" route/ “Plan "B"

• Effects of Obstacles

• • Portaging Hazards 

• Ledges / Horizon Lines

• Group Organization on the River

• Strainers & Sieves

• • Group cohesiveness (lead, sweep boats, etc.) 

• Rocks / Pillows

• • Universal River Signals System 

• Holes / Hydraulics

• Emergency Procedures

• Other Hazards

Equipment

• Power of the Current / River Level

• Kayak: types, materials, flotation, parts (including safety features: walls, foot braces, grab loops)

• Cold Water

• Kayak outfitting: comfort & safety; back rests, hip pads
  

• Dams / Flow Diversion Structures / Pipelines

• Paddle: types, parts, length, blade size & shape, fitting, hand position
  

• Undercut Rocks / Ice

• Spray skirts: types & material, grab loop!

• River Classes

• Care of equipment

• Personal Equipment: water, food, shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, sun glasses, eyeglass straps, protective clothing for heat or cold, sponge, hat, foot protection, food, whistle
  

• Car topping: Loading and unloading, racks, tie down

• Life jackets (PFDs)

• Principles of Rescue

• Forward Sweep (aggressive and reactive techniques)

• • Priorities - People, Boats, Gear 

• Reverse Sweep

• • Responsibilities of Victim 

• Stern Draw

• • Responsibilities of Rescuers 

• Bow Draw

• Types of Rescue

• Forward

• • Self rescue

• Back

• • • Body/boat positions 

• Low and High Braces

• • • Handling equipment 

• Bow Draw and Duffek

• • Boat-based rescue

• Stationary Draw

• • • Tired Swimmer

• Sculling Draw

• • • Towing

• • • Bow (eskimo) rescue

Optional at instructors’ discretion: Roll (Taught by L3 instructor with Kayak Rolling endorsement or L4 or L5 Kayak Instructors) 

• • • Bumping

• • Extension Rescues

• • • Rescue ropes

• • • Pinned craft

Maneuvers

Flatwater Practice

• Spins (onside and offside): boat pivots in place

• Forward: boat moves in reasonably straight line

• Reverse: boat moves in a reasonably straight line

• Stopping: boat stops within a reasonable distance

• Turns: boat turns in broad arc made while underway

• Veering, Carving, and paddling the “inside circle”

• Abeam: boat moves sideways without headway

• Sideslips: boat moves sideways with headway

• Ferries

• Group debrief / Individual feedback

• Eddy Turns

• Course limitations

• Peel Outs

• Importance of First Aid & CPR

• • Wide (exit wide from eddy line)

• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience

• • Shallow (exit close to eddy line)

• Importance of appropriate level of safety & rescue training

• Sequences of Maneuvers

• Demo advanced maneuver

• • C-turns (Peel out and eddy into same eddy)

• Life sport / Paddling options

• • S-turns (Peel out one side and eddy into opposite side)

• Local paddling groups / Clubs

• Surfing (for Whitewater course only)

• Handouts / Reference materials

• ACA Membership forms 

• Course evaluation

• Participation cards