WW Guide Course
Whitewater kayaking is an extremely fulfilling, funrnand rewarding sport, enjoyed on rivers far and wide by paddlers of all ages. Rivers can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous without appropriate paddling activity supervision and safety support.
This makes Whitewater Guides essential to assuring the safe leadership of whitewater paddling activities and development of paddle community.
The abilities of participants and dynamic variations of water conditions, necessitates that Whitewater Guides possess strong paddling, communication & group management skills, sound risk management-based judgement, intuitive knowledge/skills sharing abilities, and dependable navigation safety, decision making & emergency management capacity. A strong whitewater paddle community is dependent on development of Whitewater Guides.
The Paddle Australia (PA) Whitewater Guide Course presents participants with a fantastic opportunity to upskill: developing confidence, and obtaining practical on water supervision and instructional skills and knowledge. Assuring greater white-water paddling safety for all.
Do you have a love for whitewater paddling? Do you want to help build our paddle community, promote opportunities for more paddling and make your whitewater paddling safer? Do you thrive off of helping others develop confidence and skills? Do you aspire to be a whitewater guide? Then this course is for you!
Pre-requisites: Course participants seeking guide qualification shouldrnhave knowledge and skills at the level of “PA whitewater skills” qualification and be capable of confidently paddling Grade 3 whitewater. Course participants should be comfortable spending time on the river; managing group safety; responding to on river emergencies; promoting a positive environment; developing paddler self-belief/confidence; and building paddler skills and knowledge.
A corequisite of this qualification is the River Rescue Level 2 qualification. Course participants requiring this qualification should register for and complete the River Rescue Level 2 Course (See as scheduled in the same location on 18-19 April 26).
Venue: Cotter River (In vicinity of Cotter Bend and Cotter Campground).The course venue will be confirmed in the week prior to this course, subject to appropriate water conditions for the safe completion of the course.
Course Overview: The course emphasises both maintenance of personal safety, building of confidence, abilities in effecting river rescues and affording “duty of care” in guiding novices in paddling Grade 2 whitewater. Developed through sharing of practical skills, knowledge and techniques and hands-on individual and team/group scenario based learning.
Qualification Context: This qualification builds upon basic white-water skills and knowledge. It is suitable for recreational paddlers who want to develop the skills and knowledge to supervise novices in the conduct of whitewater paddling activities on Grade 2 whitewater. The whitewater guide qualifications are for people seeking a professional certification in whitewater paddling environments up to grade 2 water. The qualification is the nationwide industry benchmark certification designed to meet the needs of white-water paddling guides for the outdoor industry across education, recreational and tourism sectors nationwide.
To gain the qualification participants must demonstrate their ability to manage and assist in rescue situations, from a paddle craft, and to conduct gear retrieval in Grade 2 white-water.
Course Learning: Learning opportunities include:
· Review of paddle strokes for negotiating rapids
· Reading whitewater and safe route selection / rapid negotiation
· Risk management for safe river running and rescue techniques
· Leadership techniques for guiding groups within a range of weather, river conditions and overnight camps
· Basic instructional techniques to aid paddle skills development
(Course Content covered and sequence of instruction will be adjusted to best fit the participants’ needs, location, weather, water conditions and time allowance)
Assessment: Guidelines for assessment for the qualification are as detailed in the PA Qualifications Scheme for Canoe.(Note a minimum logbook is required, which needs to be logged and shared in the PA Paddlelog App).
Successful assessment requires:
· Independent participation in all course activities, while maintaining personal safety.
· Effective participant communication with the instructor and other course participants
· Participant management of all personal care independently, or with the assistance of a companion.
Assessment will be done in Canoes:
· Practical: Completed through the training during the course and a subsequent assessment.
· Quiz: An online quiz is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program.
· Project: An online project is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program.
Course Staff: The Course Leader, instructor and assessor is Mic Doyle. There will also likely be up to two other instructors in support of the course.
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the course registration and qualification is craft specific (ie. if you are guiding people in canoes, you will need the “canoe” qualification). This should be based on which type of craft you are comfortable paddling in white water and what you would use in a work / recreation based scenario.
Camping / Accommodation: Cotter camp-ground (booking at participant’s own expense through: https://actparks.bookeasy.com/cotter-campground#/accom/132235rn). Friday night Camping is recommended for those travelling to the course location, to assure arrival in time for the course start.
Acceptance of Risk and Waiver of Liability. Participants sign a “Risk Waiver of Liability”at time of registration online if they agree to the level of risks identified as being acceptable.
Participants will be required to read the Risk Assessment provided for the course at the course.
Course Resources / Materials:
· The course leader will provide registered participants with access to some online resources by email to allow familiarization prior to the course.
· Check out the Paddle Australia website for:
o rnSafety Guidelines and Risk Management Guide
o rnLearner Manual Flatwater Instructor & Guide
o rnWhitewater Learner Manual
There are numerous whitewater guide related publications and resources available in print, electronically or on Apps. One particularly good publication is: Swiftwater Rescue Field Guide Book, 2013, 4th Edition by Slim Ray.
Other useful resources include:
· The Mountain Rescue Association,USA - https://mra.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/nps-swiftwater-rescue-manual-rev09-23-2012-SMALL.pdf
· NPS swiftwater-rescue-manual: https://fliphtml5.com/obytu/vucl/nps-swiftwater-rescue-manual-rev09-23-2012-SMALL/36/
Participant Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including:
· Canoe (with flotation & grab holds)
· Skirt / Spray deck (as applicable)
· Whitewater Paddle/s
· PFD (Level 50S rescue vest) - Suitable for white water paddling (We will be doing live bait swims)
· Helmet (specialised for white water)
· Personal First Aid Kit
· Paddle craft specific repair kit
· Pealess Whistle
· Sunscreen
· Wetsuit or Dry suit with warm top and bottom layers
· Paddling shoes / Neoprene booties (enclosed with soles)
· Mesh bag(s) for wet gear storage
· Throw bag
· 2 x locking karabiners
· 2 x prussic loops
· 5m of one inch tubular webbing (if available)
· Pin kit / pulleys (if available)
· Camp chair
· Be prepared with clothing appropriate for paddling activities and an outdoor classroom setting (possible warm, cold, wind, rain).
· Please bring a pad and paper (there are no printed materials required for this course).
· Personal camping, sleeping,cooking and hygiene gear
· All food, snacks and drinks required for consumption during the course (There will not be opportunity to travel to and from shops during the course)
· Dry clothing recommendations:
o Long underwear tops and bottoms
o Fleece vest, top, warm jacket
Course Resources / Materials:
· The course leader will provide registered participants with access to some online resources by email to allow familiarization prior to the course.
· Check out the Paddle Australia website for:
Safety Guidelines and Risk Management Guide
o r Learner Manual Flatwater Instructor & Guide
o r Whitewater Learner Manual
There are numerous whitewater guide related publications and resources available in print, electronically or on Apps. One particularly good publication is: Swiftwater Rescue Field Guide Book, 2013, 4th Edition by Slim Ray.
Other useful resources include:
· The Mountain Rescue Association,rnUSA - https://mra.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/nps-swiftwater-rescue-manual-rev09-23-2012-SMALL.pdf
· NPS swiftwater-rescue-manual: https://fliphtml5.com/obytu/vucl/nps-swiftwater-rescue-manual-rev09-23-2012-SMALL/36/
Participant Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including:
· Canoe (with flotation & grab holds)
· Skirt / Spray deck (as applicable)
· Whitewater Paddle/s
· PFD (Level 50S rescue vest) - Suitable for white water paddling (We will be doing live bait swims)
· Helmet (specialised for white water)
· Personal First Aid Kit
· Paddle craft specific repair kit
· Pealess Whistle
· Sunscreen
· Wetsuit or Dry suit with warmrntop and bottom layers
· Paddling shoes / Neoprene booties (enclosed with soles)
· Mesh bag(s) for wet gear storage
· Throw bag
· 2 x locking karabiners
· 2 x prussic loops
· 5m of one inch tubular webbing (if available)
· Pin kit / pulleys (if available)
· Camp chair
· Be prepared with clothing appropriate for paddling activities and an outdoor classroom setting (possible warm, cold, wind, rain).
· Please bring a pad and paper (there are no printed materials required for this course).
· Personal camping, sleeping, cooking and hygiene gear
· All food, snacks and drinks required for consumption during the course (There will not be opportunity to travel to and from shops during the course)
· Dry clothing recommendations:
o Long underwear tops and bottoms
o Fleece vest, top, warm jacket
