HomeSkills Assessment and Safety

ACA Coastal Kayaking Skills Assessment

ACA assessment courses have been developed as a tool to allow paddlers a clear progression of skill development. Courses provide progression in skills and paddling venues associated with specific disciplines and paddle craft. Upon successful completion of each Skills Assessment checklist, your Instructor will submit the paperwork and you will receive official documentation of your level of skill from the ACA National Office.

Assessment Overview: The ACA Assessment Courses are designed to evaluate a participant’s ability to perform all of the skills listed along with demonstrating an appropriate level of knowledge. These assessment courses provide the participant with the opportunity to receive documentation of having achieved a certain level of paddling ability Find a nation-wide list of classes at: .ACA course calendar

Essential Eligibility Criteria: In order to participate in an ACA Skills Assessment Course, each participant must satisfy the following essential eligibility criteria:

Be able to independently participate in all individual skills and activities listed in the course outline while also maintaining an appropriate and safe body position
Be able to hold their breath while under water and, while in the water wearing a properly fitted lifejacket,
Be able to independently turn from a face down to a face up position keeping their head above water
Be able to effectively communicate with the instructor and other course participants
Be able to manage all personal care independently, or with the assistance of a companion
Be able to manage all personal mobility independently, or with the assistance of a companion

See the ACA Kayaking Courses and the ACA Educational Resources for additional information. ACA types of courses

Safety Links

We are strong believers that knowledge is power and there is a wealth of information on the web that our members should take advantage of. These are just some that members have found useful.

Whoops! How to avoid flying boats.

Our magazine style Rocky Mountain Paddler often features safety tips, like this one on how to get your boats safely to the launch while driving in our strong western winds. Whoops For back issues of the Paddler, take a look through our Documents/Publications module.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a major cause of death among kayakers. Everybody should be familiar with hypothermia - what causes it, how to prevent it, how to recognize it and how to treat it. The web has many articles on this topic.

One of the key tools in preventing hypothermia is to dress for the water conditions and not for the weather. While it may be a nice, sunny, warm day the water could be extremely cold. You have to dress for immersion in cold water. There are a number of Hypothermia Tables on the web that provide guidelines for how to dress for various water temperature ranges. The above link is just one such table to get you started on your research. Hypothermia Table

Wind

Wind is a major concern for kayakers. Everybody should check the weather forecast to get an idea of wind conditions for a planned paddle. Weather Underground and the Weather Channel give wind predictions and it is good to compare two sources. But you also need to know how to translate predicted wind speed into what conditions you can expect. The Beaufort Scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. The scale was created by Sir Francis Beaufort in the early 19th century. Anything from Scale 0 to 5 can be paddled safely, with Scale 5 being winds of 19 to 24 mph. Scale 5 will generally be difficult to paddle in, with waves and white caps, and probably not ideal for less experienced sea kayakers. If you are a beginner, you may want to limit yourself to a maximum of scale 4 (13 to 18 mph winds) and remain close to shore. Again, there are number Beaufort Scales on the web; here is one we have found useful. Topkayaker Beaufort Scale

On-Water Signals

Communication among trip participants is critical but it can be severely hampered due to wind and/or distance between paddlers. Everybody should carry a loud whistle to get the attention of other paddlers and everybody should know the Standard Hand Signals. A critical rule for both signaler and recipient: The signal should always point in the direction of the course to take, and NOT point towards the hazard.

Backcountry Lightning Risk Management

Lightning is a major safety risk for kayakers due to their exposure on the open water. Advice from the National Park Service gives excellent information on being aware of the possibility of lightning and what to do in the event lightning is occurring .Backcountry Lightning Risk Management