Practical & Technical Qualifications required to qualify for an international guide certification
Guides must be able to confidently demonstrate all the following skills under these conditions:
Paddle with confidence I various conditions as those expected on a long sea kayaking trip on an open coastline that includes ocean currents, surf waves and wind.
The minimum conditions required to pass a NHKGIF technical skills evaluation are the following:
- Wind up to 20-25 knots
- In windblown waves of 1-1.5 meters,
- In sea swells of up to 4 meters,
- Ocean currents up to 6 knots
- Surf waves of 1.5-2 meters.
Guidelines for proficiency in all paddling strokes
- Effective paddle strokes
- Good torso rotation
- Correct hand position on the paddle shaft
- All strokes must be executed on both sides
- Flawless combination of strokes
Forward stroke
- Must be able to paddle forwards in moderate seas at a speed of 3 knots for a minimum of 5 hours.
Stopping
- Must be able to stop using only 3 strokes from a speed of 3 knots
Reverse stroke
- must be able to paddle backwards in moderate seas for a distance of 300m and then make a turn of 180 degrees
Sculling draw
- move a sea kayak sideways at least 50m
Pulling Draw
- Move a sea kayak sideways at least 50m
Static/Running Draw
- Move a sea kayak sideways while it in a forward motion to avoid an object of danger
Forward Sweep
- On an edge, turn a sea kayak 180 degrees using 3 strokes
Reverse Sweep
- On an edge turn a sea kayak 180 degrees using 3 strokes
Guidelines for proficiency in all paddling strokes (cont’d)
- Effective paddle strokes
- Good torso rotation
- Correct hand position on the paddle shaft
- All strokes must be executed on both sides
- Flawless combination of strokes
Stern Draw
- be able to use this stroke to keep your direction while crossing a eddy line
- Use this stroke to turn in to the direction of the current while you cross an eddy line
Stern rudder
- Use this stroke to hold your direction on a surf wave
Edging
- Turn a sea kayak 90 degrees by edging your sea kayak (on both sides)
Low brace
- From a unexpected over edging
bring yourself to a stable position with a low brace
(spray skirt must be below the water line)
High brace
- From an unexpected over edging bring yourself to a stable position with a high brace (your leading elbow must be below the waterline)
Paddle strokes in a tandem sea kayak
- Good coordination
- Good rhythm
- Execute the same strokes as in a single sea kayak as well as flawless combinations of strokes.
Towing
Must be executed in a head wind of at least a breeze strength with clear and concise communication and confidence and good group control
Contact tow
- Tow a disabled paddler minimum of 500 m and then turn 180 degrees
Short tow
- Tow a disabled paddler minimum 1 nautical mile
Long tow
- Tow a disabled paddler minimum 2 nautical miles
Tow a swimmer
- Tow a swimmer ( a disabled kayaker that has lost their kayak at least 1000m
Tow a raft
- Tow a raft of a least 5 tandem sea kayaks a for a distance of at least 1 nautical mile
Tandem towing (distance of a least 2 nautical miles)
- husky tow
- inline tow
Paddling
in currents
Paddle a loaded sea kayak in and out of ocean
currents with strength of a least 3 nautical miles showing good edge control, speed,
angles and timing.
- Ferry diagonally across with the current; hold your angle with minimal loss of terrain
- Ferry diagonally across against the current; hold your angle with minimal loss of terrain
- Change direction half way across the current, using stern rubber strokes
- Turn a sea kayak 180 degrees in the middle of a current using sweep strokes
Surfing (1.5 -2 meter waves)
- Swim out through surf waves
- Swim back in through surf waves
- Launch through surf waves
- Land in surf waves
- Broach in surf and recover
- Do an Eskimo roll in surf waves
Rescues
Rescue skills for certified guides
- Rescues must be preformed I both single and tandem sea kayaks
- Rescues must be executed in a timely manner
- Clear and concise communication
- Rescues must be performed in moderate seas.
Self
rescues
Consistent and confinement Eskimo rolls on both
sides:
- Eskimo roll (minimum 3 different rolls; screw roll, C to C, and Pawlata)
- Reentry and roll
Assisted
rescues
Assisted rescues must be performed in a timely and
confident manner with good judgment and group control
- Demonstrate the correct response to a swamped watertight hatch with loss of hatch cover
- Demonstrate on the water kayak switching
- Must be able to do a wet exit in waves or surf of 1.5-2 meters while holding on to all of your paddling equipment and swim to land from a distance of 50 meters or longer
Required assisted rescues
- Arctic rescue
- 3 ‘P’s parallel rescue