Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking

Article Index

Page 4 of 6

 

Maneuvers (Practiced on Flatwater): River Reading: 
  • Spins (onside and offside): boat pivots in place
  • Fundamentals of River Currents 
  • Forward: boat moves in reasonably straight line
  • Current speed, direction and changes caused by streambed features 
  • Reverse: boat moves in a reasonably straight line
  • Downstream and Upstream V's / Chutes 
  • Stopping: boat stops within a reasonable distance
  • Eddies/ Eddy Lines 
  • Turns: boat turns in broad arc made while underway
  • Waves/ Wave Holes 
  • Veering, Carving, and paddling the “inside circle”
  • Inside and Outside Bends 
  • Abeam: boat moves sideways without headway
  • Effects of Obstacles 
  • Sideslips: boat moves sideways with headway
  • Ledges/ Horizon Lines 
Strokes (Required):
  • Strainers & Sieves 
  • Forward Sweep (anticipatory and reactive techniques)
  • Rocks/ Pillows 
  • Reverse Sweep
  • Holes/ Hydraulics 
  • Stern Draw
  • Other Hazards 
  • Side Draw
  • Power of the Current / River Level 
  • Forward
  • Cold Water 
  • Back
  • Dams/ Flow Diversion Structures/ Pipelines 
  • T (Eskimo) Rescue
  • Undercut Rocks / Ice 
  • High Brace
  • International Scale of River Difficulty (handout: American Whitewater Safety Code)
  • Low Brace
  
  • Bow Draw and Duffek
  
  • Stationary Draw
  
  • Sculling Draw
  
Optional at instructors’ discretion  
  • Roll