The UK Rivers Guidebook

Hi there,

Next year i am looking to go on a gap year programme, where i hope to be a kayak instructor. For this, i need an accreddited lifesaving/first aid course ( kayak related) Furthermore i need to get the highest possible qualification for my age, in the time that i have... ( 12 months until i go)

abit about me:

I have been kayaking for 6 years, and have taken part in numerous trips, uk based and abroad. I am hoping to tackle some whitewater in norway, graded 4/5. I have been teaching kayaking for my school, as a kayak instructor, and this is led me to want to do it next year, in America. I have all my own kit and boat.

I have nbot as of yet got round to taking my qaulificationbs, but ive been told im certainly at a level 3 standard, and there is no reason why i can not get my level 4.

Any advice as to how i go about doing this, any courses that are on offer, and if anyone has any imput, that would be much appreciated.

I realise that there are no places to do this where i live, which is in cambridge. Therefore i know i will hgave to drive to reach you, but obvsouly distance from cambridge will be taken into account when i choose a company to do these qualifications with.

Finally, i do attend a sixth form college, so any courses would have to be weekend based, or match my halfterm holidays,

Thanks in advance,

Jack Miers

Furthermore, i have twqo freinds that are also interested in this, who have had exactly the same amount of time kayak experiance, and level ( they are my very close freinds so we stick together!) so any offers or suggestionbs anyone makes, you can be sure two more customers will be coming your way!

With regards to price, im not sure of the exact costs, but as i said, ANY infomation will be handy!

***add on***********

I am not sure wther i have to go up in logical steps, i.e, 1 star, 2 star, 3 star etc. Or wther i can skip to 3star then do 4 star. im not sure so any advice on that would be much appreciated. I belive i also have to keep a log book of any trips ive done, i have the ability to do this, and have all the exact places ive been, to hand.futhermore, i belive if i do more than one lifesaving/rescue/first aid course, then i will stand out better than other candidates goind for the same job in America. So any advice on which of the rescue courses, and how to go about doing them will be much apreciated :)

.



Hello Jack

Great to hear that you wish to get the maximum white water kayaking out of your gap year, and going to north America is one of the best ways to enjoy a vast amount of rivers of the highest quality.

At Gene17kayaking we can offer you all and any solution for the development of your white water kayaking. We specialise in providing the very best coaching of modern techniques and tactics, and have a host of coaches that are solid Class V paddlers that can coach at that level.

If you are looking for the qualification route, you can now access BCU 4 Star Training without any other qualification, thus our BCU 4 Star combo with the BCU 4 Star Training and BCU Basic WWS&R over 4 days an obvious choice. We also run stand alone BCU 4 Star Training and BCU Basic WWS&R courses, in addition to BCU 5 Star Training and BCU Advanced WWS&R.

Furthermore we can run a tailor made course that would focus on what your paddling needs on the run up to your trip. Our coaching weekends are highly popular, and target specific learning demanded by the paddler rather than an approximate need to stay close to a set syllabi.

Read our reviews, see our courses and watch our videos, to get a slice of what we're about.

If you have any questions, please get back to ourselves at any time.

Regards

Simon@Gene17

Hello....I am involved with DofE in Cambridge and know that the faculty of education is running a number of courses this term which you might be able to join in with.

Most of the courses are walking/mountain related but if it means you dont need to travel quite so far for your first aid courses that might be good for you and the environment!

if you want more information then do email me!

JOYJOY

Excellent, cheers for the speedy response! the combo seems like the perfect solution :)

Hello Jack

Good I am glad to help, have a look at the web page http://www.joyofadventure.co.uk/courses which lists the Faculty Of Education out door courses and includes the 16hr ITC Outdoor first aid course which you will need if you want to do any BCU coaching awards. Plus I need to do my White water rescue test with in the next 2 months......so will let you know if I find a course which we could go on and save petrol on the way up!

..............any one else who wants a 16hr outdoor first aid course and doesn't want to drive north is welcome too!

Cheers JOYJOY