ABOUT THE TRIP

This course is designed to perfect your basics in Whitewater kayaking and strengthen your skills to become an ace paddler!

The focus of this course is to train on to eskimo roll and to improve basic skills with boat control and paddle strokes. The duration of this course will be 3 days for 6 hours each, which will be divided between working on the eskimo roll and your core paddling technique. The course will be held in the beautiful location of Kuttiyadi, Kerala on the first day, followed by  being conducted in pristine river sections of Iruvanjhipuza and Chalipuzha in Calicut district of Kerala on the final two days.  

REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY

• Students must have successfully completed at least the LTK  (Level 1), or posses equivalent paddling skills.
• Ability to swim 10 minutes unassisted, with the use of a PFD (Personal Flotation Device)
• The eskimo roll requires a lot of time spent underwater; therefore, it is important that prospective students are very comfortable with their heads' immersed.
• Must not suffer from any medical or physical condition that prohibits the participant from partaking in strenuous physical exercise.

COURSE CONTENTS

Day 1 (6 Hours)

ESKIMO ROLL

There is no better form of rescue than self-rescue

The entire duration of the course on the first day will be held in the location of Kuttiyadi, Kerala. Focus would be given on the eskimo roll and is one of the most crucial moves that a white water kayaker must master. A solid eskimo roll will accelerate your progress and help you gain confidence when running challenging white waters.  We will gradually delve into the mysterious dimensions of the eskimo roll, analyzing step by step the components that make up this complex move. After working on your hip snap, you will be able to try your roll assisted by an instructor, and finally on your own. 

Special attention is given to the development of comfort while upside down and under the water - one of the essential factors of success in a roll. Different variations of the roll will be demonstrated to you throughout the course.

ADVANCED FLAT WATER TECHNIQUES 

It's time to practice hard and master what you have been taught during your LTK/LTR, to sharpen your weapons and prepare for when the monsoon flows. After spending time revisiting the basic strokes, we will start to execute new complex movements of the blade - to increase our precision and to gain dexterity. The next step will be combining different strokes in sequences to explore the variety of approaches that we can bring to a moving water scenario. Basic principles of slalom will be taught, and you will demonstrate the level of boat control that you have acquired while paddling through some gates (flat water).

Finally, we will work on bracing techniques, refining one of the most important moves that a whitewater paddler can learn. Low brace and high brace (executed in a safe shoulder position) take a lot of time to be mastered. Let's step it up!

Day 2 (6 Hours)

Day 2  shall be held in the river sections of Iruvanjhipuza and Chalipuzha. Running a river is an awesome experience. In order to do that we require a large amount of different skills , from the moment we start planning a trip at home, till the time we tie up the boats on the car after a great day on the river. This course was meant to provide you with all those skills, building a solid preparation to kayak rivers.

Focus for the day is River Reading and Rescue. Learning these techniques will help you make better decisions on the river and also become confident of facing bigger rapids. 

RIVER READING

The more we progress in river running the more is crucial to take fast decision while choosing a line or when placing our blade into the water. To do that is essential to comprehend the flow of the water, in every aspect, and to anticipate the features of the river. This is river reading. This is what we will practice on this course, from the shore, while scouting, and form the boat, while paddling.

RIVER RESCUE

Kayaking is a relatively safe sport, but while in the river many things can happen, and we need to know what to do. You will learn how to rescue yourself and how to rescue others, according to the most efficient rescue techniques hat are preferred in the river. We will teach you how how to decide what to do in case of an emergency on the river. You will swim rapids, learn how to use a throw bag, how to help other kayakers form the shore, and much more. 

RIVER RUNNING STRATEGIES

How do we run the river? What should we know before putting in? How do we organize our group? What is the plan of action? How we will communicate while paddling? What do we do in case of an emergency? In this course we will spend time reasoning on how we make sure we enter the river as a group that is aware and self sufficient, proactive and ready for the challenges ahead.

Sounds like a theory session ?  No it's not, all the above is going to be taught to you in a real white-water environment. Not only will be you be nailing the lines of your choosing you will be taught to negotiate them without a kayak. Yes, you read it right, without a kayak. Once you have swum a few rapids,  the fear of white-water will be out of your system and in no time you will styling class II- II+ rapids like a pro. 

Day 3 (6 Hours)

Navigating the Rapids!

Today is the day when you put it all together. Everything that you have learnt in previous trainings on the river will be put to the test.  You will be running two different sections on two different rivers, i.e. the Chalipuzha and Iruvanjhipuza and you will be facing some of the classic rapids of the Malabar such as the Game of Thorns (Class 3+), Tooth Fairy (Class 3), Malabar Pool Rapid (Class 3), Jogi's Hole (Class 3) etc. 

TRIP ITINERARY (SAMPLE, EX-BANGALORE)

• Depart Bangalore 0500 hrs on Day 1 or the day before on Friday 3pm TBD
• Day 1: 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM Eskimo Roll session on the Kuttiyadi Lake.
• Drive to Tushara International Hotel, Kodencherry end of Day 1. 
• Day 2: 10:30 AM- 4:30 PM Advance river running and rescue session.
• Day 3: 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM 'Navigating through Rapids!' Session
• Depart for Bangalore at 5:00 PM. 

WHAT TO BRING ?

• A change of clothes to get wet in
• Water resistant shoes or sandals (Very important)
• Water bottle ( we will try to avoid the use of plastic)
• Sun Screen
• Medicines for any existing ailments of allergies 
• Mosquito repellent

COST : RS. 13,000/PERSON.

Break-up of the cost

• Kayak + Equipment ( Spray Deck + PFD + Helmet + Paddle) rental. Rs. 3000 (per day)
• Kayak instruction   : Rs. 1500 (per day)

*Food, Transport & Accommodation are not included in our charges and are charged as per actuals. 

PLEASE NOTE (IMPORTANT)

• Kayaking is an extremely instructor intensive activity and therefore to ensure safety of the participants we have a small ratio of only 3/4 students per instructors
• Our Students are given the top quality equipment which has been certified for use on any grade of whitewater.
• Our courses are based on the syllabus as prescribed by the ACA (American Canoe Association)

COURSE REGISTRATION

1. Complete the registration form and waiver : http://goodwave.in/waiver

2.  Click the "Cashfree" below button to make the payment.  You will be directed to their website and you can use your credit or debit cards/netbanking to make the payment. If this payment method doesn't work for you please transfer the amount of Rs. 13,000 to bank account details mentioned below.  Note that Goodwave Adventures is a brand that is owned by Madras Fun Tools (www.madrasfuntools.com)