Let's go Kayaking!

Intro to Kayaking (Feb 28th)
Blackwattle Bay

Learn the basics of balance and boat handling in Blackwattle Bay.

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ALREADY AN EXPERIENCED CANOEIST?

Join a point & paddle session to dive straight into our more advanced trips!

Intro to Canoe Polo (Mar 7th)

Canoe Polo = Water Polo + Kayaks.

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Beginner Harbour Trips (Feb 26th)
Goat Island 6 to 12 km

Build your strength with our social trips on Sydney Harbour.

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Polo Training
A, B, and C Grade

Stick ten kayaks in a pool, throw in a ball, and watch the feeding frenzy!

Salty Saturday
Sydney Harbour 15 to 30 km

Join us as we explore every bay and cove that our blue backyard has to offer.

Surf Ski Fitness Blast (Feb 26th)
Sydney Harbour 10km

The harbour is our gym!

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Point & Paddle
Assessment

Prove your skill before moving into the more adventurous side of our club!

Polo Comp (May 2nd)
A or B Grade

Test your skill against teams from all over Australia!

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Racing (Oct 24th-25th)
11 km, to 111 km

Challenge yourself on the best kayaking races in Australia!

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Flatwater Trips
20 km, to 120 km

Exploring the world from the water!

Intro to Whitewater (Apr 4th-6th)
Grade 1 to 2

Step up from flatwater and join us on rivers with rapids, some of the best fun in the kayaking world!

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Whitewater Trips (Mar 2nd)
Grade 2 to 4

Where the boat becomes an extension of your body.

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Trip Leader Training

We'll give you all the knowledge and skill you'll need to lead a crew out on the water safely. Click for details.

Kayaking Skill

Show us your skill on one of our more challenging trips, such as Broughton Island, Lion Island, a whitewater trip, or a paddle beyond the heads.

Leadership Skill

Show us you can manage a group both on and off the water, by helping out at some of our larger events such as open day or beginner trips, or through existing experience leading trips with another club.

Flatwater

Prerequisites:
Capable of kayaking 20km in under 4 hours.
Learn the parts of the maritime rules handbook relevant to kayaking.
Swimming: 500m in a pool, or 50m fully clothed.
ASK US ABOUT BECOMING A TRIP LEADER!
Talk to an existing trip leader.
Training Session 1

DEEP WATER RESCUE TRAINING

Deep Water Rescue: Getting someone else back into their kayak after a capsize.
Self Rescue: Getting yourself back into a kayak after a capsize without help.
Towing, and the use of throw ropes.
The Flatwater Safety Talk: Expect to capsize, don't panic, stay in a group, etcetera.
Marine First Aid.
Training Session 2

Leadership Training

Colead a trip with an existing trip leader.
Weather conditions and forecasting.
Assessing capabilities of your group, both in advance and on the water.
Communication, on and off the water.
Teaching basic flatwater technique: Paddle grip, foot bracing, forward and reverse strokes.
Boatshed Politics: Racking arrangements, other boatshed users, etc.
Boat Care: Setup, washdown, and maintenance responsibilities.
Using the club website as a trip leader.
QUALIFIER TRIP
Supervised by an existing trip leader.
Flatwater Leader I
Harbour Inland Plastic Only Wind < 20kt

Lead trips on sheltered or inland waters. Plastic boats only.

LEAD 6 TRIPS
Training Session 3

MIRAGE INDUCTION

Learn how to set up and care for our higher-end kayaks.
Teaching proper flatwater technique: Leg drive, using rudders, wing blades.
Flatwater Leader II
Coastal Fibreglass Wind < 23kt

Lead coastal kayaking trips in fiberglass boats, including Mirages, anywhere that doesn't require a surf launch.

PADDLE ROLL + SURF COMPETENCY
Approved by Convener
Flatwater Leader III
Ocean Surf Carbon & Kevlar Wind < 27kt

Lead flatwater trips in any boats, anywhere.

Whitewater

Prerequisites:
Reliable Combat Roll.
Confident on Grade 3 whitewater.
Swimming: 800m in a pool, or 50m fully clothed.
ASK US ABOUT BECOMING A TRIP LEADER!
Talk to an existing trip leader.
Whitewater Leader Induction
Boat Care: Setup, washdown, repairs, and maintenance responsibilities.
Using the club website as a trip leader.
Demonstrate good communication & organisational ability.
Whitewater Leader I
Penrith WW Rollers Only

Lead trips at the Penrith Whitewater Center, or other supervised venues, with rollers only.

TRAINING SESSION 1

RIVER RESCUE TRAINING

The Whitewater Safety Talk: Point & paddle, hug the rock, over the tree, feet up, expect to capsize, and so forth.
Teaching whitewater technique: Sweep strokes, draw strokes, braces, point & paddle, lean downstream, wet exits, etc.
Whitewater hazards: Rock sieves, wood sieves, whirlpools, weirs, and so on.
Riverside Rescue: Tow to an eddy and empty out.
Hand of God Rescue: Righting a capsized kayak, with the person still in the boat.
Whitewater Self Rescue
Rope Rescues
Whitewater first aid.
Using a locator beacon.
TRAINING SESSION 2

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Colead a whitewater trip with an existing trip leader.
Assessing capabilities of your group, both in advance and on the water.
Communication, on and off the water.
Weather conditions, river levels, and forecasting.
Surf structures: Rips, undertow, beach designations, etc.
Whitewater politics.
QUALIFIER TRIP
Supervised by an existing trip leader.
Whitewater Leader II
Grade 3 Surf 1:1 Rollers

Lead Grade 3 whitewater trips, and surf sessions. Max 1:1 ratio of non-rollers to rollers.

CONVENER APPROVAL
When sufficiently experienced.
Whitewater Leader III
Grade 4 3:1 Rollers

Lead Grade 4 whitewater trips with rollers only, or grade 1 to 3 trips with a max ratio of 3:1 non-rollers to rollers.

Canoe Polo

Prerequisites:
Confident polo player, with reliable roll.
Understand Chapter 10 of the polo rules.
Demonstrate good boat care & maintenance.
Swimming: 400m in a pool, or 50m fully clothed.
ASK US ABOUT BECOMING A TRIP LEADER!
Talk to an existing trip leader.
Polo Leader Induction
Boat Care: Setup, washdown, repairs, and maintenance responsibilities.
Using the club website as a trip leader.
Demonstrate good communication & organisational ability.
Understanding Polo-tics.
Polo Leader I
NSW GEAR COLLABS ONLY

Lead polo events in collaboration with PoloNSW, or Sydney Canoe Polo Club.

CONFIDENTLY REFEREE A POLO GAME
Polo Leader Training
Hand of God Rescue: Righting a capsized kayak, with the person still in the boat.
Teaching polo technique: Steering, ball handling, tackles, formations, and so on.
Assessing capabilities of your group, both in advance and on the water.
Communication, on and off the water.
Relevant First Aid.
Polo-tics II.
Polo Leader II
Any Gear Any Venue

Organise & lead any Canoe Polo events.