Advanced Kayaking Course

This full 5 day course of intense instruction and adventure will leave you with the basic skills and solid confidence for running up to grade II+ whitewater. Starting with flat-water drills and rescues, we will progress to basic swift water rescue, river reading and maneuvers, and finally, running the rapids. The on-river days will be done at a high guide ratio of no more than 6 students per certified instructor to ensure maximum safety and to aide in all students learning.

Course will start on the gorgeous Canadian National Heritage River, The North Saskatchewan. As the week progresses, we will road trip down to the world-famous whitewater of the upper Red Deer and Kananaskis rivers, as dependent on the skill level of all participants and current weather conditions.

Prerequisites:

Some previous experience in basic paddling and/or river knowledge is required to take this course. For those with no previous experience or who want a refresher, the two-day Intro Kayaking Course can be taken on the weekend immediately prior to this course.

Sample Agenda

Day 1: We will head out to the lake to refresh all strokes, drills, and rescues. The afternoon we will spend at the River Confluence, reviewing hydrology, river signals, swimming, eddy turns, and ferrying maneuvers.
Day 2: River run down the North Saskatchewan. We may do a longer or shorter introductory run, based on the group’s skill and confidence level. Camp out night two. There will be an optional evening lake clinic to work on kayak rolls (usually the most challenging skill for all students) and rescues on beautiful Crimson Lake.
Day 3-5: Road-trip!!! We will head first down to the classic and lovely upper reaches of the Red Deer River, west of Sundre. Numerous options exist for length and difficulty of our whitewater runs. Our last day we will hopefully spend on the famous Kananaskis River. The human-tweaked lower “Kan” as it is known, has been called by some river professionals as “The Best Whitewater Access and Facility in North America.”

Gear List

Swim trucks/athletic bathing suit (please no bikinis)
Warm Clothes (fleecies top/bottoms) & toque
Water bottle/Thermos
Water shoes/sandals
Personal Wetsuit - optional (we have a limited selection ourselves).
PFD (if you have your own, otherwise we supply).
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun-hat.
Sleeping bag/blanket for the lodge
Camping gear: tent (we have some) sleeping pad, extra clothes, headlamp).
Toiletries
Camera
Notepad & pencil
Drytop* (available for rent at MEC, UofC OPC.

*Mandatory!!!

NOTE: COE has a fleet of whitewater kayaks ranging in size from older “slalom” downriver boats to smaller, sleeker, “playboats.” If you have questions or concerns about boat fit, don’t hesitate to call. All students are encouraged to try different kayaks, as fit is very personal. There may be an opportunity on course to demo other boats through the Rocky Canoe Club. If you are particular, MEC and the major Universities have kayaks for rent through their outdoor loan pools.

Dates 2010

**Arrive after dinner on evening of start date**

June 4th (eve) – 11th

Registration deadline 2 weeks before course start date

Cost

$843 + GST (=$885)
This includes:

Home Cooked Meals
Accommodation in our Lodge & Camping fees.
Instruction
Use of Kayaks, paddles, PFD’s, helmets, etc.

Add-on guiding days available for 1 guest/guide at $350/day and for 2 guests/guide at $200 each/day

Sign Me Up!

Fill out the Adult Course Registration Form and email it or fax it to us. with a deposit of $90/person. Be prepared to fill out a Waiver Form when you arrive.

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For more information about our programs please contact us:
COE, Box 7, Nordegg, Alberta, T0M 2H0
Phone: (403) 721-2208 Fax: 1-888-314-3690 E-mail:info@coe.ca