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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for the paddle.
   • Select clothing, footwear, personal protective and other equipment suitable for the paddle and conditions, and check for safe working condition.
   • Carry, prepare craft and complete safety and serviceability checks.
   • Waterproof, pack and stow clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during paddle.
   • Interpret planned course from activity plans and maps to assist in following the course.
   • Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
   • Confirm protocols for communications between paddlers.
   • Fit and adjust personal protective equipment to ensure comfort and safety.
2. Paddle and manoeuvre kayaks on grade 3 rivers.
   • Select suitable location, embark and launch kayak using technique suitable to situation to maintain stability.
   • Identify hydrological features from the water and utilise favourably to control and manoeuvre kayak.
   • Control direction of kayak forward, in reverse and sideways using a range of appropriate strokes, leans, edges and combinations.
   • Maintain appropriate posture, use of trunk rotation, paddle and blade to efficiently paddle the kayak.
   • Utilise appropriate padding strokes and techniques to cross currents and break into and out of eddies.
   • Avoid or negotiate obstacles and hazards using a combination of strokes and paddling techniques.
   • Support kayak using the paddle to prevent capsizes.
   • Maintain visual contact and effective communication with party members throughout all activities.
   • Monitor party formation, paddling pace and space between kayaks and make required adjustments.
3. Plan and run routes through rapids.
   • Scout rapids from the water and shore to identify hydrological features, hazards and impediments.
   • Assess features and hazards to determine a safe route through rapids.
   • Plan route through rapids accounting for party member numbers, abilities and management during run.
   • Identify reference points to guide chosen passage through rapids.
   • Run predetermined route using avoidance techniques to safely negotiate river hazards.
   • Use efficient paddling techniques and strokes and utilise hydrological features to assist in turning and crossing currents.
4. Rescue self following a capsize.
   • Execute a roll using techniques appropriate for situation to avoid a wet exit and re-establish paddling position promptly.
   • Exit the kayak in a controlled manner when unable to roll following a capsize, and recover paddle.
   • Maintain appropriate body position in water to minimise entrapment and injury.
   • Manoeuvre the paddle and upturned kayak to shore or to rescue craft.
   • Drain water from craft in safe shallow river position or on shore and re-enter craft on shore or in an eddy.
   • Use techniques when in deep water to empty water and re-enter kayak.
5. Perform deep water rescues in grade 3 rivers
   • Identify immediate hazards, assess risks and negotiate to avoid injury to self and others.
   • Select and use other leaders or party members, equipment and rescue techniques appropriate to situation.
   • Manoeuvre rescue craft to capsized party member, forming a raft-up as required.
   • Provide clear and concise instructions to person being rescued and others assisting.
   • Assist rescuee to return to their craft using rescue technique appropriate to situation.
   • Assess ability of rescuee to continue and tow to nearest safe landing, as required.
6. Land and secure kayaks.
   • Select a suitable location to exit the river, and to allow for any subsequent re-entries.
   • Land and disembark kayak using techniques suitable for river conditions to maintain stability.
   • Select a secure bank feature and secure kayak using appropriate knots.
   • Secure kayak for road transport, on activity conclusion, using suitable methods.