In spite of the recent cold weather, there are those who are thinking about paddling on the lakes and doing something about it.
Over the weekend of Nov. 22 - 24, the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre hosted a instructor clinic put on by Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan. Eight enthusiasts spent the weekend learning the finer points of handling the craft safely and of teaching others to do so.
Brendan Curson, an accomplished kayaker, instructor and coach, represented the provincial association as course learning facilitator. Curson is the program director and head coach for the Saskatoon Whitewater Kayak Club. He has worked throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. He is a Level 3 coach and a Level 2 learning facilitator who develops and runs school and kayak programs and is a key figure in Saskatchewan's only white water racing program. He is also the technical coach for the national Whitewater Slalom Team.
The course covered material about the kayak disciplines including competition and recreation, safety equipment, paddling safety and etiquette, safely getting into and out of the boat, wet exits in case the boat capsizes with and without the skirt, basic paddling techniques and an introduction to more advanced skills such as rolling. As a break from the water, candidates also learned about progressions, group dynamics, class management and teaching methods.
The eight who successfully completed the course are certified as Pool Kayak Instructors and have been trained as Lake Kayak Instructors 1. They will be evaluated in the spring when the lakes are open to complete their certification. This is the beginning of the journey to development as more accomplished canoe and kayak Instructors. During the coming months these personnel will be involved in leading the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre's drop-in canoe and kayak program that operates Saturday mornings between 10 a.m. and noon.
The freestyle kayaks that were used for the clinic provided a more manoeuvrable craft that is more stable than the traditional kayak, making the learning somewhat easier and quicker. The participants were able to spend some time on the final day learning to surf and handle the rough water of the wave pool and the lazy river, which not only added to the fun, but helped to develop more advanced skills quickly.
This was the second of a series of clinics related to the centre's Water Sports Program, which is introducing new activities to the facility. The first was a water polo coaches' clinic held in the summer. By getting staff and community members certified as coaches, the various sports will have a cadre of leaders within the community and at the aquatics centre that will help to evolve the sport into a greater part of the program at the centre.
If you are interested in learning to canoe and kayak, in developing your skills to a greater degree or in becoming an Instructor, please contact the aquatic center at 306-445-1745.
