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This program is for the individual that wants to push their own personal limits, in a challenging outer coast paddling environment. This program is definitely not for novice or beginner paddlers. This program is focused on the individual who has a very strong intermediate background of paddling skills, combined with a strong experience base. This program is for Professional Educators and Guides, who want to increase their skill base and decision making abilities, with the guidance of a Professional Class 3 Guide/ Educator.
The weather systems at this time of year are intense and transitional, which provides a dynamic classroom for decision making, and the implementation of an itinerary that is flexible, adaptable to sea states, and provides a serious learning milieu.
This course will focus on developing an individual's proficiency in decision making in an outer coastal area, with emphasis on risk assessments and contingencies, exposure and commitment, the implementation of hazard awareness models, and paddling / rescue skills.
This course is completely weather dependent, as we will be paddling in a marine environment that is exposed, has limited landing opportunities, and marginal rescue opportunities. This means that we will be cautious, but at the same time "pushing" our ability levels. This means that we will be making very real decisions, with very real consequences, and a reduced margin of error. All individuals will be required to sign a release of liability waiver upon registration in this program.
Course Overview
This course is ten days in duration, with the emphasis on paddling in an outer coastal environment as our objective. Some of the course content will include:
- GPS use and limitations.
- Surf beach assessments, landings and launchings
- Paddling in a dynamic and variable diversity of sea states in relation to wind / wave interaction, following seas, currents and moving water, clapotis, fog and poor visibility conditions.
- Rescues in a diversity of sea states, and improvisations when things don't work.
- Paddling in exposed, limited landing and campsite options, terrain.
- Contingency and rescue plan scenarios
Course Expectations and Delivery Methods
Course Instructors will expect students to arrive fully prepared in all personal paddling gear, clothing and equipment. This includes tents, meals for the group, excluding lunches (exact details will be resolved prior to trip commencement), all personal safety gear, radios and First Aid kits.
Course participants will be taking active leadership and decision making roles within this course, and will be expected to be ready at all times with tide, weather, and relevant chart information, to contribute to group discussions. Participants will be expected to commit to decisions, with flexibility to changing circumstances and weather conditions, while maintaining a high level of group and situational awareness at all times.
The focus and framework of this course will be experiential in its context to the individual, while maintaining a high degree of personal commitment and responsibility to the group at all times.
This course will be intensive in its delivery with potentially long days, in a diversity of very challenging paddling and camping environments which may include severe weather and ocean conditions and psychological stress, due to these factors. The psychology of survival will also be explored within the context of this course.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this trip participants will have had a comprehensive overview in paddling in an exposed marine environment, which will enable them to formulate decisions more effectively, and follow through to implementation.
Participants will have a much greater understanding of the risks and hazards associated with outer coast paddling, and have the ability to develop contingency plans, rescue response plans, and the judgment tools necessary to make proactive route plan decisions based on weather, sea state and group conditions.
Participants will have an increased ability in personal paddling and rescue skills that will increase confidence levels and the ability to lead groups in a confident, yet respectful manner.
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible". Arthur C. Clarke
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