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Introductory
Classes
Intro to Kayaking (1*) full day class
or First Strokes/Paddle Start half day class
How to get in and wear the boat, followed by the fundamental safety
skill of falling out, all in a controlled, supportive environment.
If you haven't experienced a wet exit already, either of these
classes is the prerequisite for all others at the Lower Columbia
Kayak Roundup.
Basic Maneuvers
Introduces concepts of steering and propelling your craft. Learn
good habits early!
Basic Rescues
Foundations of helping others back into their boats, and self-rescues
Awareness/BBB
Efficient, comfortable paddling begins with an awareness of what
your body is doing and should be doing. This helps with everything
from boat control to calmness in challenging circumstances. Valuable
for all levels of paddler.
Traditional
Classes
Greenland Basics
Traditionally, a kayaker was sewn into a skin-on-frame craft and
sent without flotation into icy waters to hunt large sea mammals
with a harpoon and other humble tools. His paddle was a narrow,
double bladed affair carved from driftwood. Modern kayaking is
enjoying a rediscovery of the ancient skills, from boat- and paddle-making,
to techniques of using them. Modern paddlers of all stripes can
learn from the old ways.
Moving Water Greenland Basics
Skinny sticks aren't just for calm water! Improve your understanding
of the Greenland strokes for conditions, and, practice rolling/bracing
skills in moving water.
Greenland Intensive
Full day includes a rolling demonstration focusing on understanding
fundamental skills such as sculling for support, balance brace,
standard Greenland roll and multiple variations. For advanced
students, norsaq and hand rolls, forward finishing rolls, combat
rolls. Half of the day will be spent working on these skills.
A strong comprehensive overview of the Greenland stroke covering;
forward and forward canted stroke, sliding stroke, both high and
low braces, also sculling, sweep, draw and rudder strokes, and
various stroke combinations.
Greenland Rolls
Say you're hunting large, unwilling sea mammals from a small,
tippy kayak. You can bet you'll be capsizing at some point. Improvements
in rolling proficiency of modern paddlers is one of the greatest
evidences of the resurgence in Traditional paddling. Take this
class it purely for the fun of learning different rolls, or to
improve your comfort in the water in general.
Greenland/ Skin on Frame Rescue
Since most Traditional skin on frame kayaks lack bulkheads and
deck lines, the T-rescue is not the best option. Learn better
techniques and troubleshoot challenges that come up with boats
without bulkheads. A valuable class for coaches, too, who may
have students in SOF boats.
Rescue
Classes
Basic Rescues
Reentering your kayak from deep water is a fundamental safety
skill, as well as a confidence booster. Also learn to assist others
without endangering yourself.
Effective Rescues
Refine and practice these valuable tips to build confidence into
your rescues.
Greenland Rescue
(Also mentioned under Traditional Classes) Featuring rescues adapted
to kayaks without rear bulkheads, particularly skin-on-frame boats.
Incident Management
Where is a capsize likely to happen? How quickly can it compound?
Once you're in control of your kayak in wind waves, start making
yourself an asset to your paddling group.
Leadership Scenarios
Prevent that rescue with good leadership decisions. An excellent
course for new BCU 4* and 5* aspirants.
Strokes
& Maneuvers Classes
Basic Maneuvers, First
Strokes/Paddle Start, Intro to Kayaking, Awareness/BBB.
(Also mentioned under Introductory Classes) Brush up on the basics.
Intro Assessment (1*)
Feel like you've got the basics down and want some feedback on
what to work on next? This is the course!
BCU 2* Training
The British Canoe Union sets the standard of boat control skills.
Start here if you've got experience in a kayak and really want
to master it.
BCU 2* Assessment
Want to know how your skills measure up against what there is
to learn? The individual feedback from this assessment is priceless.
It gives you a custom action plan for your kayaking development.
We recommend taking the training first, separately.
Boat Control
What it says
Awareness/BBB
Efficient, comfortable paddling begins with an awareness of what
your body is doing and should be doing. This helps with everything
from boat control to calmness in challenging circumstances. Valuable
for all levels of paddler
BCU 2* in Open Canoe
Play with a different paddle and pick up on nuances of blade angle.
You'll be surprised how valuable this can be, and fun!
Edging,
Balance & Bracing Classes
Balance & Bracing
Using edges is the basis of efficient steering. Start with good
posture and good boat fit. Then begin training those muscles and
practicing balance. Learn to use your paddle to aid in balance.
As confidence grows, see how effective edging can be!
Grey Zone
You thought balance was only for the upright? This class improves
comfort with edging by laying the body on the water as a starting
point, and coming up or down from there. A brilliant approach.
Especially if you struggle with fear of the water, try this.
Balance & Bracing
At the 3* level, take balance exercises into rougher water or
try them with a cockpit full of water. Build well-founded confidence
for rough conditions.
Rolling
Classes
Rolling and Greenland
Rolling
There simply is no better recovery from a capsize. Whether you're
new to kayaking, or have been paddling for decades, take this
chance to work on your roll. Breath control, calmness underwater,
and body awareness form the foundation of any roll. This flexible,
low ratio class is staffed by coaches with experience in Traditional
and modern techniques.
Grey Zone
Breath control, calmness, and body awareness form the foundation
of any roll. The Grey Zone isolates this foundation and improves
comfort with the water by laying the body on the water as a starting
point, face in the air, and coming up or down from there. A brilliant
approach. If you struggle with fear of the water, try this. If
you try to muscle up a roll, try this.
Classes
in Wind
Intro to Current & Wind, Playing
in Wind
Why does my boat keep turning in the wind? How do I deal with
wind without exhausting myself? You could study physics. You could
experiment a long time. And you could accelerate your learning
curve with a good coach! Is bow or stern more effective to focus
effort on? Will edge and trim make a difference? What's the best
strategy between point A and point B?
New BCU Three Star Sea Training
Refine boat control in dynamic water, develop judgment and basic
navigations skills to improve safety in wind, waves, and current.
New BCU Three Star Sea Assessment
Ready for some really good feedback on how you're doing in wind
and waves? Prepare to be challenged. Assessment requires prior
training at old BCU 4*, new BCU 3*, or old BCU 3*, plus dynamic
water training and experience. Please send proof with registration.
General
Classes
Greenland Forward Stroke, Efficient
Forward Stroke, Competitive Forward
Stroke
It's what we spend so much time doing. Paddle smarter not harder
by utilizing good technique.
Navigation Review
A good land-based refresher.
Navigation Challenges
Practical navigation challenges on the open river for those with
basic navigation experience, or the Navigation Review.
Night Navigation
What if your trip got caught out later than expected? Learn to
navigate yourself back to safety in the dark among the islands,
currents, and shipping channel of the Lower Columbia River.
Games!
Thursday afternoon Games-designed to utilize skills and be tons
of fun!
Dead Fish Polo
Preposterous Propulsion Relay
Pony Races
Cooperative Challenges
Tours
Wednesday evening tours offer a chance to be on the water during
a special time. As the light lengthens, the mood mellows, and
nocturnal animals come out of hiding. Dusk falls, sight dims,
and other senses take over.
Puget Island Sunset
Tour explores the inner estuary of Puget Island-spectacular!
Hunting Island Sunset Tour follows
the historic Elochoman Slough in the path of Lewis & Clark
and ventures out onto the lower Columbia River for a more exposed
route.
Sunday Circumnavigations are designed to summarize the lessons
of the week and reinforce skills while seeing more of the beautiful
Lower Columbia River, enjoying friends new and old, and having
fun.
Round Price Island. Experience the
2 sides of this island in the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife
Refuge- the protected slough where the Great Blue Heron fishes,
and the exposed channel, where currents whittle away at the wilder
side of the island, and vistas open up towards the ocean. 4-5
miles.
Round Hunting Island Interesting
mazes of sloughs wind through Hunting Island, offering great excuses
for maneuvering practice, as well as bountiful wildlife. The open
channel has great views and opportunities to practice basic navigation
skills. Freighters and afternoon wind provide waves for playing.
8-9 miles.
Round Puget Island A 15-17 mile
challenge on the lower Columbia River. Cliffs, waterfalls, scenic
farms, an exposed shipping channel, and a few tree-lined sloughs
complete the loop around this island we call home. The variety
of waters on this loop provide everything from close maneuvering
to afternoon wind waves, currents, and opportunities to make navigational
judgment calls.
Round Sand Island Head out to the
mouth of the Columbia River for some real excitement. Strong currents,
wing dams, ocean swell, and shipping and recreational boating
traffic add to the challenges of paddling in this rugged landscape.
Caspian terns are constant companions, and brown pelicans may
fly by for a visit.
Tillamook Head Coastal Tour (4*)
ventures out onto the rocky and exciting Oregon Coast. This tour
crosses 2 miles of open water to paddle around the impressive
decomissioned lighthouse on Tilamook Head Rock, and explores the
craggy coastline between Cannon Beach and Seaside, OR.
BCU
Star Awards and Coaching Courses, updated 2008 Programs
New BCU One Star - "A Flat water
award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control and
foundation skills."
1-star training
1-star assessment
New BCU Two Star - "An
improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport
skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of
experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing
an understanding into how the paddle, boat and water interact.
This award is significantly different to the old 2 star, with
a change to develop generic movement skills that can transfer
to any discipline .... ie. in a variety of craft."
2-star training
2-star assessment
New BCU Three Star Sea - "Successful
performance at this level indicates that a candidate can consider
themselves an intermediate paddler rather than a beginner. Unlike
the existing award this will be discipline specific with awards
in Sea, Surf, Canoe, WW Kayak, FW Kayak and some of the competitive
disciplines. The three star paddler will be a competent performer
in sheltered to moderate water environments and have the ability
to paddle unsupervised, with similar standard paddlers on sheltered
water. The new award will look similar in structure to the existing
4 star, but with the skills applicable in an easier environment."
3-star sea training
3-star sea assessment
New BCU Four Star - A leadership
award in moderate water.
4-star training (2 days)
4-star update
Coaching Courses
Canoe Safety Test--prerequisite for Coach Level 1 Courses
Coach Level 1 Course (4 days)
For more specific course content, please refer to BCU
star awards link.
Prerequisites:
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all assessments--to have taken the appropriate
training prior to this week. You may repeat a training just
prior to the assessment, but time and practice needs to have
passed since your first training.
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3-star and 4-star trainings--to have passed
the prior assessment, or coach approval
- Coach Level 1 Course--Canoe Safety Test. Bring proof of current
First Aid/CPR, BCU membership and stamped C-1 form, see below.
BCU
Coach Level 1 Course Preparation
Becoming a coach in the BCU is a serious step. Much paperwork
is involved. Please begin now to prepare. Start by learning about
Central Registration. BCU
Central Registration link.
Become a BCU member. Membership
form link
Take an approved First Aid course.
Download and submit a C-1 form with all necessary documentation
and fees. This may take 6 weeks to get back, so start now.
C-1 form link
Please review the BCU 2005
Updates link. These are good things to keep aware of.
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