Mario’s Novice 4 Level Program


Course 1: Fundamentals of Kayaking

This lesson consists of an basic introduction to the sport of whitewater kayaking. Students will have the opportunity to become acquianted with the kayak on the water and learn how to balance without tipping over. As an important safety measure, students will be required to swim out of their kayaks and swin their boats to shore (we exit). Students will begin paddling across flat water and make their first attempts at rollin over.

Includes:

  • Bilingual Instructor
  • Kayak Personal safety and padding equipment
  • Transportation to/from instruction site

Main Objetives:

  • Learn fundamentals of whitewater river running and the sport of kayaking
  • Learn balance and control and succesfully paddle kayak in flat water
  • Practice several self-rescue and assisted rescue techniques
  • First attempts of eskimo roll”


Course 2: Paddle Strokes and Eskimo ‘Roll

In this lesson students learn to gain control of their kayak and paddle aggresively towards fixed points as well as turning strokes. The student will have intensive roll practice as well as continued t-rescue and self-rescue review. Paddlers should be able to roll on their own by the end of this class.

Includes:

  • Bilingual instructor
  • Kayak Personal safety and paddling equipment
  • Transportation to/from instruction site

Main Objetives:

  • Paddle properly towards a determined point and be able to change direction
  • Successful eskimo roll without assistance
  • Understand the fundamentals of river-running etiquette
  • River sign language communication


Course 3: Swift Water Current

Once you have a basic eskimo roll, you are ready for class 1 whitewater. This course covers the concept of reading whitewater currents and understanding how your boat reacts to such currents. By the end of this class students will have experience not only paddling across, against and down swift currents but also will have their first experience rolling in moving water.

Includes:

  • Bilingual Instructor
  • Kayak, Personal safety and paddling equipment
  • Transportation to/from instructio site

Main Objetives:

  • Introduction to water hydrology including common river terminology
  • Successfully paddle in moving currents
  • Practice eskimo roll’ and rescue in swift currents



Course 4: Whitewater River Descent Class 1 + 4

Your first whitewater descent! Accompanied by your instructor and safety support kayaker, this class takes students on their first river trip down class 1 and 2 whitewater rapids. All of the skills in courses 1 thru 3 will be put to the test including paddling techniques, eskimo rolls, rescue effort and reading whitewater currents.

  • Review and practice all fundamentals learned in Course 1 thru 3
  • Paddle down class 1 – 2 whitewater rapids
  • Repeated roll and rescue practice