Canoe - BLUE PADDLE - LEVEL 3 -Kayak
Canoe - EURO PADDLE PASS - Kayak

A European Approach to
Competency in Paddle Sport

Aim - Canoe-Kayak
- Kayak safely on rivers of Grade II difficulty as a member of a group being lead.
- Be capable of negotiating obstacles on a river of Grade II difficulty, assist in rescues and foster further participation in kayaking.
- Successful performance at this level indicates that paddlers can consider themselves as intermediate canoeists rather than beginners.

Location - Canoe-Kayak.
- The Level 3 Assessment should take place on Grade II water.
- The assessment should take place on a journey of approximately 3 hours travelling time or at least 5km.

Equipment - Canoe-Kayak
- Any kayak with a non down river cockpit and a double bladed paddle.

Pre-requisites - Canoe-Kayak
- Candidates must have passed the EPP Level 2 Kayak Award (or equivalent) and have experience of 3 journeys undertaken in Grade II conditions – minimum 3km each journey.

Canoe -TECHNICAL STANDARDS - Kayak

Candidates for the EPP Level 3 Kayak Award will be required to demonstrate that they can perform skills identified in the EPP Level 2 Kayak Award in a Grade II environment.

Lifting, carrying and launching - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Demonstrate good safe lifting and carrying techniques appropriate to getting a kayak from or to a car roof rack or a trailer, with assistance if available and safely securing using a rope and or straps.
2/- Any practical system is acceptable but must use an efficient, recognized knot.
3/- The candidate should be able to launch safely and efficiently from any reasonable launching spot.

Forward paddling - Canoe-Kayak
1/- A competent demonstration of forward paddling throughout the day trip, using strokes, which should be polished, fluent and adaptive.
2/- Throughout the test, the candidate should demonstrate the elements of good paddling technique showing a committed catch, good rotation, leg drive, upright comfortable posture at a fast cruising pace while maintaining accurate control of the kayak.
3/- Common sense should be applied when judging paddling technique taking into account variation in physique and personal style.

Reverse over a figure-of-8 course - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Accurate and efficient backward paddling over a prescribed figure-of-8 course.

Turning while on the move - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Quickly turn the kayak with a minimum loss of forward speed by means of a low brace turn and by a bow rudder.

Low brace turn - Canoe-Kayak
1/- The turn is to be induced by applying a sweep stroke on the opposite side to the turn, followed by a confident edge into the turn. The back of paddle blade is to be trailing on surface, ready for support. To be performed both left and right.

Bow rudder - Canoe-Kayak
1/- The intention is to indicate that the kayak can be pivoted around the paddle. The turn is to be induced by applying a sweep stroke on the opposite side to the turn. The blade should then be planted in the water at a comfortable distance from the gunwale, about level with the knees, with the drive face towards the boat but the leading edge angled away from the bow. Trunk rotation should be in evidence, the top arm across the top of the forehead. The boat is driven around the paddle by use of the opposite knee.

Moving sideways, both static and on the move - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Move the kayak sideways in both directions by means of sculling draw, draw on the move and hanging draw.
- Sculling draw: Body well rotated. Paddle shaft vertical, blade deep in the water. An effective sideways movement must be in evidence without the kayak turning.
- Draw on the move: While the kayak is moving forward, the boat is to be pulled sideways from its course without turning (as if to avoid an obstacle) using a draw stroke.
- Hanging draw: The kayak is to be moved sideways over a greater distance than that of a draw stroke on the move. With the kayak moving forward at a good speed, the paddle should be placed out to the side, level with or just behind hip, the kayak should move sideways without the paddle moving in relation to the boat, or the kayak turning (It may be necessary for the bow to be held at a slight angle away from the paddle).

Supporting - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Candidates should possess a range of support techniques in order to maintain balance in varied circumstances. Demonstrations should include low and high recovery strokes as well as low and high sculling for support on both sides.
- Sculling for support: The paddle is to be kept low, nearly horizontal, with evidence of confident committal sculling brace to the paddle.
- Recovery strokes: Both high and low recovery strokes are demonstrated with the kayak well off balance. To be performed on the move, and forward paddling to be maintained thereafter.

Tilting to assist turning - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Exercise to be set showing good edging control that assists turning.

Stopping and reverse ferry gliding - Canoe-Kayak
- Stopping and reverse ferry gliding should be used to alter the candidate’s position on the river with a view to selecting a suitable line down a rapid and also for avoiding obstacles.
- The candidate’s demonstration should also include the safe negotiation of bends where the main current sets under trees.
While demonstrating reverse ferry gliding, it is not envisaged that the candidate need enter and leave the main current, but rather that they should be able to perform the manoeuvres while in the main current.

Breaking out - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Breaking out of the main current into eddies should demonstrate anticipation and early positioning, and the use of appropriate strokes throughout the manoeuvre.
- The candidate should also demonstrate the correct speed and angle of approach, together with a positive and early grip of the stationary water in the eddy.
- The kayak should come to rest high up the eddy, just inside the eddy line and parallel to it.

Breaking in - Canoe-Kayak
1/- This manoeuvre will be achieved by resolving such factors as speed of current, size of eddy, tilt and the desired position in the river after the break in.
- Initial positioning in the eddy and the angle of exit allied to the correct speed and degree of edging should be evident and appropriate for the particular eddy.
- Be aware of a charge out that ends with either a stall in mid-current or an inadvertent entry into an eddy on the opposite bank.

Upstream (forward) ferry gliding - Canoe-Kayak
1/- The candidate should aim to cross a consistent and moderate Grade II flow that is 10m wide without any loss of height, or a 20m wide flow with no more than a kayak length loss.
- Allowance needs to be made for the specific water conditions.
- It is important that the ferry angle is appropriate and maintained through the manoeuvre.

Surf waves - Canoe-Kayak
1/- The candidate should show an ability to cross the current using a small wave (a 30cm or 1 foot wave is more than adequate).

Paddle into and out of small stoppers - Canoe-Kayak
1/- It is crucial that the candidate can recognize ‘friendly’ stoppers.
- Having identified such a stopper, the candidate should be able to paddle into it and then leave it.
- An upright body position with a smooth but lightly held brace is important, the boat having a small but steady downstream edge.
- The brace should be active i.e. supporting and paddling the candidate either forward or backward towards the end or the break in the stopper.
- The candidate’s ability to recognize friendly or difficult stoppers (particularly in weirs) is more important than the ability to be able to perform well in them.

Canoe - SAFETY STANDARDS - Kayak

Capsize, retain equipment, empty, assisted re-entry - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Capsize and release spray deck - the candidate should remain calm and quickly regain and maintain contact with the boat.
2/- The paddle should be retained, or collected by swimming the kayak to the paddle.
3/- Swim not more than 10 metres and empty the kayak on the shore.
4/- Help can be asked for, so long as the candidate remains in charge of emptying.

Jump out and climb back in (assisted) - Canoe-Kayak
1/- In deep water jump out while retaining contact with the kayak, and climb back into the kayak.
2/- The candidate may have assistance from a second person that is also in the water.

Eskimo rescue - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Where the kayak is appropriate the candidate must demonstrate recovery with lower body rotation from an upside down position while maintaining a hold on the rescuer’s bow (may be preceded with practice until recovering from an upside down position).

Deep Water Rescue - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Take part in a deep water rescue without assistance.

Personal Protective Equipment - Canoe-Kayak
1/- Flotation as appropriate to kayak, adjusting outfitting, spray deck, buoyancy aid and helmet as appropriate.

Show water confidence appropriate to venue and weather - Canoe-Kayak