The Kayaking Orientation Program (KOP) is suited for individuals who want to experience the fun of kayaking under the guidance of a professional coach in simple water. The KOP is highly recommended for organised groups and corporate team buildings where participants get to bond and complete a series of tasks together.

Course Duration

12 Hours

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Requirement

Swimming 50m with PFD

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Theory

Basic equipment, including features of a kayak

•        Safety

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Skills

•        Lifting and carrying

•        Launching and coming ashore

•        Disembarking and embarking

•        Forward paddle a circuit of 100m with directional control

•        Reverse paddle a circuit of 25m with directional control

•        Stopping

•        Forward and reverse sweep strokes

•        Planned capsize followed by swim ashore with retention of kayak and paddle

•        Emptying of water

•        Simple beginnings of moving sideways (‘J’ and Classic draw)

•        Simple beginnings of stern rudder (going in a straight line)

•        Simple beginnings of low recovery

•        Rafted ‘TX’ rescue

Course Duration

18 Hours

Theory

• Personal Equipment

• Simple knowledge of tides and currents

• Weather hazards

• Environment hazards

Skills

• Lifting and carrying kayaks

• Launching and coming ashore

• Demonstrate efficient forward and reverse paddling

• Demonstrate forward and reverse sweep strokes

• Demonstrate the ability to spin the kayak on the spot using alternate forward and reverse sweeps

• Demonstrate J draw and classic draw with directional control

• Demonstrate stern rudder

• Demonstrate basic use of edge control

• Demonstrate basic low support and recovery

• Demonstrate basic high support and recovery

• Demonstrate low brace turns with understanding of edge control

• Capsize and wet exit with retention of kayak and paddle

• Demonstrate a X rescue as a rescuer and patient

• Demonstrate a kayak to swimmer rescue (bow carry)

• Demonstrate an Eskimo bow rescue as a patient

• Demonstrate the beginnings of sculling draw strokes

• Demonstrate the beginnings of bow rudder (blade placed between bow and cockpit)