Coast to Coast First-Timer's Guide
Dear Coast to Coast first-timer,
If you have no previous kayaking experience, this is going to be a big challenge.
You have a lot to learn, a thousand decisions to make, and everyone seems to have a different opinion on what to do.
What boat do I get? How do I train? Am I doing this right?
Should I even be doing this race?!
As you try to figure it all out while juggling a million other things, it’s no wonder so many first-timers start to feel overwhelmed.
Don’t worry.
I’m going to help you cut through the noise and focus on the only thing that really matters right now.
And that is…
You do NOT want to fall out of your kayak on race day.
Falling out of your boat during the Coast to Coast is extremely punishing.
A single “swim” can cost you 20–30 minutes!
And once your confidence takes a hit, this usually leads to more mistakes, and more swims.
Then you start worrying about those 3 letters you never want to see next to your name: D. N. F. (did not finish).
Look. What nobody tells you is this:
Every year, a large number of competitors fall out of their kayaks during the Coast to Coast race – and every one of these paddlers has a grade 2 certificate.
Think about that for a minute.
All those athletes have spent countless hours and thousands of dollars preparing for this event.
And even though they have a grade 2 certificate, they are not actually able to handle the river when it counts.
The Waimakariri River is only grade 2 – the easiest level of whitewater rapids (grade 1 is flatwater).
Anybody should be able to master this sport.
Yet many don’t.
There are clearly some traps here that very intelligent, very capable athletes are falling into every single year.
Now I get it, kayaking is hard, and some of these swims might have just been “bad luck”.
But equally, some avoided swims might have been “good luck”.
You do not want to rely on luck.
What you want is solid skills you can rely on at every single rapid.
To feel confident.
To stay safe.
To enjoy your race.
To create memories you can be proud of.
Whether you’re trying to win your category, or simply looking to “complete”, this is only made possible when you invest your time and energy into the right things.
But what are the right things to focus on for multisport kayaking?
In the 1984 movie Karate Kid (stay with me here), Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel the importance of defence first — long before he ever learns how to attack.
Instead of starting with flashy punches and kicks, Miyagi has Daniel do chores like “wax on, wax off,” “paint the fence,” and “sand the floor.”
Daniel thinks he’s just being used for free labour, but later Miyagi reveals that those repetitive motions have trained Daniel’s muscle memory for blocking.
Only after learning defence, does he begin to learn how to counterattack and apply offence.
Daniel totally kicks Johnny’s ass at the end of the film, by the way – despite an injured leg.
The lesson here, is that just like in most sports, a strong defence is the foundation on which you can then play great offence.
It is the same with multisport kayaking.
You must learn to play defence before you learn to attack.
Kayaking Defence (learn first):
- River reading and hazard identification
- Confidence and control in whitewater
- Balance on turbulent river currents
- The ability to roll back up if needed
- Knowing you can stay in your kayak 100% of the time
Kayaking Offence (develop later):
- Strength/fitness
- Forward stroke technique
- Getting used to your racing kayak
- Knowledge of the race route
- Race strategy/nutrition/etc.
Without solid defensive skills, you will end up like so many Coast to Coast first-timers – cold, wet, slow, and pissed off.
In my 15+ years of experience, most novice paddlers seem to train as if they are already elite multisport athletes – on Attacking Skills (gasp).
What you need to understand is that these experienced paddlers can work on attacking because they already have solid defensive skills ingrained from countless reps on the river.
You do not.
Do not copy them.
Do not pay for Zoom meetings with them.
What you need to do instead, is to build your defensive skills up higher than your average Coast to Coast first-timer.
What you need to do is join Canterbury Kayaking’s Grade 2 Certificate Course (wink).
I know what you're thinking: "this huckster just wants me to sign up for his course!"
Listen. Even if you already have a grade 2 course booked, you need to keep reading...
I’m the most experienced kayak guide on the Waimakariri River. I’ve worked with over 1,000 Coast to Coast first-timers. More than anyone else, I know exactly where paddlers swim in the Waimakariri Gorge - and why.
The way I prepare my students for the Coast to Coast is unlike any other coach, guide, or instructor in the country.
My Grade 2 Course is purpose-built to help you defend yourself against the river features that cause more carnage in the race than you ever thought possible.
Over four days, we will focus entirely on the skills, techniques, and strategies I have personally developed to keep you in your kayak when it matters most.
I call it the “Anti-Swim Program.”
We will not try and cover absolutely everything there is to learn in this sport in just 4 days. That's just not possible.
Instead, it’s about focusing 100% on the defensive whitewater skills that make the difference between a dream race and a day you’d rather forget.
If you want to kayak in the Coast to Coast feeling like you just landed that winning crane-kick right on Johnny Lawrence’s face at the All Valley Karate Tournament – then book a spot on my Grade 2 Certificate Course by clicking the button below.
And if you’ve already done a Grade 2 Course somewhere else, but are now feeling like your defensive skills in whitewater aren’t where they should be — you’re not alone.
I see this all the time. Many paddlers come to us after another provider’s course because they still don’t feel confident on whitewater.
We’ve helped dozens of athletes in this exact position get the extra coaching they needed to feel ready for Coast to Coast.
If that sounds like you, then you need to schedule a call with me before it’s too late, and we’ll get a plan sorted so you can succeed at this sport.
Remember what Miyagi always says: “Karate here (points to head). Karate here (points to heart). Karate never here (points to fists).”
It’s a fun movie, you should watch it.
Sam Milne