4CRS Paddle School ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor Certification 2022

WHITEWATER KAYAKING ACA INSTRUCTOR

DEVELOPMENT AND CERTIFICATION COURSE

Schedule: Wednesday – Sunday roughly 8:30 am-7:00 pm.
MEETING PLACE: 4Corners Riversports
COST: $525 (Plus $65.00 ACA instructor membership)
INSTRUCTOR UPDATE: https://www.riversports.com/products/aca-whitewater-kayak-instructor-update

Course Description: The American Canoe Association (ACA) has one of the best established paddlesport instruction programs anywhere in the world. The courses are comprehensive, but allow enough flexibility for individual teaching and paddling styles. The main benefit to taking the course is improving your understanding of paddling technique and theory, so you can paddle more efficiently and teach more effectively. A secondary benefit is the development process which can give you structured feedback on becoming an effective instructor. A third benefit are the significant insurance, liability, and networking benefits of ACA certification. Instructor development workshops are very rewarding and enjoyable, because of the opportunity for idea exchange.

Instructor Trainer Kent Ford: Kent’s unique background includes thirty years of international racing and coaching, combined with similar experience teaching recreational boating to all levels of paddlers. His twenty videos and books on paddlesports have influenced the education of half a million paddlers. As an instructor trainer, Kent provides paddlers and prospective instructors a framework for better understanding paddling technique, theory, and safety. These observations are adapted from the same training regimens and analysis utilized by World Champion freestyle and slalom competitors. It is all shared in an invigorating class atmosphere, designed to so everyone in the group is able to contribute and flourish. More info on Kent: https://performancevideo.com/about/

Level 4 Whitewater Kayak: This is a instructor development workshop and an instructor certification exam (IDW/ICE) for level 4 Whitewater. ACA courses are structured for several levels of certification for instance: Level 2 Essentials of River Paddling, Level 3 River Kayaking, and L4 Whitewater. Our courses are targeted at instructors who expect to be teaching on whitewater. The L4 Whitewater Instructor Criteria is demanding, and relatively few candidates achieve this on their first try unless they have extensive technical whitewater backgrounds. So not everyone will receive “Full” L4 whitewater instructor certification, especially if this is their first exposure to formal paddling instruction. No worries! There are means for upgrading within the ACA system.

Instructor Updates: Current ACA instructors may join the first two (and on approval last two) days of the class to fulfill every 4 year update requirements. (on space available basis). Current instructors wishing to increase certification level must present their continuation form, available from the previous IT or ACA office.

Prerequisite Skills: Class II-III paddling skills are required along with a solid river roll. Bring a boat you will use for teaching. (A creek or river running boat is required).

Course Locations: Animas River and other locations as dictated by water levels. Meetings will be held at various locations. Expect river temperatures of 45 to 55 degrees and air temps of 50 to 70 degrees (As always, be prepared for cold, rainy weather).

Overall Health: Participants should be in good physical health and should be in condition to paddle for long hours. Class days are long yet invigorating.

Course Questions: Use the Contact Us form to submit any questions.