Paddle Canada Level 2 - Sea Kayaking

Touring in Your Kayak

This Paddle Canada Level-2 Skills program is a collaboration between Cloud 9 Adventures & Kayak Ontario. This program is designed to help paddlers build comfort and competence in more exposed waters and allow for improved boat handling as well as confident rescue and safety skills. With the goal of developing towards self-reliant paddlers, this program will improve upon our navigation skills and decision-making to allow for touring and play in more challenging waters. We will work to refine existing skills from the Paddle Canada Level-1 program and introduce new skills including linking strokes into maneuvers, paddling in currents and swell and rolling. This program will take place along the beautiful Bruce Peninsula and use a basecamp for group accommodations. We will use a variety of locations and venues to improve your paddling, learn new skills, explore and have fun..

Prerequisites

• Paddle Canada Level-1 Skills certification or equivalent skill and knowledge
• Minimum of 3, one-day-long kayaking trips in Level-1 conditions in different locations

Class Size

• Our programs will maintain small group sizes to ensure an optimal learning environment
• Maximum of 6 students with 2 instructors

Conditions

• Moderately exposed coastline with frequent landing opportunities and short crossings
• Moderate winds (12-19 knots)
• Combined sea state less than 1-metre
• Surf less than 1-meter
• Current less than 3 knots

General Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to confidently sea kayak in the conditions listed above along moderately exposed shoreline in the company of one or more paddlers with similar skills and knowledge. The Level-2 paddler will be an asset to the group in all aspects of multi-day journeys with peers, including leadership, navigation skills and the ability to establish an overnight bivy.

Topics Covered

• Unassisted Re-entery
• Assisted Re-entry
• All-in Re-entry
• Rescue Scenarios
• Introduction to Rolling
• Use of Tow System
• Boat Control and Paddling Maneuvers • Low & High Brace
• Bow & Stern Rudders
• Multiple Draw Strokes
• Boat Control in Rough Water Conditions
• Introduction to Tides & Currents
• Wilderness Navigation Techniques
• Weather Interpretation & Basic Forecasting
• Basic Incident Management
• Leadership & Decision Making
• Risk Assessment
• Use of Rope & Knots
• FUN!

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