General Aims

This award is designed for Open Canoeists wishing to develop advanced paddling and rescue techniques appropriate to Grade III+ water. It is an appropriate award for Open Canoeists who paddle with others of similar ability on Level III+ rivers.

The Level 5 Canoe Skills Award is a pre-requisite for progression to Level 4 Canoe Instructor.

The Level 5 Canoe Skills Award aims to enable candidates to:

1. Develop the necessary skills and group awareness and management to paddle safely and competently on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade III+ difficulty.

2. Deal competently with rescue situations, which might occur, on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade III + difficulty.

3. Deal competently with First Aid situations in a remote river environment.

Attendance Requirements

• The Level 5 Canoe Skills Award requires that a candidate attend a training course prior to assessment. The course for the Level 5 Canoe Skills should be held over a minimum of one weekend (12-15hrs).

Before applying to attend a Level 5 Canoe Skills Course, a candidate must:

  • Hold a Level 4 Canoe Skills Award.
  • Have unrestricted access to a suitable Canoe and the necessary equipment. (See Level 5 Canoe Skills List of Equipment).
  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
  • Have registered, with the Canoeing Ireland Office, as a Level 5 Trainee.

Requirements

The Level 5 Canoe Skills Award requires that a candidate attend a training course prior to assessment. The course for the Level 5 Canoe Skills should be held over a minimum of one weekend (12-15hrs).

To obtain the Level 5 Canoe Skills Award a participant must successfully explain and demonstrate the following knowledge, competence, and skills at a level higher than that required for the Level 4 Canoe Skills Award.

The Level 5 Canoe Skills Award requires that a candidate attend a training programme and a two-day assessment. The general course outline is as follows:

  • Trip Planning
  • Equipment for Advanced White Water
  • Methods of River Leading
  • River Reading
  • Protection against Hazards
  • Management of Rescue Situations
  • Rescues from a Canoe.
  • Use of a Throw Rope
  • Rope Rescues
  • First Aid in the River Environment
  • Assessment Procedures.
  • Poling & Snubbing on Grade 2
  • Lining/Tracking

  • An ability to use water/environmental conditions available for the effective and efficient manoeuvring of an Open Canoe.
  • Competence in negotiating water obstructions i.e., Standing Waves, Stoppers, and an ability to utilise it to cross rivers.
  • Competence in negotiating bends where water flows under trees or against vertical riverbank.
  • Forward Ferry Gliding
  • Reverse Ferry Gliding/ Setting
  • Breaking in accurately
  • Breaking out accurately
  • Trim
  • Controlling a canoe with a pole in a grade 2 environment

  • An ability to use water/environmental conditions available for the effective and efficient manoeuvring of an Open Canoe.
  • Competence in negotiating water obstructions i.e., Standing Waves, Stoppers, and an ability to utilise it to cross rivers.
  • Competence in negotiating bends where water flows under trees or against vertical riverbank.
  • Forward Ferry Gliding
  • Reverse Ferry Gliding/ Setting
  • Breaking in accurately
  • Breaking out accurately
  • Trim
  • Controlling a canoe with a pole in a grade 2 environment

• X Rescue
• Curl rescue
• Self-Rescue
• Deep Water Rescue of an incapacitated paddler
• Rescue and Tow
• Offensive and Defensive Swimming
• An ability to use a Throw Rope to rescue a swimmer
• Knowledge of First Aid in the River Environment
• Dealing with a rescue scenario appropriate to the environment include the application of first aid in the advanced canoeing environment.

An understanding of the following:
• River Grading
• River Route finding
• Types of Open Canoes and Paddles
• Towing systems and methods
• Group control and awareness
• Signals and Commands
• Personal Equipment

Course Documents