Courses

BCU (British Canoe Union) 3 Star SEA Training and Assessment

BCU 3 Star Sea Training

Geneva Kayak’s BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Training is the most comprehensive intermediate sea kayak training available between the coasts! This course is the new (2008) BCU 3 Star and bridges the gap between the former 3 star and 4 star awards.

This training is designed to prepare the sea kayaker for a 3 Star award assessment and to increase the level of skill, understanding and knowledge demonstrated at the intermediate level. This course is designed for a sheltered coastal/sea environment with winds up to Force 4 (11-16 knots) and a sea State 3 (waves to 3-4 feet), and is to be taken in a kayak suitable for journeying on the sea.

Paddling & Rescue skills taught in the new 3 Star Training include:

Lifting, carrying and launching/landing “in conditions listed above”
Efficient Forward Paddling
Reverse Paddling, Stopping
Maintaining Direction
Changing Direction
Moving Sideways
Supporting
Rolling
Securing
Deep-Water Rescue
Contact Tows and Use of a Towline
Eskimo Rescue

Safety, Leadership & Group Skills taught in the new 3 Star Training includes:

Personal Risk Management
Awareness of Others
Paddle as part of a led group

Theory reviewed in the new BCU 3 Star Training:

Equipment
Sea Safety
Weather
Hypothermia/First Aid
Access
Environment
Planning
Group Awareness
General Knowledge
Basic Navigation

Course Location: Geneva Kayak Center

Cost: 129.00 Per Person (does not include boat or gear)
Boat rentals are available for daily rental fee.

Length: 8 Hours

Dates:

May 17
June 6 (as part of the Windy City Kayak Symposium)
June 21
July 12
August 9
August 29 (as part of the 3 day BCU weekend)
September 13
October 18

BCU 3 Star Sea Assessment

Are you interested in testing your intermediate paddling skills and receiving feedback from coaches from the Midwest’s premier BCU Coaching Center? The BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Award is the standard for intermediate paddlers. This is the new (as of 2008) BCU 3 Star Award, which fills the gap between the former 3 and 4 star awards.

The BCU 3 Star Assessment is designed to gauge the progress of paddlers’ level of skill, understanding and knowledge demonstrated at the intermediate level. This assessment will the held in a sheltered coastal/sea environment with winds up to Force 3 (7-10 knots) and a sea State 3 (waves to 3-4 feet), and is to be taken in a kayak suitable for journeying on the sea.

During the 3 Star Assessment, Paddlers will be required to demonstrate the following criteria:

Journeys (Trips): Evidence of at least 3 coastal journeys of 3+ hours in duration each; evidence of at least 1 session of about 3 hours duration in a different paddling discipline.
Personal Paddling Skills in 3 Star Conditions: Lifting, carrying and launching/landing, efficient forward paddling, reverse paddling, stopping, maintaining direction, changing direction, moving sideways, supporting, rolling, self and assisted deep-water rescue; contact tows and use of a towline; eskimo rescue.
Safety, Leadership & Group Skills: Personal risk management, awareness of others, paddle as part of a led group.
Theory: Equipment, sea safety, weather, hypothermia/first aid, access, environment, planning, group awareness, general knowledge, basic navigation.

Course Location: Geneva Kayak Center

Cost: 110.00 Per Person (does not include boat or gear) There is an additional assessment fee payable to the BCU for candidates that pass the assessment
Boat rentals are available for daily rental fee.

Length: 8 Hours

Dates:

June 7 (as part of the Windy City Kayak Symposium)
August 30 (as part of the 3 day BCU weekend)

Click Here to view upcoming courses offered by the Geneva Kayak Center.

Photo courtesy of Lori Donovan