Safety Competency Skills Assessment
Intending paddle competitors are required to provide evidence of competency to participate. Competency can be established through the following criteria:
- A. Recent Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent experience – have completed (at least Day 1 of) Avon Descent within the previous 3 years.
- B. Evidence of current paddling fitness subject to NADA review and approval e.g.: other paddling events within previous 12 months of similar distance, e.g. (WA) The Doctor, Bay to Beach combined with Northam to Toodyay race (International) Fish Marathon, Liffey Descent.
- C. Completion of Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent Safety Skills Assessment – for participants who cannot provide evidence of safety competency (valid 3 years). Avon Descent Safety Skills assessment can be gained through recommended paddle trainers.
Skills are assessed as follows:-
- Demonstrate defensive swimming techniques
- Identify the potential hazards when swimming in moving water
- Adopt the correct body position to minimise injury following craft capsize
- Demonstrate aggressive swimming techniques
- Demonstrate the ability to set a ferry angle in order to reach the bank or eddy
- Demonstrate breaking in and out of eddies in order to get to shore
- Identify and demonstrate techniques to actively free oneself from river hazards in simulations
- Demonstrate the ability to wade across a current of mid-thigh depth, alone and using support, in order to self-rescue
- Demonstrate craft re-entry
- Identify a variety of different re-entry techniques
- Elect a method of re-entry after consideration of physical ability, type of craft and situational variances.
Our Official Paddle Suppliers below are providers of Safety Competency Skills Assessments:
Canoeing Down Under
Phone: (08) 9378 1333
Email: terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au
Finn Kayaks (Epic Adventure Training)
Phone: 0407 474 659
Email: guy@epicadventure.com.au
Perth Canoe Works
Phone: (08) 9317 6663
Email: info@perthcanoeworks.com.au
Eligibility
The minimum age of competitors is seventeen years at the date of the Descent, excepting circumstances described in rule 128.
A competitor under the age of seventeen years but not less than sixteen years of age may enter the race in a paddle craft subject to the following conditions:
- A. Be a member of Canoeing Western Australia (Inc)or a member of a Surf Lifesaving Club;
- B. Have their completed entry form endorsed by a director or similar person of their association or club as applicable, or by an Australian Canoeing Award System qualified instructor or accredited ski coach as applicable;
- C. Have attained the age of sixteen years at the date of the Descent.
Intending power dinghy competitors must have current a PDRC or WCDRC Competition Licence.
