GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism

PRLS 173/5P1– Core Coastal Kayaking Skills 74215 (2) Credits

Fall 2009

DAY/TIME:

/

4:30-5:45 , Fri, 9/04/09

1:00-5:00, Fri 9/11 /09
8:30-5:30 S/S 9/12,13,19, 20 / /

LOCATION:

/ to be determined
Lake Audubon
River sections

INSTRUCTOR:

/

Mike Aronoff,ITE

/ /

EMAIL ADDRESS:

/ www.CKAPCO.com

OFFICE LOCATION:

/

TBD

/ /

PHONE NUMBER:

/

703-264-8911

OFFICE HOURS:

/

By Appointment

/ /

FAX NUMBER:

/

703- 716-8560

COURSE FEE: $150 paid to CKAPCO by check or credit card for kayak, paddle, pfd, safety rescue gear, trailering etc.

PREEQUISITES: None

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide students with the core skills and knowledge necessary to safely paddle sea/coastal kayaks and execute trips on non whitewater rivers and coastal environments. This course will include instruction in, but not limited to, boat handling, terminology, kayak design, trip planning, marine hazards and safety, rules of the Nautical Road, weather and tides and environmental ethics. There will be several trips within 50 miles of GMU.

OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Properly fit & adjust their kayak for effective control and comfort.

2. Safely portage their kayak to the water.

3. Attach their sprayskirt.

4. Properly & safely enter and exit their kayak from shore.

5. Safely & effectively wet-exit their kayak.

6. Demonstrate proper use & control of the paddle.

7. Perform basic strokes and maneuvers. (Stroke list attached).

8. Perform a T- and Paddle Float Self-Rescue.

9. Explain and demonstrate use of essential safety equipment.

10. Describe the influence of weather and tides on the coastal kayaker.

11. Identify marine hazards & safety concerns and explain strategies for dealing with them.

12. Demonstrate Rules of the Nautical Road.

13. State their personal limitations and skill level

TEXT:

Wyatt, J. Michael , Kayaking : Basic Essentials SEA KAYAKING a Falcon Guide

EVALUATION:

Skill Competencies (40%): will be required and evaluated each class session.

Written Exam (20%): Written exam on coastal safety topics.

Final Exam (40%): Practical evaluation on paddle strokes and maneuvers in moving water.

Students will be evaluated on the following skills:

1. Properly adjust foot braces and attach spray skirt

2. Safely enter & exit their kayak from shore

3. Perform a wet-exit with comfort & control

4. Maintain good posture and balance in the kayak

5. Perform the basic strokes, maneuvers & rescues with efficiency

6. Identify common coastal/marine hazards

7. State their physical abilities & limitations

8. Explain when it is safe & appropriate to paddle

GRADING

A = 100-90

B = 89-80

C = 79-70

D = 69-60

F = 59 and below

REQUIREMENTS:

Physical exertion on this course is considered moderate to strenuous. Students (in pairs or independently) will be responsible for carrying kayaks weighing up to 65 lbs. There are required supervised wet exit capsize drills as part of the course where the student will be completely immersed. Accidental capsize is always a possibility.

Equipment:

Properly sized & outfitted sea kayaks with front and rear flotation and related paddling & safety

equipment (i.e. paddles, PFD’s, sprayskirts, paddle floats, bilge pumps, slings $ $150 fee.

All students are required to pay an additional $150 to cover equipment (wetsuit not included), if they do not have their own acceptable equipment.

Contact Mike Aronoff for approval of personally owned kayak and gear.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

Sea Kayakers Handbook by Shelly Johnson,

COURSE OUTLINE:

Location: Teaching conditions will be classroom, a protected freshwater lake, river with class one rapids and a marine environment where waves do not exceed 1.5 feet, winds do not exceed 15 knots, and the groups no more than 1 mile from shore.

1. Introductions & Expectations

Enrollment/registration/liability

Welcome & introductions

Student & instructor expectations

Environment-underwater learning

Physical-flexibility, fatigue

Emotional-fears

Cognitive-information overload

Course itinerary

2. Dryland Presentations

Equipment orientation

Personal clothing & gear

PFD’s, wetsuits & sprayskirts

Safety equipment (i.e. pump, paddle float, sling)

Kayak nomenclature & terminology

Basic boat design (hull shape, length,

beam, rocker vs. keel, initial vs. secondary stability)

Boat fit & adjustment

Boat/body weld

Individuals get sized to boats

Sprayskirt attachment & use

Wet-exit explanation & dryland practice

Paddle orientation

Parts & design

Sizing, indexing, relaxed grip

Feathered vs. non-feathered, paddle control

Concept of torso rotation.

3. Launching & Landing/Wet-Exit Practice

Carrying kayak to and from water

Proper entry & exit of boat from shore or dock

Boat control/stability exercises (supported boogie-woogie, j-leans using partner’s bow for support)

Demonstrate & practice wet-exits (one-on-one supervision by instructor)

Allow students to get oriented/familiar with their kayak

4. Introduction to Basic Strokes & Maneuvers

Sweep strokes (forward & reverse, spins)

Forward touring stroke

Reverse stroke & stopping

Draw stroke (draw-to-the-hip w/ in-water recovery)

5. Lunch Break/Discussion

Signaling & safety devices discussion/show & tell

6. Introduction to Basic Rescues

Demonstrate & practice T-Rescue (w/ & w/0 stirrup)

Demonstrate & practice Paddle Float Self-Rescue (w/ & w/o stirrup)

Reenter and roll with and without paddle float.

Towing basics.

7. Group Safety Talk

Paddling as a group

Group signals

What to do in the event of an emergency

8. Actual tours

Continue to develop good forward stroke technique

Discuss & practice course correction techniques for windy conditions

Observation & explanation of on-water hazards

Observation & explanation of tides & currents (if applicable)

Observation & explanation of weather, wind & wave dynamics

Listen to NOAA weather radio

Discuss current wind speed & direction concerns

Discuss knowing personal and group limits.

9. Additional Stroke & Skill Development

Low & high braces (w/ hip snap development/lower body boat control)

Low brace turns and bow draw turns.

Low brace support underway for looking behind you

Rafting up for support demonstration & practice

Reinforce the idea of paddling with a partner/group

10. Conclusion/Course Wrap-up

Load boats showing proper tie-down techniques

Provide individual feedback if possible

Group debrief of how course went

Explain what is next in their learning progression

Course evaluation

/ v  All students are held to the standards of the George Mason University Honor Code [See http://www.gmu.edu/catalog/apolicies/#Anchor12]
v  University policy states that all sound emitting devices shall be turned off during class unless otherwise authorized by the professor
v  Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and inform the instructor , in writing, at the beginning of the semester [See www.gmu.edu/student/drc]
v  For additional School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism information, please visit the website at http://rht.gmu.edu