RMSKC Paddler Certification


The certification is intended to promote competency in paddling and to provide Trip Leaders with a means to evaluate paddler skills. Some club trips may require the certification by all participants. This will be at the Trip Leaders discretion. Be certified and go on more trips!  


Paddlers seeking certification must demonstrate proficiency in certain paddling skills (see below) and use of equipment to our ACA trained instructors. Club paddlers are encouraged to take RMSKC paddling classes to become proficient. Well qualified and experienced paddlers can demonstrate their skills in several ways:

  • Meet an instructor and demonstrate necessary skills and endurance to the instructor’s satisfaction.
  • Call an instructor whom you believe has knowledge of your paddling skills and endurance and request they be certified.


To be certified on must:

  • Dress for immersion.
  • Use these essential pieces of equipment - Boat with flotation or bulkheads; Spray skirt; PFD; bilge pump; paddle float; whistle.
  • Figure-Eights -- paddle around a figure-8 course both forwards and backwards without using the rudder. The course will be a set of pylons/buoys/stationary kayaks set 8 kayak engths apart.
  • Spin-on-a-Dime -- using forward and reverse sweep strokes to turn complete circles both to left and right without drifting off-center.
  • Perform a wet exit.
  • Perform 2 types of reentry - self and assisted.
  • Endurance -- Paddle at 3.0 mph for one hour and not be exhausted.
Opportunities to demonstrate your abilities to RMSKC instructors will be available at day paddling events, the RMSKC training sessions, and on various trips.

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