NE Intermediate RWS Course Schedule (3-19-10)
See below for course descriptions
| Course | Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Gardens 1 (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| Rock Gardens 2 (1 day) | X
|
X
|
X
|
| *Rock Gardens 3 (1 day) | X
|
X
|
|
| Surf and Rescue Clinic (1 day) | X |
X |
X |
| *+ Surf & Rescue Clinic Adv. | X |
X |
|
| Intermediate Strokes in Conditions (1 day) | X |
X |
X |
| Tidal Training 1 (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| *Tidal Training 2 (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| *Tidal Training 3 (1 day) | X |
X |
X |
| Incident Management and Safety Think (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| Core Paddling: Real Power for Regular Paddlers (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| Rock and Roll-all paddles (1 day) | X |
X |
X |
| Rolling Into Waves-all paddles (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| Greenland Moving Water Basics (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| *Greenland Moving Water Inter. (1 day) | X |
X |
|
| *BCU Coastal Nav & Tidal Train (1 day) | X |
||
| **BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training (2 days) | X |
X |
|
| **+Advanced Leadership & BCU 5 Star Tidal Train. (1 day) | X |
X |
X |
* Pre-requisites ** BCUNA requirements. See www.bcuna.com +Conditions dependent
NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium
Course Descriptions For June 2010 Programs
Rock Gardens 1, 2 and 3 – 1 day, Fri-Sun
Paddling along New England’s beautiful rocky coasts offers excitement and skills more attuned to whitewater paddling. We’ll be focusing on controlling your bow and receiving wave energy from all sides and angles, but particularly from your beam, while sliding down into holes and over to safety. You’ll be studying the underwater rocks and ledges, the release of wave energy, the intersection of swell with refracting and reflecting waves. Learn that rocks are your friend! This wet, challenging day is for those seeking the thrill and challenge of sliding down and around in the rocking and rolling environment of New England’s rock gardens. Rocks and ledges train us for dynamic, effective strokes, in a wide variety of rough water and seemingly erratic breaking waves. Exhilarating and challenging, you will learn how to tune in, study confused breaking zones, and practice real life rescues. Prior experience required. This is not a machismo experience. We recommend this training for most all paddlers given appropriate conditions. Lets go gardening!
For Rock Gardens 1: developing bracing skills is a minimum, roll helpful. Helmet required
For Rock Gardens 2: effective bracing and flat water roll a minimum. Helmet required.
For Rock Gardens 3: rough water roll required, full contact possible. Helmet required.
Surf and Rescue Clinic – 1 day, Fri- Sun
The real excitement of sea kayaking arises from its unique structures created by swells and tidal streams, which form the slopes we get to slide down. Sea kayaks are particularly adept in bump water, and this course focuses on running down wave on beach breaks or tidal races. We’ll work on wave shape and choice, surf technique, surf survival, real-world bracing and rolling, specialized stroke development, while practicing the latest in rough water paddling and rescue techniques. Prior rough water experience and braces required, along with your helmet. Roll helpful. Aim for the low spot, come get wet, it's a gas.
Surf and Rescue Clinic, Advanced – 1 day, Sat, Sun
We’ll take it up a solid level and develop our control while on the wave, work the critical finesse moves and expand our existing stroke repertoires to apply to deep turns and exits. Helmet and effective roll in average conditions required.
Intermediate Strokes in Conditions, There are Only 2 Strokes – 1 day, Fri-Sun
This workshop will increase your confidence and commitment to effective strokes in moderate conditions. For those who have the basics of their strokes on board, this on-water workshop is designed to help you develop effective strokes in bouncy waters…to get you more comfortable in varied conditions. We can tune up your maneuvering and bracing while playing in appropriate seas. You’ll gain better control of the front half of your boat, and understand better the connection between you boat, blade, body and brain. You’ll leave with exercises to continue your stroke development to a more functional level. After all there’s really only 2 strokes, one on the right and another on the left…Helmet required.
Tidal Training I – 1 day, Fri, Sat
So you’ve got your basic strokes and rescues, now lets apply them to the sea’s unique tidal environment. We’ll cover the basic theories of tide and currents, the effect of landforms and swell, how to plan and prepare for paddling in tide areas, basic safety procedures and specialized skill sets. This training is primarily on the water but in the less exposed, more moderate flows available so we can build a solid foundation. Basic rescues and braces required, along with a helmet.
Tidal Training II – 1 day, Fri- Sun
We’ll venture out into more exposed conditions of tidal movement and practice boat control, group awareness, navigation in tidal streams, safety procedures and rescues. We’ll study and experience where and how the sea state changes with the tides. Prior basic awareness and experience with tide streams expected, along with ability to help with your and others rescues. Basics of tidal streams, races and overfalls should be in place before you join us on this training. Solid bracing in breaking water required along with your helmet. Roll helpful. Lets go!
Tidal Training III – 1 day, Fri- Sun
Training content will be much like the Race Rock Adv Leadership and BCU 5 Star Training with less emphasis on developing your leadership judgment and skills, and more focus on your personal paddling skills in a committing tidal race.
This workshop will be heading out to the strongest of the tidal streams available each day and so pre-requisites are adequate experience to take care of both yourself and your paddling partners in high volume tidal streams of 3+ knots. Coaches may want to have experience with you prior to launching on this training. The volume of moving water will be greater, and require an ability to paddle hard for extended periods, upwards of several hours at a time. Fishers Race involves a ten mile commute (out and back and often against the tide) before the hard work is engaged. So be honest with yourself and others and join us only if you are ready. Rough water roll required along with full safety gear and helmet.
Incident Management & Safety Think – Are You Ready? - 1 day, Fri, Sat
If you are a de facto leader of your family, friends or club, then come challenge yourself, see how you size up, have some fun, and learn to think quick and creative under real scenarios. This on-water course is taught in a variety of different environments and designed to help you develop a logical thought process. Incidents may include sea sickness, dislocated shoulders, trapped paddlers, heart attack, holes in boats, broken paddles, lost equipment, imploded hatch covers, hypothermia, very difficult landings, hard towing, and other tough incidents. Course gives the test before the lesson, and will reduce the chance of such incidents happening to you, and help you handle then when they do come up. Helmet required.
Core Paddling - Real Power for Regular Paddlers – 1 day, Fri, Sat
Are you consciously driving your boat forward from your core? Do you power down through torso into your hips and push your boat, or are you still cycling your arms and just pulling your paddle? Paddle pressure needs to get into your boat. There’s a reason kayak sprinting is an Olympic sport. Forward paddling is a constant challenge to consistently, crisply, keep your kayak accelerating and freely gliding. Set that catch, unwind the body’s smooth, strong power, slice to that clean exit, release that boat to glide twice as long…and do it all over again and again. You will be stronger, faster and last longer after today’s course. This day is designed for normal touring paddlers, not for the racers…and we’ll get a chance to tour the sights of the area!
ROLLING, SCULLING, TRADITIONAL GREENLAND PADDLING
Rock and Roll For All Paddle Types – 1 day
Haven’t quite mastered that roll? Or want to learn more advanced rolls? Storm roll? Reverse Sweep? Sculling Rolls? No matter what blade you use, learn to roll no matter your paddle or conditions. Learn to roll from your core. Using a Greenland blade offers several advantages to understanding rolling mechanics to your own blade, body, boat. A must for all single method rollers.
Basic Moving Water for the Greenland style paddler – 1 day
Skinny stickers that haven’t yet played in moving water, explore the ebb and flow of the coastal environment, and develop a better understanding of traditional strokes in conditions. Practice your rolling and bracing skills in moving water.
Intermediate Moving Water for the Greenland style paddler – 1 day
Intermediate and advanced traditional paddlers, come play with us in the ebb and flow of the coastal environment, in waves, surf and tidal streams. Fine tune your GP strokes in moving water, in waves, and in rougher conditions. Develop open water rolling and bracing skills. Depending on conditions of the day, experience surf by skinny stick. GP and a reliable roll required. Forward-finishing rolls [reverse sweep/storm] highly recommended.
Rolling into Waves for all paddle types – 1 day
You've worked out your flat water roll in one form or more. But in conditions it isn't working out quite as expected. Challenge yourself to learn where and when to effectively use a variety of rolls in concert with the waves and sea states. Sort out the 'which roll, when? This is a decision-based, experiential based program. Figure when to roll through the surf break? Do you roll or deep brace on a beam wave? Come find out. Any blade. Rock and Roll class highly recommended as prerequisite.
BCU TRAININGS
Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning – 1 day, Fri
Prerequisite for new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader award, and applicable for all paddlers journeying several miles offshore with tidal movement areas up to 2 knots, winds to force 4. Designed to compliment areas covered in new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training.
Course is partially shore based but practical with real planning exercises. Topics will include weather systems and their effect on the sea states, forecasting, tidal system theory practice and anomalies, effect of landforms, maps charts and pilots, coastal trip planning, practical on-water navigation, bearings, transits, timing, Rules of the Road. For more info see http://www.bcuna.com/pages/Main-Pages/Literature.shtml
BCU 4 Star Sea Leadership Training – 2 days, Sat & Sun
The BCU 4 Star Leader Sea Kayak award aims to develop trip leader skills and leadership abilities to lead and guide a group of up to four paddlers on shorter day journeys in moderate tidal water with winds and sea states below Force 5. It is a leadership award, not a BCU coaching award. This new 4 Star is a welcome advancement in the BCU and moves toward the old 5 Star Sea award. It extends the leadership training down into those leading others on the sea in most Northeast waters, less than the conditions of the standard 5 Star paddler. This new 4 Star expects its candidates to have a working understanding of the variety of environments, conditions, hazards and overall responsibilities applied to leading other paddlers in moderate tidal conditions and sea states. For pre-requisites http://www.bcuna.com/pages/Main-Pages/Literature.shtml
Note: It is possible to run a 4 Star Sea Leader Assessment after the RWS for those who have previously trained and are ready. Please email Tom Bergh, tom@maineislandkayak.com
Advanced Open Water Leadership & BCU 5 Star Sea Tidal Training module – 1 day, Fri, Sat, Sun
Leadership in off shore expeditioning and stronger tidal work is the hallmark of the BCU’s Five Star Sea Leader award. Anyone who plays in such waters needs to be on-board with developing their leadership capabilities. This course is suitable for solid 4 Star equivalent paddlers, for guides, trip leaders and advanced paddlers taking people into exposed, open sea conditions.
Develop your personal paddling and seamanship skills while emphasizing leadership and decision making in moving water conditions. The format is designed to train you to operate in exposed zones with no landing zones, while overseeing and helping your group perform at its best. The course is especially appropriate for those with a clear commitment to leading, guiding or actively assisting others on multi day trips or in exposed conditions. Portions of these workshops will likely be conducted well offshore in venues deep into Long Island Sound. The power increases significantly on the ebb available this year. A solid day here may satisfy the BCU 5 Star Tidal endorsement training day - at the sole discretion of the coaches and the BCUNA administrator. http://www.bcuna.com/pages/Main-Pages/Literature.shtml