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Level 5 Kayak Proficiency
General Aims
Training Course Outline
Applying to attend a Course
Applying to attend an Assessment
Assessment
Recommended Equipment List
Guidelines
Introduction
The Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award is designed for kayakers wishing to develop advanced skills and rescue techniques appropriate to Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers. It is an appropriate award for advanced kayakers who kayak with others of Level 4 or higher ability on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
The Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award is a pre requisite for progression from the Level 3 to the Level 4 Kayak Instructor. The Level 4 Kayak Instructor is the appropriate qualification for those wishing to instruct and lead others on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
General aims of the Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award
The Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award aims to enable candidates to
1.01 develop the necessary skills, group awareness, and group management to kayak safely and proficiently on rivers of Grade 4 & advanced white water difficulty.
1.02 deal competently with rescue situations which might occur on rivers up to and including rivers of Grade 4 & advanced white water difficulty.
1.03 deal competently with First Aid situations in the river environment.
Training Course Outline
2.01 The Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award requires that a candidate attend a training programme and a two-day assessment. The training programme will include the following:
1. Methods of River Leading
2. River Reading
3. Canoeing Equipment for White Water Leading
4. Management of Rescue Situations
5. Rescue from a Kayak
6. Use of a Throw Rope
7. Rope Rescues
8. Protection against Hazards
9. First Aid in the River Environment
10. Resuscitation in the River Environment
11. Trip Planning
12. At least one Grade 4/advanced whitewater river trip leading a group under the supervision of a Level 4 Kayak Instructor.
13. Assessment Procedures.
Applying to attend a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Training Course
Before applying to attend a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Training Course, a candidate must
3.01 hold a Level 4 Kayak Proficiency Award.
3.02 have unrestricted access to a fully equipped kayak, personal equipment, and additional equipment as listed for a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment.
3.03 be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Applying to attend a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment
Before applying to attend a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment, a candidate must
4.01 have attended an approved Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Training Programme within the 24 months period proceeding a selected assessment date.
4.02 have recorded in a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Logbook, following the completion of a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Training Programme, at least 10 river trips of a minimum of 20 hours duration of Grade 4 & advanced white water experience under the supervision of at least two registered Level 4 Kayak Instructors.
4.03 in addition to 4.02 a candidate must record in a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Logbook evidence of having gained experience over a minimum of three years on a range of advanced river trips showing a bias towards "wild" and Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers. Experience gained on wholly artificial courses/weirs will not be considered as part of the completion of this requirement.
4.04 possess a current and approved First Aid Certificate. (for example, REC Level 3)
4.05 be at least 18 years of age.
4.06 have returned to the Irish Canoe Union Office a completed Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Logbook accompanied by a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment application form no later than three weeks before a selected assessment date.
Format of a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment
5.01 The Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment will take place over two days and must include a river trip on a minimum of Grade 4 difficulty over a distance a 2-5 miles (4-8 Kms.)
The Assessment Group on the river trip element of the assessment may consist of the following:
Assessors
Minimum of two registered Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessors.
Assessees
Minimum of two and up to a maximum of four Assessees.
Other River Trip Participants
Minimum of two and up to maximum of four participants who must hold Level 4 Kayak Proficiency Award.
Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Panel Applicants
Maximum of two Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Panel Applicants. These may form part of the Participant Group.
5.02 The format of a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency will include assessment of a candidate's
personal kayaking§ proficiency.
ability to demonstrate white water and deep water rescue§ techniques.
knowledge, both oral and practical, of advanced white water§ techniques, skills and rescues.
knowledge, both oral and practical, of§ First Aid and AR as applied in a high graded river environment.
§ interview with assessors
As part of an assessment, a candidate would be expected to
5.03 demonstrate all techniques and skills at a proficiency level higher than that required for the Level 4 Kayak Proficiency Award and at a standard comparable with the techniques and skills necessary to deal competently with conditions likely to be encountered on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
5.04 demonstrate a thorough knowledge of safety precautions and procedures to be adopted while with a group on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
5.05 demonstrate an ability to assess a group's competence to deal with conditions likely to be encountered on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
5.06 demonstrate an ability to command trust from a group of peers while on rivers of minimum Grade 4 & advanced white water .
5.07 demonstrate the necessary skills to communicate effectively with other group members on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
5.08 deal efficiently with rescue situations likely to occur on Grade 4 & advanced white water rivers.
5.09 demonstrate a constant awareness of other group members, their location on the river and within the group.
5.10 demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of the river's environs.
5.11 demonstrate an ability to read white water to a high standard.
5.12 present a suitable and correctly fitted out kayak and other appropriate equipment (see Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Equipment List). It would be expected that a candidate's equipment be of a standard consistent with the responsibilities of being part of a group undertaking a trip on a Grade 4 & advanced white water . Equipment should be readily accessible at all times. Examination of equipment will form an important part of the overall assessment.
Equipment List required for a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment
A correctly equipped kayak must include:
• Rigid end loops and/or toggles
• Kayaks over 270cm in length must have decklines fitted front and back.
• Kayaks 270cm or less in length must have cowtails fitted front and back
• Method of securing paddles
• Suitable buoyancy
• Suitable foot rest
• A kayak must be of sufficient volume to carry all necessary safety equipment and perform any rescue as required by the Level 4 Kayak Proficiency Award.
Personal canoeing equipment must include:
Paddle
Wetsuit or sufficient thermal clothing
Spray Deck
Buoyancy Aid
Cagoule
Helmet
Canoe Booties or adequate footwear
Equipment must also include:
Towing System
Throw Bag
Bivvy Bag or equivalent
First Aid Kit
Split Paddle
Whistle
Repair Kit
Knife
Whistle
Torch
Flask and Emergency Food
Spare Clothes
Waterproof Bag or other method of keeping equipment dry
Karabiners x 2
Sling
Prussic Loops x2
Map
Group Shelter
A candidate's personal and group kit will be evaluated as part of the assessment. Candidates must present suitable personal equipment plus any additional equipment deemed to be appropriate to support other members of the group. Equipment should reflect such things as the season, the abilities of the group, and the grade of the river being undertaken. Borrowed equipment will be assessed as if it were a candidate's own. A candidate should be aware that on advanced grade rivers having too much or inappropriate equipment can nearly be as hazardous as having too little.
Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award Assessment Guidelines
It is recommended that a Level 5 Kayak§ Proficiency Award is assessed by an instructor other than the instructor who has run the training course leading to assessment. Notwithstanding this, a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Award can only be assessed by two registered members of the Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment Panel.
Clear guidelines should be§ given in writing should a candidate fail an assessment as to the areas which need to be improved upon.
Candidates cannot depend on any assistance§ (material or practical) during the course of an assessment.
No other§ award or qualification can be assessed during a Level 5 Kayak Proficiency Assessment.
The assessment ratio is a maximum 4 assessees:2 assessors§ with a minimum of 2 assessees:2 assessors.
E-mail: info@phoenixkayakclub.com