The Advanced Big Canoe Leader Skills introduces paddlers to new challenges to move a big canoe in tight areas.
Students will thoroughly enjoy maximizing the tilt of the canoe to their offside edge while not only moving forward but backwards. Each student will not only learn these advanced skills from the stern but also how each position will expand their strokes to assist in making more dynamic and complex manoeuvres.
Students will also expand their knowledge about paddling these canoes in moderate windy conditions as well as grow in confidence and experience the true stability and power of the big canoe.
Signals among multiple canoes like whistles and paddles
Communication devices
Transport Canada Guided Excursion Regulations
Paddle Canada Requirements
General Paddling Skills
Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
Offside tilts and commanding a crew
Performance paddling
Paddle Strokes
Forward and reverse strokes
Check (stop)
Draw and pry
Forward sweep stern only
Reverse sweep stern only
Low brace
Drop skeg
Optional strokes for the bow position like draws and pry's
Concepts
Preparatory and immediate calls
Grouping of crew positions and roles
Advanced commands
Manoeuvres
Forward and reverse straight lines
Switching sides while under power
Pivots (crew: pry’s and draws)
Forward/reverse carved turns (offside tilts)
Precision docking
Side slipping
Shift (side slipping under power)
Standing for scouting
Knowledge
Risk management
Paddling within your ability
Paddlesmart
Leave No Trace principles
Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)
Course Prerequisites
Certification
Intermediate Lake Tandem Canoe, or
Intermediate Big Canoe Leader Skills
First Aid
Current Standard First Aid or Wilderness First Aid (location dependent)
The Small Print
The content on this page is provided for information only and could be incorrect or outdated. The course program manual is the official syllabus.
If you have any specific syllabus questions, please get in touch with the
Canoe Program Committee who is responsible for the development and maintaince of this course.
Our mission is to promote, educate, and support the recreational paddling community, paddling instructors, and partners.