Unfinalized Course Schedule of
The Second Annual
Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup
August 18-24, 2008

A fun, community-minded, BCU skill-based sea kayak symposium
hosted by Columbia River Kayaking and Skamokawa Center
in Wahkiakum County, WA.

 

The Loco Roundup is open to all paddlers, aspiring paddlers, and coaches.
The variety of conditions provided by the Lower Columbia River and the coast is ideal!

Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup 2008
TENTATIVE class schedule

This schedule is a work in progress--there will be changes!

 

  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Mon 18        
9:30am     BCU 2* in open canoe BCU 3* Sea Assessment
      Canoe Safety Test BCU 4* Sea Update
       
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Tue 19 6    
9:30am   BCU 3* Sea Train BCU 2* in open canoe BCU 4*Sea Train 1/2
  Moving Water Greenland Basics (3*)   Coach Level 1 part 1/4

Coastal Caves Tour
6:45 am departure

       
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Wed 20 7-8    
9:30am BCU 2* Assessment Greenland Techniques (1*-2*) BCU 2* in open canoe BCU 4*Sea Train 2/2
    Observation & Feedback Wkshp(am) Coach Level 1 part 2/4 Lower Columbia 3* Sea Tour (Bridge to Deep River)
1:00-4:00 Navigation Review (land) Student-directed coaching Wkshp  
    Greenland /SOF Rescue (1*-2*)  
Wed nite      
7-9:30pm Puget Island Sunset Tour   Hunting Island Sunset Tour
10pm-2am   Night Navigation  
       
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Thu 21 11    
9:30-4:00 Intro to Current & Wind BCU 2* Training BCU 2* in open canoe 3* Sea Assessment
    Coach Level 1 part 3/4 Canoe Safety Test  
    Intro to Kayaking (1*) full day    
9:30-12:00 Competitive Forward Stroke   Roll & Greenland Roll  
      Balance & Bracing  
1:30-4:00 Incident Management   Roll & Greenland Roll Leadership Strategies
      Effective Rescues  
5:30-6:30   Games for All!    
         
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Fri 22 10      
9:30-4:00 Coach Level 1 part 4/4 Intro Assessment (1*) Greenland Intensive (1*-2*) 4* Sea Update
9:30-12:00 Balance & Bracing First Strokes/Paddle Start Grey Zone  
  Awareness/BBB Basic Maneuvers Efficient Forward Stroke  
       
1:30-4:00 Playing with Wind   Roll & Greenland Roll  
  Incident Management Awareness/BBB Boat Control  
    Basic Rescues    
5:30-7:30 Farmers Market & Open Grill      
         
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Sat 23 10      
9:30-12:00 Intro to Kayaking (1*) Observation & Feedback Workshop Roll & Greenland Roll Surf Zone
  Basic Maneuvers Competitive Forward Stroke Grey Zone Greenland Coastal (4*)
    Greenland Forward Stroke (1-2*) Awareness/BBB  
         
1:30-4:00 Grey Zone Navigation Challenges (water) Effective Rescues  
  Basic Rescues Effective Edging Boat Control  
  Greenland /SOF Rescue (1-2*) Roll & Greenland Roll  
         
5:00-6:00   Sticks & Stones Greenland Roll-off    
         
  Slow Boat Farm Skamokawa Center Elochoman Marina Elsewhere
Sun 24        
9:00-3:00

Round Puget Island (3*)
or Round Sand Island (3*)

Round Price Island (1*) Round Hunting Island (2*)

Tillamook Head Coastal Tour (4*)

         

color code:

Novice 1* Build good foundations and review the basics.
Beginner/Intermediate 2* Develop understanding of how body, paddle, boat, and water interact. Build confidence with steering, edging, rescues, bracing, rolling.
Intermediate/Open Water 3* Improve performance in dynamic water.
Sea Paddling 4* Explore the edge of the continent with some of the best coaches around.
Greenland courses are offered for a variety of levels. Most other courses are not blade specific, and sticks are welcome.
Coach Courses prerequisites--New BCU 2* award, first aid, stamped C-1 form

While you can learn much from classes rated "below" your skill level, we recommend choosing from one location per day to keep logistics simple.

Link to BCU star award syllabi

"Elsewhere" course locations depends upon weather & sea conditions. Cape Disappointment State Park, Ilwaco, WA or a north Oregon Coast site are the most likely. Coaches will be leaving from Slow Boat Farm each morning.

 

Class Descriptions

Introductory Classes Traditional Greenland Classes
Rescue Classes Strokes and Maneuvers Classes
Edge, Balance & Bracing Classes Roll Classes
Wind Classes General Classes
Games Tours
BCU Courses

 

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:

  • 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.
  • 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.

 

 

Class Registration form help

Basically, the info we're looking for is at what level you currently paddle, and what you'd like to learn.
With that we'll try our best to get you what you came for.

  1. read what classes are offered.
  2. at what level do you paddle?
  3. what classes look the most interesting?
    You're choosing more than you have time for, in case anything has to change, or in case you don't want a tour. We ask for your favorites as well as your schedule in case there's a way to get you more of what you want.
  4. schedule your event. Staying within one color for each day will greatly reduce shuttling.
  5. Saturday afternoon games are tons of fun, as well as valuable skill enhancing activities.
    Come out and play with us!
  6. Sunday Tours 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. Tell us what kind of conditions you like to paddle in, how far you like to go, and what tour sounded interesting. Or suggest something you'd like to try.

Roundup main page
Roundup Registration page

 

 

Roundup
Pages
& links

Loco Roundup Home

Classes

Registration Info

Area maps

Skamokawa Center

Columbia River Kayaking

Slow Boat Farm

 

PDF files:

Registration

Risk Acceptance

Lunch Order

BCU Course Form

Event Schedule

 

Local:

Wahkiakum County

Puget Island Farmer's Market

 

Kayaking:

Tides, Tongue Point Currents

National Weather Service

BCU North America

Qajaq USA

 

Roundup
Pages
& links

Loco Roundup Home

Classes

Registration Info

Area maps

Skamokawa Center

Columbia River Kayaking

Slow Boat Farm

 

PDF files:

Registration

Risk Acceptance

Lunch Order

BCU Course Form

Event Schedule

 

Local:

Wahkiakum County

Puget Island Farmer's Market

 

Kayaking:

Tides, Tongue Point Currents

National Weather Service

BCU North America

Qajaq USA

 

Roundup
Pages
& links

Loco Roundup Home

Classes

Registration Info

Area maps

Skamokawa Center

Columbia River Kayaking

Slow Boat Farm

 

PDF files:

Registration

Risk Acceptance

Lunch Order

BCU Course Form

Event Schedule

 

Local:

Wahkiakum County

Puget Island Farmer's Market

 

Kayaking:

Tides, Tongue Point Currents

National Weather Service

BCU North America

Qajaq USA

 

Roundup
Pages
& links

Loco Roundup Home

Classes

Registration Info

Area maps

Skamokawa Center

Columbia River Kayaking

Slow Boat Farm

 

PDF files:

Registration

Risk Acceptance

Lunch Order

BCU Course Form

Event Schedule

 

Local:

Wahkiakum County

Puget Island Farmer's Market

 

Kayaking:

Tides, Tongue Point Currents

National Weather Service

BCU North America

Qajaq USA

 

Roundup
Pages
& links

Loco Roundup Home

Classes

Registration Info

Area maps

Skamokawa Center

Columbia River Kayaking

Slow Boat Farm

 

PDF files:

Registration

Risk Acceptance

Lunch Order

BCU Course Form

Event Schedule

 

Local:

Wahkiakum County

Puget Island Farmer's Market

 

Kayaking:

Tides, Tongue Point Currents

National Weather Service

BCU North America

Qajaq USA