Main Instruction Kayak Safety & Leadership Whitewater BCU Assessments Coaching
1-2 Star Assessment3 Star Sea Kayak Assessment4 Star Leader Sea Kayak Assessment
These programs assess to the standards laid out in the BCU syllabus, which can be downloaded from www.bcu.org.uk/tests-and-awards. At the end of the program, you will be given feedback about your skills in relation to the skills outlined in the syllabus. If you pass and you want the BCU certificate, you will need to pay a BCU fee. If you don’t pass, you will go home with detailed knowledge of what you will need to practice in order to pass next time.
BCU Star assessments and coaching programs require an additional fee, payable directly to the BCU. A certificate from the BCU will be sent to all successful assessment candidates. BCU Star/Canoe Safety fees are payable only for assessments passed. You may also take an assessment and waive BCU processing, thereby eliminating the BCU fee.
The reason to take an assessment is to find out where your skills are at and to get direct feedback on how to get better.
Prerequisite: None
2009 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.
BCU Fee: A fee paid to the BCU is required if you pass and want to receive the certification.
1.5 
Location Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, on Annsville Creek and the Hudson River
1 Star
"The 1 Star is a clear stepping stone to becoming a paddler. Designed as a basic award, the one star is the level people would typically reach after an introductory course of six hours quality water time."
2 Star
"This is an improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understandin into how the apddle, boat and water interact.
This award is obtained by taking the assessment in both a kayak and a canoe (appropriate aspects will be assessed in either kayak/canoe, please refer to assessors notes). Any style of kayak or canoe is permissible e.g. open cockpit, sit on top, V shaped hull or flat bottomed etc. Where a double crew takes the test, each person must perform each task in both the bow and starn."
The day starts out with some warm up before the assessment begins. During the assessment the group or individuals will be asked to perform many different tasks. Many of these tasks will be fun activities allowing candidates to try many different skills in a low pressure atmosphere. The assessors will be looking for efficiency, effectiveness and repeatability against the BCU syllabus.
Once the assessment begins, no training will be done. The assessors will take note in order to give feedback at the individual feedback sessions. If you have a log book, bring it for signatures from the assessor and to write down your feedback. At 2 Star we strongly suggest you have a logbook, but it is not required or part of the assessment. We feel that a logbook will help you progress in your paddling skills.
At 2 Star the emphasis is on creating the desired movement of the boat through developing an understanding of cause and effect rather than concentrating on rigidly defined strokes. It is not just about doing individual strokes. The candidate needs to have solid Body, Boat and Blade awareness. Body rotation and edging must be grooved in and part of everything the candidate does. Not just when asked.
The assessment takes place mostly on sheltered water, but could included some time on the Hudson River. All types of crafts can be included in the assessment (canoes, ww kayaks, rec kayaks, sea kayaks).
A 3 Star Sea paddler needs to have a wide range of personal and rescue skills in moderate tidal conditions.. This program assesses the candidate against the skills laid out in the BCU 3 Star syllabus.
Prerequisite: BCU 2 Star skills, Provide evidence of at least 3 different journeys on the sea, of about 3 hours duration (8nm) each. Provide evidence of at least 1 session of about 3 hours furation, in an alternative discipline.
2009 Price: $$95.00 with own equipment
Frequent Paddler Price: $85.00
BCU Fee: A fee paid to the BCU is required if you pass and want to receive the certification.
Note: This is a non trailered programs and equipment is not included.
Locations : Rhode Island
Maptech Chart #18 Narragansett Bay: Click to order
Aim; To recognise the level of skill, understanding and knowledge demonstrated (whilst journeying in a moderate tidal envirnment as part of a led group with winds no more then Force 4) is the standard of an able improving sea paddler and beyond that of the beginner.
A consistent two star kayak standard of performance is appropriate for anyone starting to work towards the three star sea kayak award.
The nature of the assessment is that of continuous evaluation throughout a suitable day journey.
A 4 Star Sea Leader needs to have a wide range of personal, resuce and leadership skills. This program assesses the candidate against the skills laid out in the BCU 4 Star syllabus.
Prerequisite: BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training, BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue (or Canoe Safety Test), BCU Coastal Navigation, First Aid/CPR. See syllabus for details
2009 Price: $200.00
Note: Two day assessment
Note: This is a non trailered programs and equipment is not included.
Locations : Rhode Island
Maptech Chart #18 Narragansett Bay: Click to order
The 4 Star Sea Leader Assessment is an open water program designed to ensure that the candidate has sufficient knowledge and skill to lead a small group (4) to sea in moderate tidal waters (not exceeding Force 4) on a short (4-6 mile) trip. Many areas including equipment, strokes on open water, rescues, surfing small waves, handling following and beam seas, navigation and more will be assessed. 4 Star is a leadership award, not a coaching award. You must have all the pre-requisites in place before taking this assessment. BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training (Coastal Paddling) is one of the prerequisites. On-the-fly navigation techniques like "ranges," incident management scenarios to resolve and group leadership topics will be covered. Expect the program to challenging.
