Introduction to Creeking (Intermediate Kayak)

Introduction to Creeking (Intermediate Kayak) Single-Day Clinic – Nov. 14, 2021

Location: Cheoah River, ELF release (Extra Low Flow).

The clinic will focus on techniques for creeking, such as reading water, group safety and creek etiquette, evaluating alternatives, river scouting, running rivers for the first time, and fun :-).  You must have good boat control to allow you to catch small eddies and maneuver in tight spots.  You should also need a reliable river roll and be comfortable with self rescue in low flow broach scenarios.  Students should have solid experience and be comfortable on rivers like the Lower Haw in the 2,000 – 3,000 cfs range, Nanty Falls, Pigeon Gorge, or rivers of similar difficulty. Boat control is the key.

Instructor: Mark Thompson is an ACA L5 Kayak Instructor with many years of teaching experience. He is part of a continuation of a legacy of paddling instruction excellence by CCC, notably by way of paddling legend Joe Greiner.

Date: Sunday, November 14, 2021

Time:  Time and location to meet will be announced later.

Class Ratio: 5 students: 1 Instructor.

https://www.carolinacanoeclub.org/events-upcoming-events/

Requirements: See introduction above for necessary skills.  Membership in Carolina Canoe Club, and either ACA Membership or purchase Event-Only ACA Membership through ACA ($10).  For ACA Membership or ACA Event-Only Membership go to  eStore and make a note stating the clinic name and date when checking out.

Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC): ACA courses are open to all individuals who acknowledge the ability to perform the following essential eligibility criteria.

1. Breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)
2. Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water
3. Independently hold head upright without neck / head support
4. Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion
5. Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
6. Follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion
7. Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket*
8. Get on / off or in / out of a paddlecraft independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance*
9. Independently get out and from under a capsized paddlecraft*
10. Remount or reenter the paddlecraft following deep water capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance*
11. Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills, activities and rescues listed in the appropriate Course Outline, and have the ability to recognize and identify to others when such efforts would be unsafe given your personal situation*

* To participate in adaptive programs, participants must acknowledge only the first six EEC listed above. Entry-level adaptive programs will involve teaching and practicing EEC #7-11.

Contact: education.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org with any questions.  See https://www.carolinacanoeclub.org/events-upcoming-events/ for registration.

Cost: Membership in CCC is required to register.  The clinic registration fee is $45.  Participants are required also to either be a current member of ACA or provide evidence of payment of the $10 event-only insurance fee.  If a participant cancels prior to 7 days of the clinic, the registration fee is fully refundable, after that it is non-refundable.

Upon registration, the CCC Education Chair will follow up with the following documents to be filled out or executed and returned to education.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org.

1. Clinic questionnaire.
2. CCC Release of Liability
3. CCC Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk
4. ACA Waiver