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Canoe Slalom marks 20th year on Olympic programme
On 29 July the London 2012 Canoe Slalom competition gets underway, marking the sport’s 20th anniversary as a permanent fixture on the Olympic programme.
The Canoe Slalom competition will call for speed, control and precision on the daunting white water rapids at the new Lee Valley White Water Centre.
13,000 litres of water power down the canoe slalom course every second, enough to fill a 25m swimming pool every 30 seconds.
Level 3 Kayaking Skills
1.00 General aims
The Level 3 Kayaking Skills Award aims to enable participants to
1.01 Kayak safely and competently on rivers up to and including Grade II rivers as a member of a group.
1.02 Be capable of negotiating obstacles likely to be encountered on Grade II rivers.
1.03 Assist in rescues.
1.04 Become more proficient in canoesport
2.00 Requirements
Participants must successfully explain and demonstrate the following techniques and skills at a level higher than that required for the Level 2 Kayaking Skills Award.
Strokes
2.01 Forward Paddle, Reverse Paddle, Emergency Stop.
2.02 Forward Sweep, Reverse Sweep and a combination of Forward and Reverse Sweep.
2.03 Draw Stroke
2.04 Sculling Draw
2.05 Hanging Draw
2.06 Sculling for Support
2.07 Low Brace
2.08 High Brace
2.09 Low Brace Turn
2.10 Stern Rudder
2.11 Bow Rudder
Techniques
2.12 Entry and Exit
2.13 Edging
2.14 Forward Ferry Gliding
2.15 Reverse Ferry Gliding
2.16 Breaking In
2.17 Breaking Out
Rescues
2.18 Capsize Drill
2.19 Assisted X Rescue and an X Rescue
2.20 Eskimo Rescue
2.21 Eskimo Roll
Theory
2.22 Knowledge of Safety Rules
2.23 An understanding of the use of Defensive Swimming
2.24 An understanding of Eddies, Standing Waves, V Waves, Stoppers, and Easy River Routes i.e. the main flow down a Grade II rapid
2.25 An understanding of good control (i.e. responding to various signals and commands)
3.00 Assessment
3.01 During an assessment a participant must explain and demonstrate all techniques and skills at a level higher than that required for the Level 2 Kayak Skills Award. All techniques, skills and rescues must be demonstrated to an assessor’s satisfaction in order to achieve this award.
3.02 No part of an assessment can be taken in a swimming pool. All assessment criteria must be demonstrated outdoors on water of Grade II difficulty as part of a river trip.
3.03 All strokes should be demonstrated in relevant situations i.e sculling in a small stopper. Strokes should be demonstrated on both sides of the kayak.
3.04 Generally, required assessment rescues will be kept until the end of an assessment.
3.05 Participants for this award must be at least 12 years of age.
Assessment Guidelines
· It is recommended that a Level 3 Kayak Skills Award is assessed by a Instructor other than the Instructor who ran the training course leading to assessment
· The Level 3 Kayak Skills Award can only be assessed by a currently registered ICU Instructor who is, at minimum , a Level 3 Kayak Instructor
· The assessment can be carried out with a maximum of six candidates to one assessor, however, a ratio of 4:1 is preferable.
· Generally guidelines will be given, should a candidate fail an assessment, as to the areas that they need to improve on.
Level 2 Kayaking Skills
1.00 General aims
The Level 2 Kayak Skills Award aims to enable participants to:-
1.01 Kayak safely and competently on flat water and Grade I rivers as a member of a group being led
1.02 Assist in basic rescues.
1.03 Develop further participation in canoeing.
2.00 Requirements
Participant must successfully demonstrate the following techniques and skills
2.01 An understanding of the Basic Safety Rules of canoeing.
2.02 An ability to Enter and Exit a kayak correctly.
2.03 Forward Paddle, Reverse Paddle, and Stop.
2.04 An ability to turn while stationary using Forward Sweep Stroke, Reverse Sweep Stroke and a combination of Forward and Reverse Sweep Strokes.
2.05 Simple Draw Stroke.
2.06 Low Brace.
2.07 Low Brace Turn.
2.08 Edging while the kayak is moving.
2.09 Capsize Drill.
2.10 An ability to assist in an Assisted X Rescue and /or an H Rescue
2.11 Lower Body Rotation.
3.00 Assessment
3.01 During an assessment all techniques and skills must be demonstrated to an assessor’s satisfaction in order to achieve this award.
3.02 No part of an assessment can be taken in a swimming pool. All assessment criteria must be demonstrated outdoors on flat water (i.e. water of Grade I difficulty).
3.03 It may not be feasible for a junior or disabled person to assist fully in rescues – such candidates should, however, have a full understanding of the correct sequence of each of the required rescues and have some role to fulfil in the completion of these rescues.
3.04 A spraydeck must be worn throughout an assessment.
3.05 All strokes should be demonstrated in relevant situations i.e. use of a simple draw stroke to manoeuvre the kayak to the bank. Strokes should be demonstrated on both sides of the kayak.
3.06 The Level 2 Kayak Skills Award is not a compulsory pre requisite for any subsequent Irish Canoe Union skills awards.
3.07 No age restriction applies to this award.
Assessment Guidelines
· The Level 2 Kayak Skills Award can only be assessed by a currently registered ICU Instructor. Assessing Instructor who is, at minimum, a Level 2 Kayak Instructor
· The assessment will be carried out with a maximum of six candidates to one assessor. However, a ratio of 4:1 is preferable.
· All required assessment rescues are kept until the end of an assessment.
· Generally guidelines will be given, should a candidate fail an assessment, as to the areas that they need to improve on.
Notes for Level 2 Kayak Skills Awards
Safety Rules of Canoeing
· You must be able to swim.
· You must always wear a buoyancy aid.
· You must always ensure that there is adequate kayak buoyancy.
· You must never canoe alone.
Entry and Exit
Can be carried out with or without the use of paddles, depending on what is most appropriate to the situation.
Forward Paddling
Some directional instability is allowed for. This should not include complete loss of forward movement or continuous veering from side to side, aiming for a point/gap as a task.
Reverse Paddling
Some directional instability is allowed for. This should not include complete loss of reverse movement or continuous veering from side to side. A wider stroke than that used for forward paddling is permissible.
Stopping
Stopping should occur in a straight line allowing some leeway, but not veering from side to side. Ability to stop should be demonstrated while paddling forward and in reverse.
Forward Sweep Stroke
There should be full arm extension. The sweep should be initiated at the front of the kayak and continued to stern with trunk rotation evident.
Reverse Sweep Stroke
Trunk rotation to place paddle in the water at stern should be evident. There should be continuous sweep to the front of the kayak as the trunk unwinds. There should be full arm extension throughout.
Draw Stroke
The paddle should remain in the water throughout. Some slight bow or stern swing is acceptable. An ability to maintain the paddle shaft vertical, should be evident. Some body rotation towards the paddling side should be evident.
Low Brace Support
The kayak must be sufficiently tilted for water to reach the spraydeck. A good push down with the elbows above paddle and associated knee lift and lower body rotation should be evident.
Low Brace Turn
The kayak should be moved at an acceptable speed and a turn induced by applying a sweep on the opposite side, followed by edging into the turn, the back of the blade on the surface of the water for support on the turning side and at a suitable angle/feather.
Capsize Drill
While wearing a spraydeck, and followed by a 10 metre swim towing the kayak and paddle to the bank, then emptying the kayak correctly. The paddle should be retained.
Level 1 Skills Requirements
Level 1 Skills
1.00 General Aims
The Level 1 Skills Award aims to enable participants to:-
1.01 Perform fundamental Paddling Skills.
1.02 Understand and explain the fundamental safety rules of canoeing.
1.03 Foster further participation in canoesport
2.00 Requirements
Participants must successfully demonstrate the following:
2.01 An understanding of the Basic Safety Rules of canoeing.
2.02 An ability to Enter and Exit correctly.
2.03 Forward Paddle, Reverse Paddle, and Stop.
2.04 An ability to turn while stationary using Forward Sweep Stroke, Reverse Sweep Stroke and a combination of Forward and Reverse Sweep Strokes.
2.05 Capsize Drill
3.00 Assessment
3.01 There is no formal assessment for the Level 1 Skills Award, however, a participant must be able to demonstrate the required skills in the presence of a registered ICU Instructor before being given the award.
3.02 All strokes must be demonstrated on both sides.
3.03 The Level 1 Skills Award is not a compulsory pre requisite for any subsequent ICU skills awards.
3.04 No age restriction applies to this award
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