General Aims

The Level 2 Canoe Skills Award aims to enable participants to:

  • Canoe safely and competently on flat water, Grade I rivers, very sheltered open water areas as a member of a group of peers.
  • Be able to carry out basic safety techniques with the assistance of another member of the group or the person in the water.
  • Be able to safety plan and carry out a trip in a flat-water environment considering all relevant factors.
  • For level two skills holders U-18 it is recommended that these paddlers be supervised by a person over the age of 18 who has suitable experience.

Attendance Requirements

Requirements for attending a Level 2 Canoe Skills assessment:

  • Candidates should be familiar with all aspects of theory and should be able to verbally answer questions on theory aspects of the award.

    • The Level 2 Canoe Skills Award is not a compulsory prerequisite for any subsequent Canoeing Ireland skills awards.

    • No age restriction applies to this award.

    • U18 Level 2 skills paddlers should be appropriately supervised by a person who is over 18 and who has suitable experience.

Requirements


To obtain the Level 2 Canoe Skills Award, a participant must successfully explain and/or demonstrate the following techniques and skills.

The participant should be capable of carrying out all the strokes in either double or solo canoe (where the stroke is relevant).

• Forward Paddle,

• Reverse Paddle

• Stop.

• An ability to turn the canoe through 360 degrees in both directions using a combination of Forward and Reverse Sweep Strokes. Or other

appropriate strokes

• Simple Draw Stroke

• Simple Pry.

• Brace.

• An ability to enter and exit a canoe correctly.

• Trim

• Leaning

• Turning on the move

• Capsize Drill.

• An ability to do an X Rescue or curl rescue with assistance.

• An ability to assist a swimmer get back into the canoe

• Be able to carry out a simple tow (without equipment)

• Knowledge of (can talk through) the use of a tow using equipment or painter.

• Be able to list the basic safety rules of Canoeing.

• Describe how to contact the emergency services.

• Be able to outline the weather and environmental factors that affect a canoeing session, including be able to identify the following: General Weather Outlook, wind direction and speed, air temperature and water conditions.

• Be able to list the aspects of good group management and identify, explain, and give examples of the CLAP concept of group management.

• Be able to list the most important factors of trip planning.

the use of a tow using equipment or painter.

Course Documents