Faster Lines Course
Suitable for multisport paddlers of all levels, this 4-day whitewater course will provide you with the technical coaching, river time, and positive support you need to start taking faster, more efficient lines down the river.
- Learn to read the river more accurately
- Improve your technical skills in whitewater
- Enjoy racing with greater confidence and control
- Only 4 left available!
Feel like you're always taking the slowest lines?
- You keep taking the “chicken route” while being overtaken by other paddlers
- You’ve got your grade 2, but still get nervous on the river
- You second-guess your decisions
- You want to go faster — but you don’t want to swim
- You’re frustrated that your skills are holding you back
If that sounds like you, our Faster Lines Course is exactly what you need.
This 4-day whitewater course is designed for Coast to Coast paddlers who already have their grade 2 but want to go beyond the basics. You’ll build the skill and confidence to commit to faster, more efficient lines — and finally paddle the Gorge the way you’ve always wanted to.
Faster lines require more than just bravery.
Most Coast to Coast paddlers aren’t taking slow lines because they want to — they’re taking them because they don’t have the confidence or skill to commit to something better. And that’s a problem, because those faster lines? They’re the key to better race results.
Even after earning their grade 2 certificate, many paddlers still second-guess their decisions on the river. They hug the inside of bluff corners, steer away from wave trains, and end up taking the slowest route down the river. When they try to push harder physically, they get overtaken by paddlers who look smoother, more confident, and use the river to their advantage.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.
Most grade 2 courses are designed to help you pass an assessment, not to help you own the river. You leave with a certificate, but without the ability to read water confidently, hold your line reliably, or roll your boat back up when mistakes are made. These missing pieces are exactly what our Faster Lines Course is built to fix.
Over four focused days in a whitewater kayak, you’ll push your limits in a safe, supportive environment. You’ll be encouraged to try, to fail, and to learn — with expert coaching every step of the way. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skill, awareness, and confidence to start taking the lines that other paddlers avoid — and to do it with speed, purpose, and control.
You don’t need to be braver.
You need the skills to be able to back yourself.
How to Book
- Select your dates and submit your booking at the top of this page ↑
- Download your information pack and join us for 4 days of whitewater training.
- Enjoy racing faster and with more confidence than ever before.
Meet Your Coach
Sam Milne has helped over 1,000 athletes prepare for the Coast to Coast kayak stage — and if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s this: passing your grade 2 doesn’t mean you’re ready to paddle the Gorge with confidence.
As the founder of Canterbury Kayaking and the most experienced kayak coach currently operating on the Waimakariri River, Sam has worked with paddlers of every level — from complete beginners to elite multisport athletes. Again and again, he’s seen how a lack of whitewater skill holds people back from paddling the lines they want to take.
That’s why Sam created the Faster Lines Course — a dedicated whitewater training experience designed to help certified paddlers finally move beyond the basics. You won’t be rushed, and you won’t be left guessing. You’ll be guided through a structured, step-by-step approach to developing better boat control, sharper river reading, and stronger self-belief.
Sam’s coaching style is supportive, practical, and confidence-focused. Whether you’re nervous about committing to the faster line or tired of being overtaken when the water gets rough, Sam will help you level up in a way that feels achievable, not overwhelming.
By the end of the course, you won’t just have better technique — you’ll have a deeper understanding of how to use the river to your advantage, and the confidence to start paddling like the athlete you know you can be.
What do I get with the course?
- Free use of a whitewater kayak, paddle, and spray skirt for the entire program.
- 4 days of professional skills coaching with Sam Milne, the Waimakariri River's most experienced kayak instructor.
- 2 nights accomodation in Murchison.
- 1 day of pool and lake sessions, plus 3 river days.
- Exclusive discount on products from our gear shop.
Faster Lines runs in parallel with our Grade 2 Certificate Course, but it's designed for paddlers who want to go beyond the basics. It's for paddlers who don't want to feel like they're repeating stuff they've already learned.
If you already have your Grade 2 Certificate — especially from another provider — this course offers something completely different.
At Canterbury Kayaking, our courses are unlike any other in New Zealand and Australia (both in format and coaching style). During this course you'll spend all 4 days in a whitewater kayak, with 3 of those days running rapids, helping you refine your technique in real conditions similar to the Waimak Gorge. Many of our Faster Lines participants have done a Grade 2 course elsewhere but walked away feeling unsure of themselves on moving water. This course changes that.
We typically have 12 paddlers and 3 experienced coaches, so you're never held back — or pushed too far. We split into smaller ability-based groups, and if you’re already comfortable in whitewater, you’ll be placed with others at a similar level. Expect to be challenged. Expect to improve. And expect to gain real confidence that translates into faster lines and better decisions on race day.
Even elite-level multisport athletes return to this program — not because they need another certificate, but because whitewater demands respect and constant refinement. Unless you’ve had extensive experience on grade 3+ rivers, there’s still a lot to gain here.
We guarantee you're not too good for this program :) Please feel confident to book your spot knowing it will be time well spent.
Yes, absolutely. If you’re feeling unsure, you’re in exactly the right place.
Faster Lines is designed to meet you where you're at. We run this course alongside our Grade 2 Certificate Course, so we’re fully equipped to support everyone from total beginners to returning paddlers and elite Coast to Coast athletes.
With 3 coaches and up to 12 paddlers, we break into smaller ability-based groups — with no more than 4 paddlers per coach — so you’re never thrown in the deep end. Your coach will take time to understand your experience and goals, then tailor your sessions to help you progress at your pace.
You'll spend all of the course in a whitewater kayak. 3 of the 4 days are on grade 2 rapids, so you’ll have multiple opportunities to build skill and confidence on real river features very similar to those of the Waimak Gorge — not just in flatwater or calm braids.
If you're nervous, you're not alone. Many paddlers come into this program with doubts. By the end of the 4 days, they leave feeling capable, confident, and excited to tackle the Coast to Coast. And we’ll help you get there too. Please feel confident to book your spot.
While no experience is required, this program best suits paddlers who have done the majority of their paddling in a racing kayak and have very little or no expereince in a whitewter boat.
We will provide you with a whitewater kayak, paddle, and spray skirt, to use for the entire course FREE of charge.
You will need to have ALL of the following items:
- Booties
- Neoprene shorts
- Thermal tops and bottoms
- 20L dry bag
- Helmet (hire available)
- PFD with whistle (hire available)
- Semi-dry paddle jacket (hire available)
All required gear is availble to purchase through us at a discounted rate and can be collected at the course.
You will need to arrange your own accommodation in Christchurch for the night before, and the night of day 1. For the nights of day 2 and 3, we will provide you with accommodation in Murchison (included in your course fee).
If you are travelling from out of town, the North Island or overseas, plan to arrive in Christchurch the day before.
We suggest renting a car, however, a combination of taxi/Uber and ride-sharing with others in your group is often possible.
Book accommodation in Christchurch for the night before the course and the night of day 1.
We will provide you with accommodation for the nights of day 2 and 3.
We suggest booking some accommodation in Christchurch for the night of day 4 before travelling home.
This program runs over 4 consecutive days to maximise your water time and learning outcomes.
Day 1: Meet at 6:30 a.m. Wharenui Pool in Riccarton. After your pool session, the remainder of the day is based at Lake Rua in Harewood and finishes at around 4:00 p.m.
Day 2: We will depart Christchurch at 7:00 a.m. for Murchison. You will paddle on the rivers around Murchison from 12:00 midday until around 5:00 p.m. then meet for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3: We meet at Riverside Holiday Park at 8:00 a.m. for a theory lesson, then go paddling on the river until around 12:00 midday. After a lunch break, we will meet for another theory lesson, before spending the rest of the day on the river until around 5:00 p.m. We will meet for dinner again at a local restaurant.
Day 4: We meet at Riverside Holiday Park at 8:00 a.m. for a one-on-one check-in with your coach(es) before going on your fourth and final river trip of the program.
We aim to finish in Murchison around 2:00 p.m.
Your safety is our absolute top priority. While it's impossible to guarantee nothing bad will ever happen, incidents are extremely unlikely. We gradually increase the difficulty (and associated risk) throughout the program as your skills develop. You will progress from a swimming pool to a lake, then to a gentle river, and finally, to whitewater rapids. We will never put you in a situation we don't think you can handle, and you do not have to do anything you are not comfortable with. All our coaches are fully trained in river rescue techniques and our safety systems have been independently audited by AdventureMark and registered with WorkSafe.
This is not normally a problem. Unlike most other course providers, our program will run in virtually all weather and flow conditions. By basing ourselves in Murchison for the days of 2, 3, and 4, we can access multiple river sections, providing different options at various flow scenarios without a reduction in course quality.
Yes. Only a 25% deposit is required to secure your spot now. We will invoice you for the balance (due 21 days before your course). You can pay this balance via NZ bank transfer which you are welcome to split this over a couple of payments, or pay in full with a credit card (credit card processing fee applies).