Level 3: River Canoeing Course Overview The River Canoeing course is for canoeists interested in learning the skills required to efficiently paddle on rivers with Class I rapids by catching smaller eddies, making sharp peel outs and effective ferries. Participants at this level aspire to attain a high level of canoeing skills, improve the quality of their strokes and maneuvers, and increase their river rescue knowledge. This course is appropriate for properly outfitted versatile or whitewater tandem and/or solo canoes. It can be taught tandem, solo, or both.
Skills Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• The completion of an ACA Level 2: Essentials of River Canoeing course or equivalent skills.
• Be a current ACA member

Course Duration The course duration should be adjusted to best fit the needs and goals of the participants. Suggested time: Half a day to one day (4-8 hours).
Course Location / Accessible Venues Sections of rivers rated up to and including class I-II, where limited maneuvering in current is required to avoid obstacles. A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+”  respectively.
Course Size Tandem: 6 participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional instructor or qualified assistant, the ratio can be 12 : 2. Solo: 5 participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional instructor or qualified assistant, the ratio can be 10 : 2. For additional details, see SEIC Policy Manual Chapter 6.
Instructor This course may be offered by Level 3: River Canoeing (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators.
Succeeding Courses

• Level 4: Whitewater Canoeing
• Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Canoeing
• Canoe Rolling

The following is a general summary of course content for the River Canoeing course. The content covered and sequence of instruction should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location and time allowance.
Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics:

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork
• Student and Instructor course expectations and limitations
• Course itinerary and site logistics
• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure
• About the ACA
• Life jacket policy (always wear on water)
• Appropriate personal behavior
  • No alcohol / substance abuse
  • Proper etiquette on and off the water
  • Respect private property
  • Practice Leave No Trace ethics

Paddling Environment:

• Boat: parts, materials, sizing, outfitting
• Paddle: parts, materials, sizing, hand position (straight and bent shafts)
  • How to hold the paddle in correct orientation and grip for effective paddling
• Life jacket: types, materials, fit
• Helmet types and use
• Wind
• Waves
• Weather
• Water

Personal Preparation:

• Personal ability
• Swimming ability
• Water comfort & confidence
• Fitness, conditioning, and warm up
• Safe paddle and boat handling
• Safety and rescue considerations
• Personal equipment (reviewed by Instructor)
• Judgment. In addition to learning hard skills, the importance of developing personal judgment and group responsibility increases on more difficult paddling venues.

Getting Started:

• Warm-up and stretching
• Personal clothing & equipment
• Car topping: loading and unloading, racks, straps
• Knots: figure 8 or bowline, trucker's hitch and 2 half hitches
• Canoe carries: overhead and suitcase
• Launching / landing from shore or dock
• Canoe trim
• Posture, rocking and balance
• Positions in the canoe (students may select sitting or kneeling stance)
• Concepts of Paddling
• Trip Planning - 6P’s: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
• Group Dynamics
• Judgment
• Federal, State and Local laws and regulations
• River etiquette

Equipment:

• Canoe: types, parts, materials
• Paddle: types, parts, materials, sizing, hand position (straight and bent shafts)
• Lifejacket (PFD): types, materials, fit
• Helmets
• Safety equipment
• Group equipment
• Care of equipment
• Optional equipment & outfitting

River Running:

• River Classifications
• Strategies in river running
• How to paddle in current
• Scouting (Boat / Shore)
• Portaging / Lining
• Use of good judgment
• Total awareness of environment
• Group organization on the river
• River Signals / Communication
• Emergency Procedures

Safety & Rescue:

• Responsibility:
  • Group; Individual, Rescuer; Victim
• Rescue Priorities: People, Boats & Gear
• Signals: Whistle, Paddle and Hand
• Group Management / Communication
• Cold Shock, Hypothermia, clothing
• Hyperthermia: hydration, clothing
• Launching and landing: low dock or bank to enter and exit safely
• Evaluate water confidence and comfort
• Rescue Sequence: (RETHROG)
• Deep water exits: vaulting and slide, no diving
• Controlled capsize
• Swimming a boat to shore
• How to empty a boat full of water
• Canoe over Canoe rescue
• Side by Side (or parallel) rescue
• Re-entry
  • Self & Assisted
  • Heel Hook
  • Rescue Sling
• Towing a swimmer/canoe
• Swimming in current: defensive & aggressive
• Throw rope use
• Basic Wading
• Entrapments (Stabilization Line)
• Boat pin (Strong Arm, Rope/Vector)

Dealing with Hazards:

• River features
• Currents
• Broaching (lean into obstacle)
• Pins and entrapments
• Strainers
• Holes / Hydraulics
• Undercut rocks/Sieves/Ice
• Dams/Flow diversion structures

Flatwater Maneuvers

• Propel the canoe forward in a straight ine 15-20 boat lengths
• Move the canoe backwards 3-4 boat lengths
• Stop the boat within two boat lengths
• Turn the canoe from a stationary position 180° to the right and left
• Move the canoe sideways (abeam) 10 feet (3 meters) to each side
• Propel the canoe in a figure of 8 course around markers 3-4 boat lengths apart
• Turn the canoe while maintaining forward motion 90° to the right and left
• Switch positions in the canoe
• Sideslips (shifts): Onside & Offside
• Carving Circle: (Onside & Offside)

River Maneuvers: (In venue)(Solo includes traditional and 2 X 4 methods)

• Front ferries
• Eddy turns
• Peel-outs
• C-turns
• S-turns
• Back ferries
• Sideslips (shifts)
• Spins: onside and offside
• Bracing: low and high
• Portage and lining
• Attainments

Strokes:

• Forward / Cross Forward (w/rotation)
• Forward (w/ stern pry, rudder and J stroke corrections)
• Back (stern far back and compound back, solo & bow reverse J)
• Sweeps (forward, reverse)
• Draws (onside/offside) static/dynamic/sculling (out of water and in water recovery)
• Prys (static/dynamic, righting)
• Braces (low, high)
• Duffek (onside/offside)

Conclusion and Wrap Up

• Group debrief / Individual feedback
• Course limitations
• Importance of First Aid & CPR
• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience
• Importance of appropriate level of safety & rescue training
• Demo advanced maneuver
• Life sport / Paddling options
• Local paddling groups / Clubs
• Handouts / Reference materials
• ACA Membership forms
• Course evaluation
• Participation cards

© American Canoe Association Date of last revision: 12/8/2023 https://americancanoe.org