Certification Course Overview

Fundamentally, participants are expected to have the paddling skills, technical knowledge, rescue ability, teaching ability, group management, and interpersonal skills commensurate with this level of certification prior to presenting themselves for evaluation as Instructor Candidates at an Instructor Certification Course (IDW, ICE, or ICW).

Level 5: Advanced Performance Surf Kayaking instructors should be able to coach students in all aspects of surf kayaking using surf-specific kayaks and wave-skis in significant surf.

Course Prerequisites

• Demonstrate general knowledge of the purpose and significance of the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Be a current ACA member
• Understands and acts in accordance with ACA's Code of Conduct
• Be a current ACA Level 4: Performance Surf Kayaking Instructor
• Taught and properly reported at least 2 Level 4: Performance Surf Kayaking Skills Courses

Course Duration

Combined Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and Instructor Certification Exam (ICE) - minimum 3 days (24 hours).

Course Location / Accessible Venues

Sandy beach break with significant surf – a majority of steep (plunging) waves during sets, and access to flat water.

• Cross shore or off-shore winds less than 15 knots (wind not required for certification)
• On shore winds less than 20 knots (wind not required for certification)
• Wave faces greater than 3 feet (1 meter) and less than 5 feet (1.5 meters)

Note: When selecting a venue, careful consideration should be given to hazards including other surfers, rip currents, long- shore drift, rocks, and human-made structures.

Course Size

5 Instructor Candidates : 1 Instructor Trainer; with an additional instructor, the ratio can be 10 : 2. The maximum number of candidates permitted is 10.

Instructor Trainer

This certification course may be offered by Level 5: Advanced Performance Surf Kayaking ACA Instructor Trainers or Instructor Trainer Educators.