Grade 2 Certificate Course (4 Days)

No previous kayaking experience is necessary.

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Maximum Weight: 110kg
• Minimum Fitness: You must be comfortable with water and able to swim.

Day 1

6:30am – 4:00pm

Your course begins at Wharenui Pool in Christchurch, where you’ll build confidence in a calm, controlled environment. You’ll learn exactly what to do if you capsize, how to stay safe in the water, and you’ll even have the opportunity to start learning how to roll — a skill most multisport-focused courses don’t cover, but one that makes a huge difference to your confidence on the river.

After the pool session, we move to Lake Rua in Christchurch to introduce you to the essential gear you’ll need for whitewater paddling. You’ll also have the option to purchase any equipment you’re missing from our shop at a discounted rate.

The rest of the day focuses on developing the foundational boat-handling skills that will set you up for success when you hit the river on day two.

Day 2

7:00am – 5:00pm

We leave Christchurch at 7:00am and travel to Murchison — the best location in New Zealand to develop your Grade 2 skills for Coast to Coast.

While we could use the Waimakariri River, we choose to run this programme in Murchison for the following reasons:

1. More river time – While the Waimakariri may seem closer to Christchurch, the time spent driving to and from the Waimak each day can add up to more time in vehicles than driving to Murchison once. Once in Murchison, the rivers are only minutes from our accommodation.
2. Better quality rapids – While there are some difficult rapids in the Gorge section of the Waimak, they are often spread out between long flatwater sections that do little for skill development. When we paddle the Waimakariri, we can end up spending a lot of time and energy paddling flatwater — good for endurance, but not ideal for building whitewater skills. The runs around Murchison provide far more varied practice on actual Grade 2 rapids, which accelerates your skills and confidence.
3. More reliable river levels – The rivers around Murchison are less susceptible to flooding than the Waimakariri. If one river is high, there is nearly always an excellent Grade 2 run available in Murchison that still provides the type of rapids you need to prepare for the Waimak Gorge.
4. Less wind – Strong winds are a constant issue in the exposed valleys of the Waimakariri River. This can make staying warm difficult and communication with your coach much harder. In the more sheltered valleys around Murchison, this is far less of a problem.

In 2014, we stopped running Grade 2 courses on the Waimakariri River and moved the programme to Murchison. Since then, we’ve seen a huge improvement in the skill and confidence of our students, and we believe this is the best approach for you too.

Once in Murchison on day two, you’ll paddle from midday until around 5:00pm. Afterwards, we’ll meet for dinner at a local restaurant where you can chat with your coach and connect with other like-minded paddlers.

Day 3

8:00am – 5:00pm

With no long travel required, day three is all about maximising your river time.

You’ll spend the full day paddling real whitewater, repeating key features, and building the consistency and control that only comes from doing lots of quality reps.

Each run helps you improve faster, reinforcing what you learned on day two while giving you the river mileage you need to feel genuinely confident.

We wrap up with another relaxed dinner together in Murchison.

Day 4

8:00am – 2:00pm

Your final day begins with a pre-assessment check-in with your coach, so you know exactly what to focus on.

During your fourth river trip, you’ll paddle more independently, demonstrating the skills you’ve developed over the previous three days. Your coach will still be alongside you, offering guidance when needed, but you’ll be taking the lead.

The course concludes with your Grade 2 assessment and personalised advice on your technique, kayak choice, and next steps for your Coast to Coast preparation.

We aim to finish in Murchison around 2:00pm so you have time to travel home.

After Your Course

If you need more time to meet the assessment standard, you’re covered by our commitment to your success: you can return for another course at no additional cost*.

Once you’re certified, we highly recommend booking our Waimakariri Gorge for First-Timers Course — the essential follow-up for Coast to Coast athletes.

This three-day course completes the Canterbury Kayaking Training Framework, helping you build the skills and confidence to paddle the full 70-kilometre Coast to Coast race route by the third day.

Every year, a large number of athletes travel from all over the world to Canterbury Kayaking in order to benifit from the highest-quality Coast to Coast kayak training available.

We promise it will be worth the trip!

Here's how it works:

• Fly to Christchurch the day before your course begins, and book your return flight for the evening of the final day (or the following day, if you prefer).
• Book just 2 nights accommodation in Christchurch — the night before your course starts, and the night of Day 1. We provide accommodation for the remaining two nights away from Christchurch.
• Pack light. You only need one checked bag with your personal paddling gear. We’ll supply your kayak, paddle, and spray skirt. Helmet, PFD, and jacket hire is also available.
• Don't worry about food. There are plenty of opportunities to buy what you need throughout the four days.
• On the first morning, take a short taxi or Uber ride from your accommodation to Wharenui Pool in Riccarton. From there, you'll be able to grab a ride with another participant for the rest of the course — we're happy to help coordinate this.
• On the final day, you'll be finished in time to reach Christchurch Airport by around 6:00 p.m.

All required gear can be purchased from the Canterbury Kayaking website in advance of your course at a discounted rate. You can also purchase gear from us on the first day.

Required Gear:

• Long sleeved thermal base layer tops
• Long sleeved mid layer tops
• Full length thermal base layer pants
• Neoprene (wetsuit) shorts
• Kayak booties
• Dry-bag

Gear We Provide for Free:

• Kayak
• Spray Skirt
• Paddle

Gear Available for Hire:

• Bouyancy vest ($5 per day)
• Helmet ($5 per day)
• Long sleeved semi-dry or full-dry paddle jacket ($20 per day)

Participating in activities such as whitewater kayaking, multisport kayaking, river safety training, and associated travel involves inherent risks and potential hazards, including the risk of serious injury or even death. These risks include, but are not limited to, capsizing, drowning, or being swept downstream by strong river currents; injury from hitting rocks, trees, submerged obstacles, other paddlers, or jet boats; hypothermia, muscle strains, or dislocations; psychological stress caused by challenging situations; falling while walking on uneven surfaces like rocks, mud, or riverbanks; environmental risks such as changing weather conditions, flooding, or natural hazards; and damage to personal property or equipment. These risks may arise from your actions, inactions, or negligence, as well as the actions, inactions, or negligence of Canterbury Kayaking staff, other participants, or third parties.

You must inform Canterbury Kayaking staff of any medical conditions, injuries, or medications that may affect your ability to safely participate in activities, as well as any other factors, such as fitness level, that could impact your safety or enjoyment. You must be physically fit and able to participate in the activities, as advised by a medical professional if necessary, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (whether legal or illegal) that may impair your ability to safely undertake activities. You agree to wear appropriate clothing and use all safety equipment as required by Canterbury Kayaking staff, and to follow all instructions given by guides, instructors, and coaches at all times. You must act in a safe and respectful manner, avoiding reckless or dangerous behaviour that could endanger yourself or others. You understand that failure to follow instructions or engaging in reckless behaviour may result in your removal from activities without a refund, and you agree to comply with any decision made by Canterbury Kayaking staff to withdraw you from activities for safety reasons.

If you damage any equipment, property, or landowner belongings, you agree to cover the cost of repairs or replacement. A cleaning fee will apply if you urinate in a Canterbury Kayaking fleet kayak. Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to cancel or modify activities at any time if we have concerns for your safety or the safety of others.

By participating in these activities, you consent to Canterbury Kayaking staff providing or arranging necessary medical treatment in the event of an injury, accident, or illness during the activity. You are required to provide emergency contact details to Canterbury Kayaking staff prior to participation.

Photos and videos taken during activities may be used for promotional or social media purposes. If you do not consent to this, you must inform Canterbury Kayaking staff before the activity begins.

You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to arrange personal insurance for any injuries, property damage, or losses that may occur. We strongly recommend arranging insurance to cover medical expenses, property damage, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. You confirm that you understand and accept that New Zealand’s ACC scheme provides limited cover for injuries but does not cover all associated costs or losses.

This risk acknowledgment does not exclude or limit your rights under New Zealand law, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, and the Fair Trading Act 1986. Canterbury Kayaking will take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your health and safety during activities, but you accept that certain risks, including the risk of serious injury or death, are inherent and cannot be eliminated.

By booking a course, you confirm that you have read and understood this Risk Disclosure and Acknowledgment, are aware of the inherent risks involved in the activities, and agree to participate voluntarily while accepting responsibility for your actions and their consequences.