Grade 2 Certificate Course (4 Days)
Pay only $299.00 today with code DEPOSIT at checkout
Guaranteed* Certification for the Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Learn to kayak with the only grade 2 provider in New Zealand to guarantee you'll pass – or your next course is FREE.
- No experience required
- Kayaks and paddle provided
- Officially recommended by Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Gain the Whitewater Skills You Need to Race Swim-Free
If you’re dreaming of kayaking in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast, the most important thing to build first is your whitewater skills. This four-day course is designed to give you the strongest possible foundation so you can handle the Waimakariri Gorge with confidence.
While most of our programmes are based on the Waimakariri River, this is the one course where it makes sense to use a different location. Day one is based in Christchurch, and days two, three and four are taught on the rivers around Murchison (accommodation included).
While in Murchison, you'll get significantly more experience on real grade 2 rapids, allowing you to build your skills and confidence to a much higher level before exploring the Waimakariri River later.
By the time you complete your course, you’ll have the skills you need to paddle the Waimakariri River with ease. Many of our graduates go on to paddle the Gorge independently, but if you’d prefer structured support for your first trip, we have both three-day and one-day options available.
When you gain your grade 2 certificate with Canterbury Kayaking, you won't have to worry about falling out of your boat during the Kathmandu Coast to Coast. You'll know that you have the whitewater skills and river-reading ability you need to handle anything that comes your way.
Our 3-Stage Coast to Coast Training Plan
We provide the most comprehensive Kathmandu Coast to Coast kayak training plan in New Zealand.
- 👉 Grade 2 Certificate Course (4 Days) Develop a strong foundation of whitewater and river-safety skills by spending one day in Christchurch, followed by three days of grade 2 training in Murchison.
- Waimakariri Gorge For First Timers Course (3-Days) Gain comfort and experience paddling your racing kayak through the entire Kathmandu Coast to Coast kayak route. This optional course includes two days of skills coaching followed by a trip through the Waimakariri Gorge.
- Waimakariri Gorge Guided Trip (1-Day) Our single-day trip through the Waimak Gorge is ideally done shortly before the race so you can see the river as close to race conditions as possible.
It is recommended that beginners aim to complete all three stages, however only Stage One is required by the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
Why Choose Canterbury Kayaking?
- Gain More Skills and Confidence – Because we spend two nights in Murchison (accommodation included), you'll get up to 4 times more experience and practice on real grade 2 rapids compared to other courses.
- Enjoy a More Positive Learning Experience – By starting out in a whitewater kayak, our highly skilled coaches can flip you back upright in seconds if you capsize. This is called a "barrel rescue" and is completely impossible in long racing kayaks.
- Use Our Kayaks Free of Charge – We will provide you with a kayak and a paddle to use at no additional cost. You do not need to rush into buying a boat or pay any extra fees to use ours. On the final day, your coach will recommend the best models of racing kayaks for your personal ability and goals.
- Easy Travel and Accommodation – Canterbury Kayaking is the best option for kayakers who do not live in Christchurch. Simply fly to Christchurch Airport and grab a ride with the team. 2 nights accommodation are included in your course fee, saving you time and money.
- Know Your Course Will Run – When it rains, the Waimakariri River and North Island rivers can easily get too high to teach on. And if you live in Australia, the rivers can run dry during the summer months. By basing our river days in Murchison, it is extremely unlikely your course or grade 2 assessment will be negatively impacted or need to be postponed.
- Get Better, Faster – Unlike many course providers, your coaching is not outsourced to subcontractors. You'll get to work with our founder, Sam Milne, personally. With Canterbury Kayaking you'll get the best possible coaching available from the most experienced kayak coach on the Waimakariri River.
- Get the Best Pricing on Gear – Once booked, you'll receive an exclusive discount code you can use to purchase gear from our online store. You'll also be able to shop in person during your course with personalised guidance from your coach.
- Certification Guaranteed – Canterbury Kayaking is the only grade 2 provider in New Zealand 100% committed to helping you succeed. If you don't pass in just four days, your next course is free.
Your Course Includes:
4 days of professional skills coaching – Our standard programme includes an indoor pool session, a lake session, moving water training, multiple theory sessions, and up to FOUR grade 2 river trips!
Kayak and paddle for all 4 days – You don’t need to bring your own kayak or pay extra fees to hire a boat. Use our kayaks and paddles for the entire course at no extra cost.
2 nights accommodation – The nights of days 2 and 3 are spent away from Christchurch, giving you more time on the river. Your cabin accommodation is included in the course fee.
Personalised kayak advice – Your coach will recommend the specific models of multisport racing kayaks that are best for your ability.
Social dinners – During our two nights away from Christchurch, we meet up for dinner at a local restaurant. Spend time with your coaches and up to 11 other novices who could become long-term training buddies.
Gear discount – You’ll receive an exclusive discount code to purchase any gear you need from our online store.
Guaranteed Grade 2 certification – Officially endorsed and recommended by Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
Meet Your Coach
Sam Milne is the founder of Canterbury Kayaking and the most experienced kayak coach on the Waimakariri River.
“When I finished my studies in 2010, I got a job at my local kayak shop, where I spoke with a lot of Coast to Coast paddlers who felt frustrated with the grade 2 courses they’d done. I was shocked to learn that many of these people actually felt less confident after their course than before it began.
I remember what it was like to lack confidence on the river, and I wanted to help these athletes gain the whitewater skills they needed to not have to worry about swimming down the Waimak.
So in 2012, I started Canterbury Kayaking with the goal of creating the most effective grade 2 kayak course in New Zealand. My approach to teaching multisport kayaking is different to most. Rather than jumping straight into racing kayaks, I prefer to build a strong foundation of whitewater skills first, which gives my clients the tools and confidence they need to succeed on the Waimakariri River.
Sam has now helped over 1,000 individuals gain their grade 2 certificate and complete the Coast to Coast for the first time. He's fully qualified through NZOIA and recognised as one of New Zealand's top multisport kayak instructors.
Course Details
Participant Requirements
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.
- Language: English speaking
Please contact us if you do not meet these requirements but still wish to participate.
Course Schedule
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.
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.
While we could use the Waimakariri River, we choose to run this programme in Murchison for the following reasons:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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*.
Travel
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.
Compulsory Gear
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.
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)
Gear You'll Need:
- Long sleeved thermal base layer tops
- Long sleeved mid layer tops
- Full length thermal base layer pants
- Neoprene (wetsuit) shorts
- Kayak booties
- Dry-bag
Safety Information
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.
Cancellation Policy
Payment Terms
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place on a course or trip.
By making a booking, you agree to pay the full course or trip fee in accordance with these terms and conditions.
The remaining balance must be paid no later than 21 days before the scheduled start date of the course or trip.
If full payment is not received by the due date, Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to cancel the booking and offer the place to another participant. Any deposit paid will be forfeited.
All prices are quoted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and include 15% GST.
Payments may be made by direct bank transfer, Visa, or Mastercard. Credit card payments incur a 2.9% processing fee.
Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy
At Canterbury Kayaking, we understand that plans can change due to injury, illness, work commitments, family circumstances, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen events.
As a small business, course numbers are limited and cancellations at short notice are often difficult to fill. This policy helps ensure we can continue to operate while remaining fair to all participants.
We strongly recommend participants obtain appropriate travel insurance and cancellation insurance where available.
No refunds, credits, transfers, or reschedules will be provided except where expressly stated in this policy or where required by New Zealand law.
COVID-19 and Infectious Illnesses
For most illnesses, injuries, and personal circumstances, the standard cancellation and rescheduling policy below applies.
However, if you are unable to attend due to a contagious illness such as COVID-19, influenza, gastroenteritis, or another infectious condition, Canterbury Kayaking may offer one complimentary transfer to a future course date, provided:
- You notify us before the course begins.
- You provide a medical certificate or doctor's note confirming you are unfit to attend due to an infectious illness.
- A suitable future course date is available.
This complimentary transfer is offered at Canterbury Kayaking's discretion and applies only to infectious illnesses. It does not apply to injuries, non-infectious medical conditions, work commitments, travel disruptions, family commitments, or other reasons for cancellation.
Cancelling Your Booking
If you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, including illness, injury, travel delays, or personal circumstances, you may cancel and receive a refund of any payments made excluding the 25% non-refundable deposit, provided we receive notice at least 21 days before the scheduled start date of your course or trip.
Cancellations made less than 21 days before the scheduled start date are not eligible for a refund. Any outstanding balance remains payable.
You may transfer your booking to another suitable participant for a $49 administration fee, provided you arrange the transfer and notify Canterbury Kayaking at least 24 hours before the course or trip begins.
Discretionary Refunds and Credits
If a booking is cancelled within the 21-day cancellation period and Canterbury Kayaking is able to fill the course or trip, Canterbury Kayaking may, at its sole discretion, offer a partial refund or future course credit less reasonable administration costs.
No refund, credit, or transfer is guaranteed, regardless of whether the course or trip is subsequently filled.
Partial Attendance
If you arrive late, leave early, miss any sessions, withdraw from the course, or are removed from the course for safety reasons, no refunds, credits, or reschedules will be provided for the unused portion of the course.
Participant Requirements
All participants must meet the fitness, skill, equipment, and safety requirements for the course or trip.
If, in the opinion of Canterbury Kayaking staff, you are unable to safely participate, fail to follow safety instructions, do not meet the required prerequisites, or are removed from the course or trip for any safety-related reason, no refunds, credits, or reschedules will be provided.
Rescheduling Your Booking
If you need to move your booking to another date, we require at least 21 days notice before the scheduled start date.
Bookings rescheduled at least 21 days before the start date may be transferred to another available date upon payment of a $49 administration fee.
Requests received less than 21 days before the scheduled start date are treated as a cancellation and are not eligible for transfer or credit, except where the infectious illness provisions above apply.
If Canterbury Kayaking Postpones a Course or Trip
All courses and trips are dependent on suitable weather, river levels, and other safety considerations.
Your safety, and the safety of our staff, is our highest priority. If conditions are unsuitable, Canterbury Kayaking may postpone, modify, or cancel an activity.
If this occurs, participants will be offered a transfer to another available date at no additional charge.
Refunds, credits, and cash reimbursements are not available where Canterbury Kayaking postpones a course or trip due to weather, river conditions, safety concerns, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Participants are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient flexibility to attend a rescheduled date.
Important Information for Travellers
If you are travelling from outside the region, we strongly recommend booking flexible flights, accommodation, and transport arrangements.
Weather and river conditions can change rapidly, and no course or trip can be guaranteed to proceed until conditions have been assessed.
Canterbury Kayaking is not responsible for any costs incurred by participants as a result of a postponed, modified, or cancelled course or trip, including but not limited to flights, accommodation, rental vehicles, fuel, meals, lost wages, or other travel-related expenses.
Limited Availability Before Coast to Coast Race Day
As the Coast to Coast race approaches, available replacement dates may become limited.
If a postponed course or trip cannot be rescheduled to a date that suits you, no refund, credit, or reimbursement will be provided.
Changes to These Terms and Conditions
Canterbury Kayaking reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time.
Any changes will apply to future bookings made after the revised Terms and Conditions have been published.
For existing bookings, the Terms and Conditions in effect at the time the booking was made will continue to apply, unless otherwise required by law.
Highly-rated 4-day whitewater kayaking certification with expert instructors Sam, Will, and Steve. Customers praised the well-structured progressive learning from pool to Grade 2 rivers, emphasizing safety and skill development including rolling. Most felt confident after completion, though one suggested more positive feedback approach.
Wow this course is amazing! Sam & Wil were a great team to help teach me and overcome numerous fears I had about paddling in grade 2 rivers, as well as what to do if/when your kayak flips. The approach is great with lots of building blocks and putting it all together step by step for you. They keep on pushing your limits in a safe and controlled way - lots of incremental gains to build your confidence and competency. I went from being terrified of being under my kayak, to doing a roll in the river in 3 days and doing things down the river that I didn’t realise I was capable of doing, and really enjoying everything! Thanks so much guys!!
If you're looking to do the coast to coast and need to get your grade 2 certificate - book with Sam and Canterbury Kayaking.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it to others.
Sam has spent over a decade developing and fine tuning a comprehensive system and approach that is safe, fun, challenging and specifically designed to prepare you for race day on the Waimak!
I have just completed this course for the Coast to coast next year and had a great experience. Sam is extremely clued up on everything kayaking and is great at teaching it. He knows the process for different skills very well and is able to break down all of the steps and explain them in detail. I would highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking to anyone looking to get their grade 2 or just wanting to improve their kayaking skills.
I had an epic experience choosing to do the Grade 2 Certificate with Canterbury Kayaking. The instructors Sam and Will led an awesome 4 days that were a perfect mix of gradually increasing our kayaking skills in safe yet challenging environments. Learning to roll the kayak and picking our own eddy and flow lines near the end of the course were major highlights. Highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a Grade 2 course for Coast to Coast, or just for a generally, all-round excellent time!
I did this course to start preparing for the Coast to Coast next year. As a total kayak novice, I chose Sam after seeing some of his YouTube videos and liking his calm methodical style. Sam and the other instructors, Steve and Will, were fantastic. Great at clearly conveying some complex skills and they really took the time to personalise their instruction to each person. These guys aren’t just great kayakers, they are awesome teachers. The way the skills were constantly built on made the whole four days a constant challenge that was incredibly rewarding. I wasn’t expecting to feel that much progress while having so much fun along the way. Learning to roll has given me a lot more confidence to get out and push myself more than I could before. Kayaking suddenly feels a lot more exciting and a lot less intimidating. I’m already booked in for the next skills development course later in the year.
Having entered the C2C 2-Day individual, I needed to gain my Grade 2 Certificate. I joined this course to get the job done.
I had a fear of whitewater and fast-flowing rivers before going on the course so I was dreading it however after reading reviews about Canterbury Kayaking, I knew I would be in safe hands.
Right from the start, Sam, Steve and Will were extremely helpful and took us through the basics in depth, before taking us out on moving water.
Their patience and enthusiasm to give us the skills needed to get down the river were great and although I ended up upside down in the river multiple times, I knew they weren’t far away. A quick pep talk on why I fell and we were back at it.
I highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking for your C2C Certification Course as they are patient, safety conscious, enthusiastic and their equipment is top quality. And if you forget a piece of gear or want to be more comfortable, Sam has a truck full of gear on hand to purchase from.
Thanks team for an awesome 4 days where you helped conquer my fear of whitewater!
Great course, learnt heaps over 4 days. Really high standard of coaching and lots of fun. Everything was really well organised including accommodation in Murchison.
The course is structured very well. It allows you to start from the basics of "how to" on day one and gets you down a grade 2 river section with the skills and confidence needed to pick lines through the water and stay in the boat on day 4! This course is the perfect place to learn and test just how far you can push yourself under the watchful eye of the instructors, and if you tip they are there to help (if you haven’t mastered the roll just yet) and give clear instructions for continuous improvement.
I commend Sam for his considered and careful approach to teaching river skills and river safety. Over the 4 days he took me from knowing very little about river kayaking to providing a great base for me to train for C2C. Thanks for your patience and getting me to roll! I recommend this course to anyone whole wants a solid foundation for their journey in river kayaking.
I highly recommend Sam for anyone looking to start or improve along their kayaking journey. You do not need to worry about encountering bad bro vibes or your lack of experience...or really anything! Taking a course with Sam might just be one of the best experiences of your year!
I just completed the course with Sam as a pre-req for Coast to Coast. I vaguely thought kayaking in a river would be similar to the casual lake and ocean kayaking I have done. Nope! It is actually a totally different activity and after taking this course I am way stoked on kayaking. Honestly I currently think the best part about signing up for Coast to Coast is getting funneled into whitewater kayaking, which I had no previous plans of trying.
Sam is patient, kind, warm, and professional and immediately sets a tone at the first pool session of good vibes, clear instruction, safety, and a really positive learning environment. I took the course with three other wonderful people. All of us had different amounts of adjacent sport experience (in my case very little), and Sam easily tailored bits of personalized instruction for each of us while always keeping us together as a team.
Sam has created a course that perfectly eases you in from sitting in your first whitewater kayak in a pool on day one to going down the river multiple times. Beginning to learn how to roll was also really fun and a crucial part of feeling calm when I tipped over in the river.
I didn't have much gear going into the course, so I ended up buying much of it from Sam and totally recommend you do the same.
I had so much fun and it was really empowering to learn something new in such a well-paced course, and I can't wait for more.
Sam is a highly capable, professional, and awesome instructor. Just the course and loved every minute. Small focussed groups allowed for fast progression, tailored feedback, and offered lots of (optional) extensions to enable stretch learning for those who wanted it. Highly recommended.
Sam is a true professional, extremely knowledgeable and thorough with a well-designed course structure. I learnt so much and felt my skills progressing throughout the 4 days. It was very worthwhile and I'm so pleased I traveled from Australia to attend the course as part of my C2C preparations. Sam's knowledge was invaluable. Thanks Sam!
I hadn’t paddled white water for 30 years. Sam is a great instructor, professional, safe and lifted our skill level while having fun.
I highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking. Sam and Steve are very professional, instruct with good clear explanations, give positive feedback and are full of enthusiasm. I was hugely impressed with the speed in which they responded to anyone in need (swims on grade II). The trust they built with the group within a very short time was really impressive. The knowledge they share goes way beyond the course content and I'm stoked I chose a provider that taught me to roll. Thanks
I was green at Whitewater Kayaking before attending the course, however, Sam's knowledge and experience were really helpful and his teaching methods were spot on. He is understanding, patient and very knowledgeable. It was a mentally and physically challenging 4 days, however, it was a great experience and I am stoked I completed it. Highly recommend!
A well run course with excellent coaching and noticeable improvements every day.
I highly recommend Sam & Will. The structure of the course is fantastic and their delivery is second to none. Their patience and calmness goes along way to instill a level of confidence in oneself that was certainly not there on day one. I look forward to the opportunity to do another course with these guys, totally worth it.
Would highly recommend, Sam and Will made me feel safe and comfortable to push my limits, and have provided a valuable base of skills and knowledge to build from.
I came in with virtually no whitewater experience, left feeling somewhat in control on the river (and grade 2 certified). In between, a wonderful and memorable experience with two fantastic instructors who have great teaching and personal skills. A well-structured course that rapidly builds your skills and competence, and clear instructions and feedback before, during and after each exercise. Sam was also very helpful before the course in helping me sort out all the gear I need. Highly recommended. I’m looking forward to my own next course with Sam and Will.
Sam runs a great course, each day flows into the next perfectly making progression unavoidable. I would recommend to anyone aiming for the coast to coast.
For someone with very little whitewater experience, I found the course was well structured and progressed in a way that built my confidence. Sam and Will communicated well and were supportive of all participants, regardless of skill level. For an Australian living in a place with no whitewater, this was an ideal way to prepare for the C2C and I would highly recommend it.
Very knowledgeable and passionate instructors. The courses are very well planned out with good progression steps to best prepare people for Coast to Coast. Would highly recommend! Check out their podcasts if not convinced!
Thanks to both Sam and Will, for a fantastic course developing our kayaking skills. The high degree of professionalism, passion for kayaking and eagerness to create the best learning environment was awesome, certainly helps they are also good buggers! Can highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get into the rivers. Look forward to seeing them back on the river.
