Liquid Rhythm Kayaking.com
ACA American Canoe Association
ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring
COURSE OVERVIEW:
COURSE OBJECTIVES: To teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably
kayak on lakes, calm protected ocean environments, and other flatwater
settings.

PARTICIPANT QUALIFICATIONS: None
MINIMUM PERSONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE CLASS: None
COURSE DURATION: Eight hours
LOCATION: Calm, protected flatwater, within swimming distance of shore.
SUCCESSIVE COURSES: Basic Coastal Kayaking, Stroke and Maneuver
Refinement, Open Water
Skills

The following is a general summary of the course content for Essentials of
Kayak Touring. The content and sequence of instruction should be arranged to
best fit the students’ needs, class location and time allowances.

1) INTRODUCTION and LOGISTICS
    - Welcome
    - Course expectations, limitations and schedule
    - Review waiver/assumptions of risk and medical disclosure
    - PFD Policy (always worn on the water)
    - No alcohol/ dangerous drug use
    - Respect private property, litter, noise, et cetera
    - Proper etiquette on and off the water Site-specific procedures,
    regulations, and times

2) PERSONAL PREPARATION
    - Learning Judgment. Prudent behavior, being aware of what you don’
    t know, can’t handle, or
    should not risk
    - Group Equipment: extra paddle, dry bags, first aid kit and rescue
    equipment (Depending on the
    environment and nature of the trip this may include cell phones, 2-
    way radios, paddle floats, rescue slings, et cetera). Guidebooks,
    maps/charts, local knowledge
    - Assessing relevant existing and approaching environmental
    conditions including: tides, weather, time of day, water and air
    temperature, traffic, and accessibility
    - Assessing personal and group dynamics (skills, equipment, group
    makeup, emotional concerns, logistics, and leadership).
    - Filed Trip Plan
3) EQUIPMENT
    - Life Jackets (PFDs): types, fit
    - Kayaks: types, materials, parts (including safety features such as
    flotation)
    - Paddles: types, materials, parts, length, blade size, shape and
    offset, hand position
    - Care of equipment
    - Personal equipment: water, food, shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug
    repellent, sun glasses, eyeglass
    straps, protective clothing for heat or cold, sponge, bailer/pump,
    whistle (or other approved sounding device), knife, light
    - Optional equipment and outfitting for improved control

4) GETTING STARTED
    - Warm-up and stretching
    - How to pick up and carry a kayak safely
    - Car topping: loading and unloading, racks, straps
    - Launching and landing
    - Boarding, three points of contact, weight kept low, et cetera
    - Spray skirts (if applicable)
    - Posture, safety, comfort, effectiveness, rocking, balance
    - Wet exits
    - Water comfort and confidence
    - Self Rescue
    - How to empty a kayak
    - Basic Terminology
    - Types of strokes (covered in this course): power, turning
    - Stroke components: catch, propulsion, recovery (CPR), control,
    correction
    - Safe and effective body usage

5) SAFETY and RESCUE
    - Exercising Judgment, Safety as a mind-set, etc
    - Hypothermia/ Cold Immersion Shock: help/huddle, clothing
    - Dehydration/ hyperthermia: hydration, clothing
    - Hazards: wind, waves, weather, current, rocks, bridges, piers,
    dams, strainers, traffic
    - Paddling as a group
    - Signaling
    - Interactions/ Sharing water with non powered and powered traffic
    - Emergency procedures
6) RESCUE
    - Rescue sequence: RETHROG
    - Rescue priorities: people, boats, gear
    - Demonstrate/participate: T-X rescue
    - Deep-water re-entries, assisted and solo, with sling, scooping
    - Boat assisted rescue, assisting a tired swimmer (pushing or pulling
    to shore)
    - Towing or bulldozing a capsized boat

7) STROKES
    - Solo: Forward, Back, Draws (to bow, hip, and stern, and sculling),
    Sweeps (forward and reverse)
    - Tandem: Concepts of stroke timing to match partner, need for
    communication to work as a team, adjusting trim, etc.

8) MANEUVERS
    - Paddling in a reasonably straight line
    - Spins
    - Stopping
    - Moving Abeam

9) NEXT STEPS
    - Course review
    - Course limitations (not a river or exposed open water course)
    - Need for more instruction, practice, and experience
    - Demo an advanced maneuver or skill
    - Trip planning - 6P's: prior, proper planning prevents poor
    performance
    - Homeland Security Awareness
    - Life sport/paddling options
    - Local paddling groups/clubs
    - ACA membership forms/participation cards


SEI 02/05/06 Essentials of Kayak Touring:
7432 Alban Station Blvd, Suite B-232 Springfield, VA 22150
Phone: (703) 451-0141 / Fax: (703) 451-2245 www.americancanoe.org
The School of Liquid Rhythm Kayaking is a unique kayaking school that offers kayak and qajaq classes, kayak surfing classes, kayak trips, and kayak instruction clinics, to all people regardless of age,
limited flexibility, or disability, in Tampa Bay Clearwater FL.

Copyright © 2006   The School of Liquid Rhythm Kayaking, Inc. All Rights Reserved.