Grade 2 Certificate Course
Suitable for complete beginners and paddlers with limited whitewater experience, this 4-day course will provide you with the skills coaching, river-time, and certification you need to kayak in the Coast to Coast.
- Free kayak hire included
- Grade 2 certificate guaranteed*
- Learn the skills to race swim-free
- Only 3 left available!
Want to do the Coast to Coast, but don't have a grade 2 kayak certificate?
- Are you entered in the race, on the waitlist, or plan to enter next year?
- Are you just getting started, or have very little kayaking experience?
- Do you not feel confident in your current paddling ability?
On Canterbury Kayaking's 4-day Grade 2 Kayak Course, you’ll gain the skills and certification you need through a safe and structured step-by-step process. Once you've developed your paddling ability and achieved your grade 2 certificate, you'll be able to train towards the Coast to Coast with confidence and achieve a race result you can be proud of.
Without certification, your Coast to Coast goals are simply not possible.
Many athletes aspire to kayak in the Coast to Coast but lack the skills and qualifications to actually make it happen. Without solid paddling skills and an official grade II certificate, your Coast to Coast ambitions can feel like a far-away dream.
In this course, you’ll learn how to read the river, handle rapids, and keep yourself safe. You'll also earn your grade 2 certificate, serving as evidence that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to race.
Once you've become a certified paddler, you'll feel confident on the river, your training will gain momentum, and you'll feel ready to kayak in the Coast to Coast race.
Meet Your Coach
Sam Milne is the most experienced kayak instructor on the Waimakariri River and the founder of Canterbury Kayaking. Having coached over 1,000 athletes for the Coast to Coast, he knows one thing for certain: success on race day comes down to strong paddling skills.
When Sam began his career in Christchurch, he noticed that most courses didn't spend enough time on the skills that really matter for Coast to Coast. He was amazed by how many grade 2 certified paddlers still ended up swimming during the race. He realised that if he followed the norm, his clients would show up underprepared, nervous, and likely to fall out too.
That’s why he founded Canterbury Kayaking in 2012 and developed a training framework unlike anything else in New Zealand. His unique approach focuses on building a foundation of whitewater skills first, which gives his paddlers the tools they need to handle the rapids of Waimakariri Gorge with confidence — and stay upright in their kayak when it counts.
By the end of Canterbury Kayaking’s Grade 2 Course, you’ll not only have the certification required to enter the Coast to Coast, but also the skills and confidence you need to enjoy your race.
How it Works
- Select your dates and complete your booking at the top of this page
- Download your information pack, learn to kayak over 4 days, and gain your certification.
- Email your signed certificate to the Coast to Coast, securing your race entry.
*We guarantee you’ll pass in 4 days, or your next course is FREE!
Does that mean we’ll sign you off if you’re not ready? Of course not. The Coast to Coast tracks competitor swims and holds providers accountable. Issuing certificates to unprepared paddlers would damage our reputation and could even cost us our licence. We’d rather invest more time in you than send you away with a meaningless piece of paper.
We'll work hard to help you pass. If you commit to earning your Grade 2 with Canterbury Kayaking, we’ll commit to making sure you achieve it – and get exactly what you paid for, plus much more.
Guarantee terms and conditions
What do I get with the course?
- 4 days of professional kayak coaching
- Kayak and paddle to use for the entire course at no extra cost
- Accommodation for nights 2 and 3
- Personalised advice on kayak choice
- Official grade 2 certificate for Coast to Coast
- Exclusive access to a 20 minute Gear Guide video
- Additional 5% off kayak gear from our shop
- If you don't pass your certificate in just 4 days, your next course is FREE
- Know you’ll pass – Our certification guarantee means if you don’t pass the first time, you can come back on another course for free (terms and conditions).
- No experience needed – Start from scratch and still walk away certified for Coast to Coast, thanks to step-by-step coaching and plenty of time on the water.
- No kayak required – Use one of our stable kayaks at no extra cost, so you can start learning now without rushing into a boat purchase.
- Get better, faster – Four days of focused, structured skills training with world-class coaching designed to give you maximum improvement in minimum time.
- Gain more experience on Grade 2 – We give you more time on real rapids than most courses, so you’re prepared for the Gorge on race day.
- Focus on the skills that matter – We prioritise the techniques that will keep you swim-free during the Coast to Coast, based on our experience helping over 1,000 beginners succeed.
- Learn how to roll – Because it's not required by Coast to Coast, most places don't teach rolling. But if you can master this skill, it's an absolute game-changer.
- Know you’re in the right boat – Get personalised guidance on which racing kayak models best suit your physique, skill level, paddling style, and goals.
- Know your course will run – No minimum numbers and no cancellations due to bad weather. We can always find a safe, high-quality stretch of river to train on.
- Feel safe and supported – Friendly, professional coaching, small group sizes, and a comprehensive safety system ensure you have a positive, confidence-building experience.
- Easy travel and accommodation – Book 2 nights' accommodation in Christchurch and fly in the day before. We’ll take care of the following 2 nights away from Christchurch, and help arrange carpooling with your group.
- Meet other people you can train with – Dinners out and shared experiences create connections with paddlers you can keep training with long after the course ends.
This course is suitable for anyone who is thinking about doing the Coast to Coast in the future. You do not need to have any previous kayaking experience.
For this to be safe and enjoyable, you need to be:
- Able to swim
- Under 110kg
- Above 18 years of age (parents of minors, please contact us before booking)
The Coast to Coast race director says...
“If you miss out on the first round of entries you will be put on our waitlist. There will be 3 opportunities throughout the year where you may be offered an entry, and if you are offered a position, you must either have your grade 2 certificate or be able to prove that you're in the process of achieving it, so you should have started that process already. If you want to do the race you can't just sit on the waitlist and have not made a move on your grade 2, you should have actually started that process already. So when waitlist offers come out, you should either already have your grade 2, or be in the process of working towards a grade 2. My advice is to start working on that skill set now. I always get concerned when I hear of people doing their grade 2 certificates in December before the event, that's far too late, now’s the time to start”. – Glen Currie, 4/01/2024
Grade 2 certificates are valid for 2 years. If you remain on the waitlist and do not get offered a race entry in your first year, you will prioritised for the following year’s race.
Please join us. 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.
- Pack light. You only need one checked bag with your personal paddling gear. We’ll supply your kayak, paddle, spray skirt. Helmet, and PFD 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 the pool. 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.
Please join us. 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.
- Pack light. You only need one checked bag with your personal paddling gear. We’ll supply your kayak, paddle, spray skirt. Helmet, and PFD 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 the pool. 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.
You might be wondering: “Why not just train on the Waimakariri River?”
It's a good question.
We used to use the Waimakariri River for all our grade 2 courses, but moved away from this in 2014 for a number of reasons.
The reality is, the Gorge Section — where most Coast to Coast swims happen — is 30 kilometres long, very remote, and completely inaccessible by road.
Once you’re in, you’re committed to at least a six-hour trip. That leaves very little time for targeted learning.
Because of this, there are no companies running "grade 2" courses through the Waimakariri Gorge.
The only two road-accessible parts of the race route are the lower “Woodstock” section, and the upper "Gooseberry" section.
These sections are almost entirely flatwater (grade 1) — and on race day, hardly anyone swims there.
In our experience (trust me, we’ve tried it), paddling these braided sections of the Waimak just don't prepare you for the real challenges you'll face on race day.
It’s like preparing to climb Everest by walking to Base Camp and back — it cannot prepare you for the summit.
Murchison is New Zealand’s whitewater playground — multiple Grade 2 runs are only five minutes from our accommodation (included).
Our grade 2 program is unlike any other in New Zealand.
You'll gain far more experience on actual whitewater.
More useful information.
More feedback that actually helps.
More confidence you know what you're doing.
And you'll spend all of your time learning the specific skills you need to stay in your boat during your first Coast to Coast race.
Day 1 – We start at 6:30 a.m. at Wharenui Pool in Riccarton. After your pool session, the rest of the day is at Lake Rua in Harewood, where you’ll work on core skills in a calm, controlled environment. We finish at around 4:00 p.m., giving you time to rest and get ready for the river days ahead.
Day 2 – We leave Christchurch at 7:00 a.m. and head to Murchison – New Zealand’s whitewater capital. Unlike the Waimakariri, which offers only one Grade 2 section (the Gorge) that is inaccessible by road, Murchison has several safe, high-quality runs within minutes of each other. This means you’ll get far more time on real rapids, and can repeat key sections to really focus on the skills that matter. We’ll be on the river from about midday until 5:00 p.m., then meet for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3 – Meet at Riverside Holiday Park at 8:00 a.m. for a theory session, then paddle until midday. After lunch, we’ll head back to the river for more practical training until around 5:00 p.m. Being in Murchison, we can match the day’s river choice to your needs and the conditions, ensuring the best possible training in all weather. We’ll finish the evening with dinner at another local restaurant.
Day 4 – Meet at Riverside Holiday Park at 8:00 a.m. for pre-assessment feedback, then complete your fourth and final river trip of the program. The course wraps up with your assessment outcome and personalised advice on which kayak models best suit your size, skills, and goals. We aim to finish in Murchison by about 2:00 p.m., so you have time to travel home.
We will provide (no extra charge):
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Spray Skirt
You will need (compulsory items):
- Kayak booties
- Neoprene paddling shorts
- Thermal tops and bottoms
- 20L Dry Bag
Compulsory items available for hire if needed:
- Helmet ($5 per day)
- PFD ($5 per day)
- Semi-Dry Paddle Jacket ($20 per day)
Your safety is our absolute top priority. In adventure sports, it's impossible to guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen, but incidents on professional courses like ours are extremely uncommon. 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.
No.
The Coast to Coast rules state, “…you need to complete your first race in the same class of boat as specified on your Grade 2 Certificate”.
There are 3 classes of boat: Stable, Intermediate, and Elite.
On completion of our course, you will most likely be certified to race in a stable class of kayak.
It is very uncommon for first-timers to complete the Coast to Coast in an intermediate or elite class of kayak without any previous whitewater experience. If this sounds like something you’re interested in pursuing, then please contact us for advice.
Don't worry. Canterbury Kayaking is the only Coast to Coast grade 2 certificate provider in New Zealand to guarantee you will pass. If you do not meet the requirements by the fourth day, we will invite you to another course completely free (conditions apply).
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 over a couple of payments, or pay in full with a credit card (credit card processing fee applies).
