WW Kayak

This page provides an overview of the whitewater and river kayaking training and certification through the Adventure Sports Center. It includes information and resources that ASC paddlesport instructors can use for Continued Professional Development (CPD) and review skills and knowledge.

Whitewater Kayaking

Whitewater kayaking is an exciting and challenging adventure sport. It involves being in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that provides immediate feedback on your actions. There is a spectrum of difficulty that allow the sport to be inclusive for beginners to elite athletes. Within whitewater kayaking, there are several distinct areas to pursue that also blend into each other. There is river running, creeking, playboating, squirt boating, and slalom.

WW Kayking Progression

ASC WW Kayaking

The Adventure Sports Center provides fundamental up to intermediate whitewater kayaking for Saint Mike's students and community. Paddlesports Instructors at the Adventure Sports Center will have access to training and professional development through the American Canoeing Association (ACA) and British Canoeing (BC). The courses through the ACA and BC are made available to the public.

Whitewater Kayak Resources

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OBUSA Whitewater 0423.pdf

OBUSA Whitewater Rafting Manual

This is a structured and detailed layout of teaching and instructing rafting on Outward Bound expeditions. The elements of river reading and rescues will be useful. It is generally instructor-centered and approaches teaching skills through information processing theory.

Whitewater Kayak Video Resources

DISCLAIMER: Equipment and technique change over time, and it is important to stay current and relevant. There is also more than one strategy or approach to conduct skills. River environments are dynamic and require improvisation and in-context adaptations. The Adventure Sports Center selects videos and resources to use for educational purposes ranging from highlighting poor to effective technique.

Whitewater Paddling

Paddling on rivers in tiny boats can be exciting and exhilarating at all levels. Regardless of the experience of the paddlers and the level of the difficult of the river there should always be appropriate challenge, opportunities for learning, and enjoyment from the experience. Most whitewater paddlers are not dropping massive waterfalls or running remote and dangerous rivers. The film, Rivering: An Ode to the Whitewater Obsession, provides individual insight to a variety of paddlers.

One of the fundamental skills in whitewater kayaking is being able to transition from an eddy into the downstream flow of the river heading in the direction you want to go. The paddle is able to stay in control while carving the turn downstream, use some of the energy from the current, and be able to position for their line.

What do you notice about the paddler's body direction and kayak direction during the carving eddy turn?
Where would you place your sweep strokes and power strokes using the same eddy as in the video?

In order for paddler's to progress from a novice to intermediate zone of paddling, they need to be competent and confident in maneuvering between different zones of currents. In this video, they demonstrate and explain how to use eddy features to maneuver around the river as well as give yourself more time to assess and make decisions.

Where does the paddler enter and exit the eddy?
What directions does the paddler face with his body?
What changes do you see in the use of kayak edge?

Questions for reflection:

What are the advantages of using cross-current speed?
How will this tactic advance your whitewater paddling?
When might you choose to "punch" through a feature using down-stream momentum?

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