Demonstrate kayaking skills on Grade II water
Unit Standard: 20121 - Theory Test
Candidate Name:
1.
Level: 2 Credit: 4
Koyren CAMPBELL
Describe the characteristics of different rapid grades in terms of hazards, difficulty involved with paddling a safe line and
potential consequences if things go wrong
Grade
1
2
3
Hazards
Difficulty of Line
Consequences
Rapids are small, regular waves.
Care may be needed with obstacles like fallen
trees and bridge piers.
Difficulty invloved with padding a safe line.
Rapids are small regular waves. The passage is clear
and easy to recognise and negotiate.
Might hit an obstacle eg. fallen tree or bridge pier and end
up damaging kayak.
Kayak could become stuck and cause damage.
Paddler might end up in the water this could be a safety
if in extremely cold water.
There may be rocks in the main current,
overhanging branches or log jams.
Rapids have regular medium sized waves (less than
1 metre), low ledges or drops, easy eddies and gradual
bends. The passage is easy to recognise and is
generally unobstructed although there may be rocks
in the main current.
May run into rocks or get caught on over hanging tree
branches causing you to flip and possibly injure yourself.
The passage may be difficult to recognise from the
river and manoeuring to negotiate the rapid is
required.
Could hit exposed rocks and flip.
Damage to kayak
Hazards are fairly high waves (1-2 metres),
broken water, stoppers and strong eddies,
exposed rocks and small falls.
Kayak could be damaged.
Grade
Hazards
4
Difficult rapid with high, powerful, irregular waves,
broken water, often boiling eddies, strong stoppers,
ledges, drops and dangerous exposed rocks.
5
6
Very powerful rapids with very confused and broken
water, large drops, violent and fast currents,
abrupt turns, difficult powerful stoppers and fast
boiling eddies, with numersous obstacles in the
main current.
Like Grade 5 but increased to the limit of
practicability.
Extremely powerful rapids with very
t
confused and broken water, large drops, violent
and fast currents, abrupt turns, difficult powerful
stoppers and fast boiling eddies, with numerous
obstacles in the main current.
Difficulty of Line
The passage is often difficult to recognise and precise
and sequential manoeuvering is required.
Difficult rapids with high, powerful irregular waves and
dangerous exposed rocks.
Complex, precise and powerful sequential
manoeuvring is required.
Very confused and violent water so difficult that
controlled navigation by raft is virtually impossible
Consequences
If things go wrong you could be washed on to rocks
causing injury and flipping.
Kayak can be damaged
A definate risk to personal safety exists if things go
wrong.
Damage to equipment
Significantly life threatening if swimming and
unrunnable by all but a few experts.
Damage to equipment.
1. Explain what the following hazards are, and their potential effects on a boat and swimmer:
Hazard
Strainer
Rock
Manmade object
What is it?
Fallen down trees in a river, the branches act like a sieve that keeps
victim/boat/gear from passing through. Often loose objects
get snagged by strainer branches, thereby holding victim below the
water surface.
A solid object which is made of one or more minerals.
Object like a bridge pier or dam.
could also be
fences, reinforcing
steel, lots of
objects which
shouldn't really be
in a river
Effect on Kayaker and boat
Kayakers can become tangled up in the strainer which can cause being
trapped under water with kayak.
Damage to the kayak.
Kayakers could get injured when and kayak damaged when hitting rocks.
Kayaker could get trapped up against wall or support post for the bridge.
Damage to kayak.
Dam can cause hydraulic somersaulting tumble at the base of a dam is most often
a fatal predicament.
Bridge bases of these structures can create eddies, collect debris that can act like
strainers and cause the current to react in myriad ways.
Hole
Undercut/sieve
A submerged object or underwater ledge causing the surface water
to flow back up stream toward the object.
Holes can be partically dangerous for a Kayaker may become stuck under the
water surface in a circulating flow/hydraulic created.
Submerged hazards that don't usually affect passage overhead
but can trap a capsized paddler under the edge of a riverbank or
rock ledge, or entrap a victim against a rock or in debris settled into
a pothole.
Kayaker extremely dangerous features of a rapid causing a person to get
trapped underneath the water.
Kayak damaged
these can also be
very dangerous to
upright kayakers
Weir
A low dam built across a river to increase water and cause water pool
behind it.
Kayak can be
pinned and very
difficult to extract
Kayaker can be in the water in the weir hydraulics and can become trapped and
drown.
Kayak equipment can be damaged.
2. Describe the meaning of the following river signals
River Signal
Meaning
A vertical paddle or arm means GO.
To move the kayaker to the right or left, point your paddle or 1 arm, up and to the side you wish them to travel.
The paddle held hortizonal means STOP paddling if there is a current you may have to be paddling to hold the position.
Emergency or GATHER UP
Many kayakers use the side to side wave as emergency if it is done quickly and a
GATHER - UP signal, if it is a slow wide wave to the group.
To move the kayaker to the right or left point your paddle or one arm up and to the side you wish them to travel.
The arms out stretched to the side means stop your paddling or hold your position.
A vertical arm means go on a tour the GO means paddle in the agreed direction previously discussed.
Emergency or Gather Up
Many kayakers use the side to side wave as emergency if it is done quickly and a
Gather-Up signal, if it is a slow wide wave to the group.
1.
Draw a circle in the air over your head
2.
point to where eddy is.
1 blast on whistle means
Possible emergency
X1
3 blasts on whistle means
HELP/ EMERGENCY
X 3 (repeated)
3. Describe one method to avoid each of the following health problems:
Method of Avoidance
Health
problem
Cold water
immersion
Cramps
Sunburn
Blisters
Dress for immersion when kayaking in cold water down to 48f.
Wear a full wet suit, neoprene hood and booties/ dry suit.
Wear a life-jacket and a wetsuit if in cold water.
try splashing face
with water before a
hard rapid - can
minimise the shock
Stretching and relaxing muscles Drink plenty of water and stretch before exercise.
Wear sun protection eg. sun-screen with waterproof properties and reply as per instructions.
Sun hat, and lip sun barrier.
Long sleeve clothing to protect arms and neck area.
Feet wear thick socks and prevent rubbing on foot wear. Tape up rub points early, use correct technique.
Hand holding paddle in correct position.
Dislocations
Physio to make sure limbs are up to the exercise involved with kayaking.
Strapping the weak limb to add extra support. Use good technique.
Hypothermia
Wear warm clothing and keep dry. Keep moving to conserve body temperature. Having hot drinks and food.
Don't stay in wet clothes. Wear clothing that insulates when wet.
Head
injuries
Always wear a safety helmet which fits your head with fitted straps.
Good level of
understanding
Koyren!
good stuff technique is key
great advice