This ACA Assessment Course is designed to evaluate your ability to perform all of the skills listed and demonstrate an appropriate level of paddling knowledge. This assessment course provides the opportunity for you to receive documentation of having achieved this level of paddling ability.
One day (8 hours).
Sections of rivers rated class III-IV, in rapids where precise 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.
3 Participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional qualified assistant, the ratio can be 6 : 2. The maximum number of participants permitted is 6.
For additional details, see SEIC Policy Manual Chapter 6.
This assessment course may be offered by Level 5: Whitewater Kayaking ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators.
The sequence of assessment should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location, time allowance, and kayak being used. Participants must be able to perform all strokes, maneuvers, rescues, and skills in the appropriate venue. In addition, the participant must demonstrate the appropriate level of knowledge for this level of skill assessment.
Participant Name: ________________________________
Participant ACA Membership #: __________________
Course Venue: _____________________________________
Course Date(s): ____________________________________
Y = Meets Standard, N = Below Standard, DNO = Did Not Observe
| Strokes and Maneuvers | Pass? P/N/DNO |
|---|---|
| Lifting and carrying: good, safe technique | |
| Launching / landing: low dock or bank for entering and exiting kayak | |
| Efficient forward paddling: 50 yards in a reasonably straight line | |
| Stop: stop the kayak from a good speed, forward and reverse | |
| Reverse: 10 yards paddle with reasonable control | |
| Rotate 360° on the spot using forward and reverse sweeps | |
| Turning on the move: using edging for carved turns of various shapes. Using a variety of draws: hanging draws, bow draw / Duffek, C-stroke | |
| Figure of 8: paddle a figure of 8 course using a variety of strokes and edge management | |
| Draw sideways: move the kayak sideways 10 feet (both sides) | |
| Ruddering (stern) | |
| Preventing capsize: low and high brace | |
| Kayak tripping: minimum of five different day trips of 5 or more river miles on class III rivers | |
| Strokes: ability to blend strokes during maneuvers while maintaining safe, efficient, and effective technique in challenging conditions | |
| Ferrying (forward and reverse) ability to use surface features (waves and holes) and maintain angles | |
| Eddy turns and peel outs - ability to perform a variety of turn shapes using various strokes, kayak angles, and momentums | |
| C-turn (peel out and turn into same eddy) | |
| S-turn (peel out and turn into an adjacent downriver eddy) | |
| Surfing - ability to enter, exit, and sustain surfs with control in both waves and holes | |
| Kayak rolling |
◦ A safe and effective roll from a non-setup position in class III-IV | |
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