General Aims
The Sit-on-Top River Skills Award aims to enable participants to
- Paddle safely and competently on rivers up to and including Grade II rivers as a member of a group of peers.
- Be capable of negotiating obstacles likely to be encountered on Grade II rivers.
- Assist in rescues.
Requirements
Participants must successfully explain and demonstrate the following techniques and skills at a level higher than that required for the Sit-on-Top Flat Water Skills Award:
- Forward Paddle, Reverse Paddle, Stopping.
- Forward Sweep, Reverse Sweep and a combination of Forward and Reverse Sweep.
- Draw Stroke
- Low Brace
- Stern Rudder
- Mount & Dismount
- Tilting
- Ferry Gliding
- Breaking In
- Breaking Out
โข Capsize Drill
โข Self-rescue following a capsize drill in deep water, including righting the Sit-on-Top and completing a water based remount without assistance.
โข Assisted Rescue and Self Rescue. Using a throw bag to rescue a swimmer, both as rescuer and swimmer.
โข Knowledge of Safety Rules
โข An understanding of the use of Offensive & Defensive Swimming
โข An understanding of Eddies, Standing Waves, V Waves, Stoppers, and Easy River Routes i.e. the main flow down a Grade II rapid
โข An understanding of good control (i.e. responding to various signals and commands)
Course Documents