White water skills - introduction

Nick Woodgate surfing the stopper - Yalding Weir Grant Scamell breaking in - Yalding weir

This course covers the white water skills applicable to the British Canoeing White Water Personal Performance Award.

It's based at Yalding weir where conditions range from easy grade 1 to powerful grade 2 plus water conditions, depending on the amount of water being released from the sluice gates.

The course is suitable for strong flat water kayakers who want to progress onto white water or paddlers with limited white water experience who would like to develop their skills further. Being able to eskimo roll is not essential but is highly desirable.

We only cover the white water skills element of the award on this course. Should paddlers wish to complete the full award, we will be running a two day course on the river Canche in Northern France which covers the other elements of the award. (Dates by arrangement).

The course covers:

* Reading white water features on the river

* Safety on the river

* Breaking into the current

* Breaking out of the current

* S turns from one eddy to another

* Crossing the current (Ferry glides)

* High cross

* Getting out of stoppers

* Dynamic paddling to maintain control on moving water

The course is run by Grant Scamell - British Canoeing Level 5 White Water coach.

Participants would normally be expected to provide their own equipment at this level. (Please contact us if you would like to discuss borrowing equipment from us for the course).