Paddle Canada – Big Canoe Leader

Intermediate Big Canoe Leader Skills introduces students on how to lead a crew in a big canoe in calm sheltered waters.

Students will build off their existing paddling knowledge and skill to learn how stern, Captain a crew and to manoeuvre the big canoe.

Cost: $250/person plus PC fees

PC Fees (paid to Paddle Canada): Paddle Canada Membership – Leader: $50/person

Location:  Bell’s Beach, Christopher Lake, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan 

Concepts:

• How to hold a paddle
• Position and roles of crew
• Commands for crew

Safety and Rescue:

• Carrying a big canoe
• Environment hazards (water/ wind/waves/weather) when to get off! Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
• Group management
• Transport Canada regulations
• Safe canoe procedures and development of a float plan
• Signals (multiple canoes): whistle/paddle
• Canoe rescues
• Communication devices

General Paddling Skills

• Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
• Paddling and commanding a crew

Paddling Strokes

• Forward & reverse strokes
• Check (stop)
• Draw and pry (active and stationary)
• Forward and reverse sweeps (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop skeg
• Optional strokes for the bow position: Draws and pry’s (active and stationary)

Manoeuvres

• Straight lines
• Turns (wide and tight) (active and stationary strokes)
• Pivots
• Reverse paddling
• Docking and shoreline
• Changing paddler placement

Registration Steps: LINK