Kayak Skills Courses, BCAB Trainings/Assessments & Performance Awards Overview
At Sea Kayaking Wales we offer a full range of Courses from Complete Beginners to Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Assessments.
SKW Kayaking Skills Courses
Please note all our tuition courses (except for Intro) are for Over 18's only.
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Level 1 - Beginner Course on sheltered to easy moderate water (see environmental definitions at the bottom of the page)
No Experience Needed
Participants should have reasonable core strength and fitness.
Core Strength: Can you sit upright on the floor without needing back support for a while and can you then stand up using just 1 hand for support?
Fitness: Can you sustain 2 whole days of aerobic activity, similar in intensity to a lovely coastal walk?
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Level 2- This level of course includes journeying into minimal moderate water conditions (see environmental definitions at the bottom of the page) and is often pitched at recently trained sea kayakers or more experienced sea kayakers who enjoy easy journeys.
Participants should have a reasonable understanding of forward paddling and boat handling techniques, with a view to developing these skills furtherer on relatively easy journeys.
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Level 3 - This level of course includes journeying in moderate water conditions (see environmental definitions at the bottom of the page) and is often pitched at fairly experienced sea kayakers who enjoy journeying and aspirant BC Sea Kayak Award holders.
Participants should have a reasonable understanding of forward paddling and boat handling techniques, with a view to applying them to some moderate water conditions.
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Level 4 - The journeys and exercises at this level are in sustained moderate water (see environmental definitions at the bottom of the page) with some moderate water plus conditions. It may include easy tide races, rock gardening and swell/surf.
This level of course is often pitched at aspirant BC Coastal Sea Kayak Award holders and BC Sea Kayak Leaders.
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Level 5 - At this level we are seeking out advanced water conditions (see environmental definitions at the bottom of the page) in tidal rapids and/or exposed swell.
This level of course is often pitched at aspirant BC Advanced Sea Kayak Award holders and BC Advanced Sea Kayak Leaders.
SKW British Canoeing Courses
Please note all our tuition courses (except for Intro) are for Over 18's only.
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The British Canoeing Personal Performance Awards provide a framework for participants, in their development as sea kayakers.
There are 3 levels of award - BC Sea Kayak Award (formerly BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Award), BC Coastal Sea Kayak Award (NEW) and BC Advanced Sea Kayak Award (NEW).
These awards have the following syllabi
We have produced a checklist for each of the awards (see below) to help guide the development of participating sea kayakers. Each item on the checklists can be self-assessed, by the candidate, and verified by one of our coaches.
Assessment is continuous rather than conducted on a single examination-style day - so no more assessment day stress!
Please click on the SKW checklist links…
Coastal Sea Kayak Award Checklist
Advanced Sea Kayak Award Checklist
If you would like your progress to be verified and certificated we ask clients to add an Extra Bespoke Day to following courses/expeditions below. Please contact us: info@seakayakingwales.com if you would like to do this.
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This is a 2/3 day British Canoeing course.
For course information/syllabus, please check out the British Canoeing website, linked here and here.
Would I like to become a BC Sea Kayak Leader……..?
“Why become a Sea Kayak Leader (tidal)?
First of all, the Sea Kayak Leader (tidal) is open to anyone with experience of paddling in moderate tidal water with winds not exceeding Beaufort force 4. The award will enable you to lead fun, safe and enjoyable sea kayaking trips for groups of sea kayakers.
Secondly, you will be supported to develop your personal and leadership skills during two days of training, with like-minded sea kayakers.
Furthermore, this award is used by clubs, outdoor centres and organisations to support their sea kayak journeys on moderate tidal water. This includes short, single or multi-day journeys. “
If you would like to assessed please get in touch with us: info@seakayakingwales.com
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If you would like to be assessed please get in touch: info@seakayakingwales.com
Our next assessment is in November
https://seakayakingwales.com/9-day-bc-sea/advanced-sea-leader-development-week
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This is a 1 day classroom-based British Canoeing course. The BC Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning Course is an essential training course for all independent sea kayakers. It is also a pre-requisite for embarking on BC Sea Kayak Leader Training.
For course information/syllabus, please check out the British Canoeing website, linked here.
Female Only - ShePaddles Kayaking Courses
Please note all our tuition courses (except for Intro) are for Over 18's only.
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Welcome to our #ShePaddles sea kayaking events, in association with Canoe Wales. These events are for beginners to experienced sea kayakers.
“#ShePaddles is an initiative that aims to get more women and girls into paddlesport, and to keep them progressing to where they want to be” - www.canoewales.com
Kirsty and Kathy at SKW are keen to support the #ShePaddles initiative through our regular #ShePaddles sea kayaking days and other events. Our #ShePaddles events aim to bring women together on the sea to share inspiring journeys and promote our core SKW mission of “Growing and Supporting the Sea Kayaking Community”.
British Canoeing Environmental Conditions - 2018
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Areas of open water (e.g. lakes and lochs) where the paddlers are no more than 200 metres offshore and the wind strength does not exceed Beaufort force 3, avoiding the group being swept/blown out of the safe working area. Slow moving estuaries (less than 0.5 Knots)
Examples: Small enclosed bays, enclosed harbours where there is minimal possibility of being blown offshore, defined beaches with easy places to land throughout, no tide races, overfalls or surf.
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Sea: A stretch of coastline with some areas where it is not easy to land but there will always be straight forward land points a maximum of two nautical miles apart. Crossings not exceeding two nautical miles. Up to 2 Knots of tide (but not involving tide race or overfalls). Wind strengths do not exceed Beaufort force 4. Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 metre, trough to crest height).here
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Sea: Any journey on the sea where tidal races, overfalls or open crossings may be encountered and which cannot be avoided; sections of coastline where landings may not be possible or are difficult; sea state 4 and winds above Beaufort force 4; launching and landing through surf (up to 1.5 metres trough to crest height).