Kayak Safety & Leadership Training
Main Instruction Kayak Safety & Leadership Whitewater BCU Assessments Coaching
Coldwater Safety Safety & Rescue Rolling
BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning Leadership and Incident Management
Coldwater Workshop
If you paddle between October and late May you need to attend this workshop.
Prerequisite: None
2007 Price: $10.00 which includes equipment
Frequent Paddler Price: Free
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Location: Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, Cortlandt Manor, NY
This workshop is conducted by Chuck Sutherland and Bill Lozano. A general talk about cold water paddling including; what is cold water paddling, specialized equipment, the effects of cold air and cold water, how do deal with the conditions and more.
Chuck Sutherland will cover the description of hypothermia, frost bite and cold shock including the prevention and treatment of each.
We will show cold water paddling equipment including; wet-suits, drysuits, pile & Capilene undergarments, head, hand & foot gear, first aid and safety equipment. A few short videos dealing with hypothermia and cold shock will be shown. The goal of this program will be to build up your awareness of cold water dangers and your skills to handle cold water emergencies.
Dry suits will be available to test in the water.
Check the Safety Skills of the Expert Center for more information. A 8 page booklet in PDF format explaining some of the dangers of coldwater is available on our Literature page to view or print.
This program provides paddlers with the necessary safety awareness to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Prerequisite: Core Techniques, 2 Star or equivalent
2007 Price: $140.00 which includes equipment or $95.00 if you have your own.
Frequent Paddler Price: $130.00 which includes equipment or $85.00 if you have your own.
Optional Assessment: BCU member fee: $15.00, Non-member $25.00
Location 1: Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, on Annsville Creek and Hudson River
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Location 2: Norrie Point Paddlesport Center on the Hudson River
Download BCU Canoe Safety Test Syllabus
In addition, it provides paddlers with the rescue skills they can use to help themselves and/or others in difficulty. The syllabus consists of three training modules (general theory and skills, lifesaving, kayak rescue skills) and an assessment. If you travel to different areas and want to rent kayaks, this certificate is good proof of your safety skills and knowledge.
The rescue skills covered will include; all in rescue, rescuing a trapped paddler, holed boat, short and long tows, swimming with your kayak, carrying a swimmer on your kayak and more. If you have a tow line, bring it. We will have a few tow lines for the group to share. Different types of tows will be discussed, demonstrated, and practiced.
It is important to have the equivalent of 2 Star skills and a willingness to capsize to get the most from this program.
Topics include: effects of cold water, throwlines, assisting a swimmer, group rescues, all in rescue, eskimo rescues, towing, signaling and unknown incidents.
Learn the roll best suited to your body type and craft.
Prerequisite: Core Techniques, 2 Star or equivalen with good support strokes.
2008 Price: $90.00 includes equipment
Time: 4 Hours (morning and afternoon sessions)
Ratio: 1 Instructor to 4 Students
Location 1: Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, Cortlandt Manor, NY
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Location 2: Norrie Point Paddlesport Center on the Hudson River
A couple of lessons are usually needed to learn to roll. Our goal is to have you roll a few times during your first lesson and teach you the mechanics of rolling, so you can practice on your own. You will learn techniques to work on until a roll is mastered. Before you learn to roll you should have good 2 Star skills, including a solid high brace, low brace and sculling support skills.
Learn to roll with a Greenland Paddle.
Prerequisite: None
2008 Price: $90.00 includes equipment
Location: Norrie Point Paddlesport Center on the Hudson River
Greenland rolling is a gentle, low-impact art and many paddlers find it easier to learn kayak rolling using the Greenland paddle. We will introduce this ancient survival art using narrow hand-carved paddles. Our class will cover some of the history of the paddle, how to size and hold the paddle, the basic skill of side skulling, and the basic sweep roll. Depending on group interest, we may introduce a few of the other Greenland skills, such as the static brace and rolling one-handed.
Also see Introduction to Greenland Paddling
Learn the basics of kayak navigation on this prerequisite for BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training.
Prerequisite: None
2008 Price: $40.00 includes equipment
Frequent Paddler Price: $25.00 includes equipment
Location: Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, Cortlandt Manor, NY
Note: There will be an additional BCU Fee for students that want the BCU certificate
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From BCU Website: This course is designed for those paddlers carrying out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement up to 2 knots and winds of up to force 4 and is suitable for those seeking their 4 star award sea.
This course is designed to compliment the areas covered in the 4 star leader training.
Course Aims
The aim of this course is to give the student the tools to enable them to plan and navigate effectively on coastal journeys in moderate sea conditions. This will include the following aspects:
- To interpret sources of information including maps, charts, coastal pilots and tide tables.
- To navigate on the water using visual references and simple pilotage techniques e.g. transits, dead reckoning and a compass.
- To be able to source, interpret and apply a weather forecast to the marine environment.
- By the end of the course each student should have planned at least 2 coastal journeys that they can take home as references for further trip planning.
- Students should also be aware of the range of resources they require to plan trips in the coastal environment.
Knowing how to plan trips making use of tide and currents, how to chart courses both on land and in a boat are essential skills for the intermediate and advanced paddler and for people planning to lead trips with others. Learn to read a chart, plan tides & currents, take a bearing, plot a course, adjust for currents & wind, use transits and many other important skills.
Learn and practice the skills that are needed to lead and rescue others on sea kayaking trips.
Prerequisite: Coastal Paddling, 4 Star or equivalent
Location: Rhode Island
2007 Price: $85.00
Frequent Paddler Price: $75.00
This program will teach 3 and 4 star paddlers how to prevent and cope with simple incidents that could happen during a day long journey on the sea. The focus will be on using simple solutions to "common" problems. Many problems can be prevented, some can be "fixed" by carrying key items, but the most valued asset is developing sound judgment in paddlers. Past learning experiences promote sound judgment, and this course hopes to provide students with real tools to prevent & solve future problems.
This program is but one step in a paddlers journey to the "new" BCU 4 star award.
