The Beginner River Kayak Skills course is designed to teach participants to paddle on Class I Rivers. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of moving water and kayaking safety.
Participants should be encouraged to take a Basic First Aid Course and a Swift Water Rescue Course if they wish to continue towards the intermediate level.
Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to confidently navigate Class I Rivers in a group setting.
This course runs in Class-1 conditions which are described as:
Non-challenging waters with mild wind effect (0-20 km/h or 0–11 knots), little or no current (0-1 km/h or 0–0.5 knots), uninterrupted easy landing options, and ready access to land-based assistance. Sea state is calm to light chop.
Minimal exposure to kayaks is expected for this course, it is intended as an introduction to moving water, participants who have never been in a kayak would likely find value in taking a Flatwater River Kayak Skills course.
Paddling Gear
The kayak must have sufficient buoyancy, float bag/bulkhead, to float after a wet exit.
A helmet approved for use in moving water.
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The content on this page is provided for information only and could be incorrect or outdated.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
River Kayak 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.
