The Sit-On-Top River Kayaking course is a program emphasizing safety, enjoyment and skill acquisition for entry-level through intermediate individuals in public, private and commercial settings.
Note: This course is designed for sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks only and this curriculum is meant to highlight this design. Participants should understand that paddling and rescuing decked kayaks requires additional and separate instruction. Bulkheads are not required; however, some form of flotation must be present to keep the kayak from sinking such as flotation built within the kayak’s hull.
The course duration should be adjusted to best fit the needs and goals of the participants. Suggested time: Half a day to one day (4-8 hours).
Sections of rivers rated up to and including class I-II, where limited maneuvering in current is required to avoid obstacles.
A rapid class includes rapids at the lower and upper ends of the difficulty range, designated “-“ and “+” respectively.
5 Participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional qualified assistant, the ratio can be 10 : 2.
For additional details, see SEIC Policy Manual Chapter 6.
This course may be offered by Level 3: Sit-On-Top River Kayaking or Level 3: River Kayaking (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators.
The following is a general summary of course content for the Sit-On-Top River Kayaking skills course. The content covered and sequence of instruction should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location and time allowance.