Trainer Guide: Advanced Whitewater Skills

Transcription

1 Training outcomes After the learners have successfully completed this unit and the associated assessment activities, they will have the knowledge, skills, experience, communication and leadership attributes necessary to control a canoe or kayak on Grade 3 and above water. Training objectives For the learners to be able to demonstrate the following in relation to Grade 3 water: select and use appropriate white water paddling equipment embark and disembark safely and efficiently control the craft with suitable stokes and technique, avoiding hazards and using hydrological features plan and run a selected, appropriate route through a rapid apply capsize procedures Topics covered are: personal equipment safety equipment rescue equipment embarking and disembarking strokes technique hydrological features in Grade 3 water and above hazards negotiating Grade 3 and above rapids communication capsize procedure What does the learner need to know before starting? The prerequisite for this course is Whitewater Skills Integrated assessment This unit must be assessed in conjunction with Whitewater Rescue 2 Teaching strategies Discussions Short lecture/presentation Demonstrations, together with explanations Practical activities including: supervised practice with feedback river trips video analysis Resources Location A variety of safe outdoor locations offering Grade 3 or above rapids are needed for the learner to gain experience in the full range of variables related to hazards and hydrological features. It may not be possible for all hazards and hydrological features to be encountered, therefore this award is only granted when learners have had the required experience on all features. A swimming pool may be used for introducing or refining rolling techniques. Suitable, safe surf beaches can provide warm, fun environments for refining skills which are used on rivers. Australian Canoeing Page 1

2 Equipment Appropriate white water paddling and rescue equipment should be used by the learners and trainers. Paddling equipment suitable for Grade 3 water must include: whitewater designed craft with buoyancy and endloops helmet PFD spraydeck on enclosed deck craft suitable clothing The trainer s craft should be suitable for performing a range of different deep water rescues. Essential safety equipment that should be carried by the trainer: First Aid kit whistle (one that still works when waterlogged) Safety equipment that should be accessible at a fixed location or carried on a river trip: spare paddle repair kit suitable for craft Rescue equipment that should be carried by the trainer: throwbag tow line knife Rescue equipment that should be accessible at a fixed location or carried on a river trip: static rope karabiners Prusik loops and slings pulleys Teaching resources Some of the following may be used: instructional videos videos of rivers video cameras with LCDs for providing instant feedback on technique data projectors slides overhead projectors whiteboards butchers paper examples of equipment text books Human resources Written and visual resources How to select and use appropriate equipment for Grade 3 water Learners need to gain knowledge of: the definition of each grade of water according to the International River Grading System, including the strengths and limitations of the grading system and examples of local rivers of various grades the variety of craft and equipment suitable for use on Grade 3 and above water the different design features that make various craft better suited to particular rivers, paddlers and intended uses how to select appropriate craft, clothing and other personal equipment to suit their personal needs and the context of the planned usage on Grade 3 water Australian Canoeing Page 2

3 how to fit out and adjust the craft to suit their individual needs how to select, use, waterproof and securely stow rescue, safety and repair equipment for trips on Grade 3 and above water View different types of white water craft and equipment Discuss the design features and applications of different white water craft including: construction material length volume hull and deck shape weight footrest and bracing Discuss the design features and applications of different white water equipment Try paddling a variety of white water craft Show and Tell of personal equipment Demonstrate waterproofing equipment and stowing techniques Discuss the range of personal and safety equipment possibly required when undertaking trips on Grade 3 and above water Demonstrate and discuss the personalised fitting out and adjustment of craft to suit the paddler Show slides, video or photos of rapids to illustrate the International River Grading System with particular reference to Grade 3 water and above rivers Discuss the advantages and limitations of the International River Grading System List local rivers that are of the whole range of the International River Grading System, discussing the defining features of each river Embarking and disembarking Learners need to gain knowledge of: how to select suitable locations for embarking/disembarking including eddies, moving water from the bank and ledges/ rocks methods of embarking/disembarking from a variety of different locations in Grade 3 water in a stable and efficient manner Identify suitable embarking/disembarking points on a river Discuss advantages and disadvantages of different embarking/disembarking points Discuss advantages and disadvantages of different styles of embarking at a particular venue In safe, suitable venues, let the learners experiment with embarking using different methods Practise embarking and disembarking Control the craft in Grade 3 and above water Learners need to gain the skills and knowledge of: how to control the craft in Grade 3 water using effective strokes and combinations of strokes how to manouvre the craft in Grade 3 water using suitable techniques how to use hydrological features to help control and manouvre the craft Revise basic strokes on flat water, giving feedback and demonstrations as necessary Practise basic strokes on Grade 3 water, giving feedback Australian Canoeing Page 3

4 Breakdown skills into suitable components and use steps for teaching, on Grade 3 water: breaking in and out ferry gliding S moves Demonstrate and explain how the following hydrological features can be negotiated and/or used: waves haystacks roostertails eddies eddy lines stoppers rocks waterfalls and drops high volume water techniques for avoiding hazards Practise, with feedback: different techniques for turning the craft using waves, stoppers, rocks breaking in and out across different types of eddy lines breaking in and out of different types of eddies S moves using eddies behind rocks and stoppers paddling over drops using different methods such as angling, straight upright and boofing rolling in whitewater Paddle a Grade 3 river trying every little move possible Paddle a variety of Grade 3 rivers Design and practise a sequence of manouvres including breaking in, out, ferry gliding and S moves Play Follow the Leader down a section of white water Experiment with craft angle, speed and placement, and stroke placement in hydrological features Run and rerun a rapid, experimenting with different variables or aiming for consistency Go surfing across waves in river Go surfing in the sea to practise leans, supports, stroke placement, reactions and rolling Plan and run a route through a rapid Learners need to gain the skill and knowledge of: identifying paddleable and unpaddleable rapids identifying and assessing potential hazards in Grade 3 and above water, from both the water and the shore identifying hydrological features, from both the water and the shore assessing hydrological features that can be used, navigated or have become hazardous scouting rapids from the shore selecting suitable reference points to guide the chosen route choosing a suitable route and forming a plan of how to run the route within the context of a range of personal, situational and group variances planning and setting up rescue systems as required psychological skills that can assist when planning and running a route through a rapid communication systems required on rivers including the International River Signals Australian Canoeing Page 4

5 Explain the potential hazards on Grade 3 and above water using practical examples, other visual examples and descriptions Explain how to identify hydrological features in Grade 3 water, from the water and from the shore Compare the view of hazards and hydrological features from above and below Practise scouting rapids, choosing and forming a plan to run a particular route Identify reference points to help guide the chosen path through a rapid Use visualisation to mentally rehearse running the chosen path through a rapid Practice process orientated thinking when planning and running a rapid Practise focusing and controlling nervousness by visualising key moves in running a rapid Form group management plan for running a rapid, including setting up a planned rescue and communication system Analyse the choice of route and the paddling plan after the descent of a rapid Let learners experiment with a variety of safe routes through a rapid Get each learner to lead down a rapid, having them explain their approach before they paddle it Demonstrate, explain and use International River signals and other forms of communication Apply capsize procedure Learners need to gain skill and knowledge of: capsize procedure in moving water using a combination of passive and active swimming techniques to ensure their safety Having learners practise swimming in Grade 3 water and above may easily expose them to unnecessary risks. If swimming techniques are going to be practised, the venue must be extremely safe, ideally with a pool at the end of the rapid and with adequate on water rescue immediately available. Swimming is best practised in safe, suitable Grade 2 water. Assessment Assessment must confirm: 1. sufficient knowledge of hazards and hydrological features to determine preferred routes through Grade 3 rapids, and the ability to communicate this route 2. knowledge of personal, safety and rescue equipment suitable for use on Grade 3 water 3. the ability to consistently negotiate Grade 3 rapids in a controlled manner, by applying knowledge of hydrology and technical skills, and performing strokes effectively and efficiently Performance may need to be assessed over a period of time, on a number of different rapids and/or rivers and/or different water levels in order to ensure consistency of performance over the range of variables and contexts applicable. When using C2 canoes the ability to paddle and perform correct strokes in the front and back of the craft must be demonstrated. In cases where the learner does not have access to the full range of categories of each variable, the remainder can be assessed through realistic simulations, projects previous relevant experience or oral questioning on What if? scenarios. Assessment Methods: as per ACAS 2008 Australian Canoeing Page 5