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Hypothermia/first aid
Sample questions: |
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What could make a mild day
seem cold to a kayaker? |
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Why is a waterproof cag or
anorak important to a kayaker? |
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Environment and access
Sample questions: |
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If you found litter on the
bank or shore, or floating in the
water, what should you do? |
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What sort of things make a
kayak trip on a quiet river or canal an
enjoyable experience? |
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General
Sample questions: |
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What are the main
differences between a canoe and a
kayak? |
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Who are the famous users
of kayaks for hunting? |
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Who are the famous users
of canoes? |
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Practical 'A'
1. Lifting, carrying and launching the kayak. The
candidate must demonstrate good lifting and carrying
principles using legs rather than the back. Assistance is
recommended. The boat must be afloat. Balance must be
maintained. The paddle must remain within reach or can be
used to assist in embarking.
2. Forward paddling over a 100m course. Candidates
must show evidence that they are able to control the
kayak in a straight line over a distance of 100 metres.
Some directional instability is likely to occur but this
should not include complete loss of forward movement or a
continuous careering from side to side.
3. Stopping. This should be demonstrated in both
directions. Opposite motion should be in evidence within
four strokes.
4. Rotate 360 degrees on the spot. Spinning in a
clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation using the
appropriate combination of forward sweeps and reverse
sweeps. Some body rotation to be in evidence.
5. Reverse paddling. The kayak should travel a
distance of 25 metres. Turning the trunk and looking over
one or both shoulders must be in evidence.
6. Paddle a figure-of-8 course. The candidate
should paddle a prescribed figure-of-8 course using a
combination of forward strokes and sweeps to demonstrate
a basic level of steering control.
7. Return to bank and disembark. Correct approach
to the bank, relative to wind, current and type of bank
or shore. Control must be maintained whilst exiting the
boat. Exit without damaging the kayak or the bank.
Practical 'B'
1. Capsize, swim ashore and empty. If a spraydeck
is worn, this may be released before capsizing. The
candidate should remain calm, and quickly regain, and
maintain contact with the kayak. The paddle should be
retained, or collected by swimming the kayak to the
paddle. Swim not more than 10 metres and empty the boat
on the shore. Help can be asked for, so long as the
candidate remains in charge of emptying.
Demonstrate satisfactory beginnings in:
1. Moving sideways. Some body rotation towards the
paddling side should be in evidence. Blade to be well
immersed. Paddle shaft probably not upright at this
stage. Recovery of the blade through the air or sliced in
the water is acceptable. Clear evidence of sideways
movement should be in evidence but some bow or stern
swing is acceptable.
2. Ruddering. With forward movement of the kayak,
the paddle should be inserted to one side of the boat.
Blade should be almost covered, front arm relaxed over
stomach, shaft parallel to side of boat. The kayak should
be kept running in a straight line with the paddle
remaining on the one side.
3. Preventing a capsize. The kayak should be edged
sufficiently to be nearly off balance. Low recovery
strokes should be demonstrated on both sides.
This course and assessment will run over 2 days. |
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British Canoe Union Star Tests
Two Star Test - Closed Cockpit Kayak
Aim
An improvement award that covers the basic flat water skills.
The emphasis is on creating the desired movement of the boat
through developing an understanding of cause and effect rather
than concentrating on rigidly defined strokes. 2 Star level is
required for attending a course for the qualification of Level 1
Coach.
Prerequisites
BCU 1 Star Test. Where a candidate does not hold this award a
small cross-section of 1 Star techniques should be incorporated at
the assessor's discretion.
Venue
Sheltered water, (not a swimming pool)
Theory
A question or two of a similar level should be asked under each
heading.
Equipment
Sample questions: |
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What is an asymmetric paddle
blade? |
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What is the advantage of an
asymmetric paddle blade? |
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Why is a racing boat faster than a
touring or short white water boat? |
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Safety
Sample questions: |
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Why can it be dangerous to kayak on
open water before you are sufficiently
experienced? |
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Why should you wear a buoyancy aid
even if you are a good swimmer? |
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Why are weirs dangerous? |
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What is Leptospirosis, and what
precautions can you take against it? |
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Hypothermia/first Aid
Sample questions: |
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What (in simple terms) is meant by
'hypothermia'? |
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How is hypothermia avoided? |
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Why should you cover cuts and
grazes with a waterproof dressing? |
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Access
Sample questions: |
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Can you paddle your kayak on just
any river or canal? |
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What would you do if someone told
you that you had no right to be canoeing where
you are? |
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Environment
Sample questions: |
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What is the most beautiful place in
which you have been with your kayak? |
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What is the best wildlife encounter
you have had while canoeing? |
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What is the principle you should
apply when you leave a picnic or camping site? |
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Planning
Sample questions: |
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What should you take with you to
ensure your comfort on a short trip? |
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How far do you think you could
paddle in a day without becoming too tired and
fed up? |
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General
Sample questions: |
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Name three different types of
kayaking competition? |
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What is meant by 'white water'
kayaking? |
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Group Awareness
Sample questions: |
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How could you help someone who was
having difficulty in keeping up on a trip? |
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Why is it important to keep
together as a group when journeying? |
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Practical 'A'
1. Lifting, carrying and launching the kayak.
Candidate to demonstrate good and safe lifting and carrying
principles. Boat to be afloat and entry into it without any aid
from the paddle, though the paddle must be close, i.e. within
reach.
2. Efficient forward paddling. To paddle a distance of
about 200 metres. Posture upright but natural. Continuous natural
rhythmic paddling, some trunk rotation in evidence. A reasonable
degree of steering accuracy to be achieved inciuding 50 metres at
a good cruising speed.
3. Reverse paddling and stopping. Candidates should
demonstrate controlled and reasonably accurate reverse paddling
over a distance of 25 metres towards a point defined by the
assessor. When reversing, looking over one shoulder and unwinding
the trunk to produce power must be in evidence. Back (non-drive)
face of the paddle presented to the water. For stopping, the canoe
should be travelling at a good cruising speed and motion in the
opposite direction should be evident within 4 strokes.
4. Moving the kayak sideways. Move boat sideways 5
metres retaining directional stability. Blade to remain submerged
throughout stroke. Top arm no lower than shoulder height. Body
rotation. Lower arm extends fully at start of stroke, top hand
acts as pivot.
5. Preventing a capsize. Show an efficient low
recovery stroke with the boat off balance. A good firm push, with
associated hip rotation, should be evident. For high recovery
stroke the boat must be off balance with water up to the paddlers
waist. Repeated on both sides.
6. Ruddering. The kayak to be paddled up to a good
speed, then kept running in a straight line through a narrow gap
by the use of a trailing paddle.
7. Turning. The kayak to be turned whilst on the move
using firstly a series of sweep strokes, secondly a low brace
turn. For the low brace turn, the turn is to be induced by a short
effective sweep on the opposite side followed by a good edge into
the turn; the paddle should be in the low brace position, level or
just in front of hip, shaft as parallel to surface of water as
boat will allow, back of the blade on the water. The boat carves a
slow, stable turn.
8. Disembarking. Correct approach to the bank, exit
kayak without use of the paddle. Balance and control of the boat
to be maintained. Exit without damaging the kayak or the bank.
9. Securing. The candidate must understand the concept
of securing boats at the end of the session, either by tying down
or putting onto purpose-made racks, using ropes with a secure knot.
Practical 'B'
1. Deep Water Rescue. Take charge of a deep water
rescue which should be carried out with assistance, then act as
the victim.
Demonstrate satisfactory beginnings in:
1. Sculling draw. Body turned towards gunwale. Paddle
shaft fairly upright, drive face towards the kayak and deep in the
water. Kayak edged slightly to avoid water going onto deck.
2 Sculling support. Kayak edged so that it is just off
balance. Paddle shaft horizontal, drive face on the water, leading
edge of blade raised on each slow scull. Arms flexed in a natural
position. (For the purpose of this test, the assessor should
regard sculling as a balancing and paddle-control exercise, not as
a means of survival in a stopper.)
3. Eskimo rescue. Recovery with lower body rotation
from an upside down position whilst maintaining a hold on the
rescuer's bow. May be preceded with practice until recovering from
an upside down position. Candidate to act both as rescuer and as
victim.
4. Edging. Candidate to paddle a circle with inside
and outside edging being evident. The direction of the turn which
is induced is not significant.
Journeying
1. Provide evidence of at least 1 journey of about 2 hours
(6 km) duration.
This course will be delivered over 4 days and will include
the 6 km journey on the River Bann. |
