Saskatoon Canoe Club

This course is free to 2020 members. You must be a member.

These courses will involve two 2 hour sessions 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

• The first session is held on the lake at John Avant Park in the Erindale area of Saskatoon.
• The second session will be either at John Avant Park or on the South Saskatchewan River starting at the boathouse. The river session will be held at the discretion of the instructor depending on group skill and river water level.
• All canoes and canoe equipment is provided.

The $40 ticket fee is refunded upon the full completion of both days listed for the course you are attending. If you fail to attend both 3 hour sessions you will not be refunded your $40. You have to be a 2020 Member to take this course

What is covered in the course?

Safety and Rescue

• Transport Canada Regulations
• Environmental hazards - air and water temperatures, wind and waves
• Cold water concerns, hypothermia and clothing
• Rescue procedures - self and assisted rescue
• Canoe towing rescue
• PFD selection and policy (always wear it)

Canoeing Skills and Knowledge

• Canoe and paddle parts
• Equipment selection and care - bailers, throwbags, painters
• Personal outfitting (clothes, water bottles, shoes)
• Basic canoe lifts and carries
• Canoeing resources and additional courses
• Safe paddling practices - groups, telling people where you are going
• Body mass centred in canoe
• Canoe trim
• Basic knots - half hitch, bowline, truckers hitch
• Canoe stability - sitting vs kneeling
• Enter and exit canoe from shore and dock

Paddling positions and roles

• Holding a paddle
• Switching sides
• Body mechanics when paddling
• Paddling in cadence
• Rafting up
• Launch and landing

Strokes

• Forward
• Reverse
• Check (stop)
• Draw
• Push away and pry
• Sweep strokes
• Rudder and J strokes

Maneuvers

• Forward and reverse paddling
• Pivoting
• Circle
• Side slip

River skills (when the instructor decides participants are ready for the river)

• River knowledge - reading the current and flow patterns, where to find present river flow levels
• River hazards - rocks, sand bars, wind, waves, water intake and bridge structures, scrap metal
• Launching and landing in current
• Using eddies to move up river and for landing
• Front ferry
• Eddy turns