Experience White Water Level Four Canoeing 

  White water on the prairies, what are you talking about? Really , the Southern Alberta area quietly boasts some fantastic white water paddling for all levels and some as close as 25 minutes from Lethbridge. If the Oldman River in our valley just doesn't float your boat you can soak yourself in white water with confidence with our experience white water level four. This is a 10 hour program including drive time designed for people who have already taken level two canoeing and would like to feel the power of  class two+ white water.

To begin your experience we will be meeting at the High Level Store at 7:30am where the students will be outfitted with their boats and gear. From here you will be travelling with us up to the Crowsnest River where the students will continue their education with a one hour dryland session covering techniques used on flat water and how they can be applied to moving water. We will also be going over river hydrology and morphology and how this changes the boat reactions. River safety will be a priority in this course and extensively covered, beginning with various river hazards, swimming, in current, two person and self rescues, hypothermia, trip planning, river classification, signals and whistles and good boat control. Our goal is to make sure you have control of your boat and not the river dictating your direction. We will also make sure you understand that you should only paddle at or below your skill level to ensure safe and happy river experiences. We will be on the river for approximately 5 hours and will finish at Todd Creek returning to the store by 6:00pm. Prior to this course the students should have an idea of what boat design they would like to use and this boat will be used for the day. In this session our goal is to develop our students into becoming safe knowledgeable paddlers covering a range of advanced techniques with the potential for day touring to multi day tripping or the next levels moving white water. (note you will be getting wet and be asked to exit your kayak if capsized but not to worry as our staff loves helping you through this adventure.)

This experience will teach you a variety of advanced skills in a safe and fun approach while helping build confidence and self esteem. From here you will have the chance to advance your training with our continued education programs and establish more confidence on the water. The certified instructors at High Level Canoes and Kayaks are trained in instructing paddlers of all ages and will lead you through age related skills and drills with lots of thrills. At the same time we strive to instill upon all participants the importance of safe paddling in all water related activities. (and a reminder you will be getting wet.)

Prerequisite:

age 12+
good swimming skills required
real world master paddler plus level two canoe required

Requirements:

change of clothes and towel
lunch with a couple of bottles of water
swimwear
preregistration and waiver
medical provisions that maybe pertinent for the staff
(all information is kept confidential)

Techniques covered:

transporting
packing
safety on and off the water
wet exiting (filpping over inthe boat and getting wet)
hand paddle (body, boat, blade)
boat balancing
forward stroke
back stroke
stopping forward and backward
turning strokes (sweep forward and backward and combined)
combined strokes (figure eight)
side stroke (basic draw, t draw sculling draw)
power forward stroke
bracing low and high
edging
tripping
stern ruddge
duffeck stroke
combination forward stroke, power stroke, edge, sweep, stern rudder, low brace
hip flick
T rescue
throw bag recovery
rafting
signals
river safety
ferrying
river reading
eddy turns
surfing
hazards
swimming in current
whistles
seal launch
moving water roll

Provided:

all paddling gear
all water related clothing
pfd and all safety gear
transportation to and from High Level store

Costs:

$105.00 +gst

Registration 2012