Beginner Courses

3 Day Beginner Course – $899 (Minimum of 2 per course)

Available course dates;
November – 18th/19th/20th
December – 2nd/3rd/4th
January – 6th/7th/8th
February – 3rd/4th/5th
February – 17th/18th/19th
March- 17th/18th/19th
March/April – 31st/1st/2nd

4 Day Comprehensive Beginner Course – $1149 (Minimum of 2 per course)

Available course dates;
November/December – 22nd/23rd/24th/25th
December – 6th/7th/8th/9th
December – 19th/20th/21st/22nd
January – 10th/11th/12th/13th
January – 24th/25th/26th/27th
February – 7th/8th/9th/10th
February – 21st/22nd/23rd/24th
March – 7th/8th/9th/10th
March – 21st/22nd/23rd/24th

• LOCATIONS (These are the sections of rivers and lakes that we can use, depending on the river levels, we can travel between all of these rivers!)
  
• Kaituna River / Reid’s Farm (Waikato River)/ Lake Rotoiti/ Tarawera River/ Rangitaiki River (Aniwhenua section)/ Mohaka River
  
• INTRO

• Brief overview of NZWA, who we are and what we plan to achieve.
• Description of the basic equipment and river gear, how to wear it and how to fit it to yourself.
• Dos and don’ts of wearing gear, how to be comfortable and safe. 
• Picking the right kayak and paddle for you.
• How to outfit a kayak; hip pads, foot rest, seat pad, back band.
• Sitting in a kayak.
• Exiting your kayak on dry ground and in the water.
• How to hold your paddle correctly and the basics of paddling dynamics.
• Walking to the river/carrying your kayak.
• River and whistle signals.
• Instructor gives an in-detail safety briefing before entering the water.

• ON THE RIVER

• We talk about how to identify hazards and important features, such as trees, rocks, main current, eddy-lines, boils, shallow water, including how to identify underwater hazards. 
• Entering a river safely.
• Flat water paddling.
• How to ‘wet exit’ safely.
• How to be barrel rolled rescued by instructor.
• How to T-rescue in pairs.
• How to be rescued in the water, holding the grab handles of rescuer’s kayak .
• Emptying water from a kayak, by yourself and in pairs.
• Paddling techniques; forward paddling, back paddling, sweep strokes (front and back).
• Edge control.
• Intro to rolling.
• Intro to moving water, eddy turns, navigating on moving water.
• Exiting a river safely.
• Swimming with your equipment.
• Throw bags and how to use them, practicing rescues as a team on slow moving water. 
• Teamwork on a river trip.
• Review all content covered.
• Packing your gear (gear baby).
• Transporting kayaks safely (using tie downs, basic knots).