Whitewater for Multisport + Down-River Racing Skills Course Combo
For grade 2 certified multisport kayakers looking to gain total confidence in rapids and maximize race-day speed, this 7-day combo course provides the complete package—whitewater training, technical skill development, and real-time coaching on the actual Coast to Coast race route.
- Learn to roll and become comfortable with grade 2 rapids.
- Gain efficiency through boils, bluffs, and braids.
- Transform into a confident and competitive paddler.
Are your kayaking skills holding you back?
- Do you struggle with rapids and lack confidence on moving water?
- Do you loose speed and control through boily bluff corners?
- Have you done lots of training but sometimes wonder whether you're actually improving?
On Canterbury Kayaking’s 7-day Whitewater for Multisport + Down-River Racing Skills Course Combo, you’ll turn your weaknesses into strengths through a comprehensive training process that combines our two intermediate-level courses. Once you feel totally comfortable in whitewater and have improved your downstream speed, you'll feel like you're paddling at a whole new level and be ready to race to your full potential.
Without strong kayak skills, your Coast to Coast race could end in disappointment.
Many Coast to Coast athletes put in the hours to build fitness, but lack the kayak skills needed to perform at their best on race day. Without both whitewater skills and race-specific technique, you’ll struggle in rapids, lose speed at bluff corners, and waste energy fighting the river instead of flowing with it.
On this course, you’ll learn to stay in control through big rapids, roll when needed, and refine your forward stroke for maximum efficiency. You’ll also learn how to navigate tricky bluff corners like the pros, helping you maintain momentum and shave time off your race.
Once you’ve refined your complete paddling skill set, you’ll feel confident on the river, see real results from in your fitness training, and be fully prepared to achieve a race result you can be proud of.
How to Book
- Select your dates and complete your booking at the top of this page ↑
- Download your information pack and join us for 7 days of paddling (4 days of whitewater skills + 3 days of race training).
- Enjoy paddling on race day with total confidence.
Meet Your Coach
Sam Milne is the most experienced kayak coach on the Waimakariri River and the founder of Canterbury Kayaking.
Having coached over 1,000 Coast to Coast athletes, Sam has seen firsthand that most paddlers focus too much on fitness but neglect the kayak skills that truly impact race-day performance. He’s worked with athletes at every level, from first-time competitors to top performers, including Jess Simson, who won back-to-back Longest Day titles in 2014 and 2015.
Through years of coaching, Sam has learned that many paddlers waste energy and lose time—not because they aren’t fit enough, but because their technique is holding them back. He’s seen athletes struggle in rapids, get spun out at bluff corners, and fight the river instead of using it to their advantage.
That’s why he created this 7-day structured training program—to help paddlers develop both whitewater control and race-specific efficiency in one comprehensive package.
By the time you complete Canterbury Kayaking’s Whitewater for Multisport + Down-River Racing Skills Course Combo, you’ll have the skills, confidence, and race-day strategy to paddle faster, smoother, and with total control—so you can perform at your best when it matters most.
What do I get with the course?
-
4-day Whitewater for Multisport Skills Course:
- 4 days of professional whitewater skills instruction.
- Free use of a whitewater boat, paddle, and spray skirt.
- 2 nights accomodation.
-
3-day Down-River Racing Racing Skills Course:
- 3 days of professional coaching on the Waimakariri River.
- Option to hire a kayak and gear.
- Transport for the Gorge trip on the final day.
- Pre-scheduled bad weather backup day for Gorge trip.
- Exclusive discount on products from our gear shop.
- Personalized advice on which models of multisport kayaks are right for you.
- Drills you can take away and use to keep improving beyond the course.
This program is best suited to paddlers who hold a grade 2 certificate, but don't feel as comfortable as they would like on the river. Paddlers who enjoy this program rate themselves as "experienced novice" or "beginner/intermediate" paddlers.
At this level, most paddlers are using stable-level multisport racing kayaks such as the Flow Aspire, JKK Eclipse, Ruahine Shadow, etc. and would typically experience a couple of swims when paddling the Waimakariri Gorge.
For your 4-day Whitewater Skills for Multisport Course, we will provide you with a boat, 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)
For your 3-day Down-River Racing Skills Course, you can bring your own stable racing kayak, or hire from us.
You will need to have ALL of the following items:
- Wing paddle (hire available)
- Spray skirt (hire available)
- PFD (lifejacket) (hire available)
- Helmet (hire available)
- Long-sleeved semi-dry paddle jacket (hire available)
- Booties
- Neoprene shorts
- Thermal tops and bottoms
- Thermal hat, gloves, and socks
- 20L dry bag
- Waterproof pants
- First aid kit
- Duct tape
- Survival bag
All required gear is availble to purchase through us at a discounted rate and can be collected at the course.
The Whitewater Skills for Multisport Course 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 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.
The Down-River Racing Skills Course runs over 3 consecutive days and remains flexible based on weather and river conditions.
Day 1: Meet at 8:00 a.m. Lake Rua in Harewood, Christchurch. After a flatwater session, the remainder of the day is based on the Waimakariri River and finishes at around 4:00 p.m. at Waimakariri Gorge Bridge near Sheffield.
Day 2: We will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Waimakariri Gorge Bridge. You will paddle on the lower 15 kilometres of the Coast to Coast kayak route until around 4:00 p.m.
Day 3: We meet in Sheffield at 7:45 a.m. You can leave your vehicle in Sheffield for the day and we will provide transport for you and your kayak for a Gorge trip from Mt White to Woodstock (upper 55 kilometres of the Coast to Coast route). We will finish at 4:30 p.m. in Sheffield.
Backup Day: If weather or river conditions prevent us from paddling the Waimakariri Gorge on Day 3, this day will be rescheduled to a pre-scheduled Backup Day. If conditions also prevent us from paddling the Gorge on your Backup Day, you will receive alternative skills training on this day at the next-best available location, determined closer to the time.
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. 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.
For the Whitewater Skills for Multisport Course, 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.
For the Down-River Racing Skills Course, your first 2 days will be skills-based and we aim to be on the Waimakariri River so long as conditions allow. If we cannot paddle the Waimakariri Gorge on the final day due to weather or river flows, then this day will be postponed to our pre-scheduled Backup Day. If conditions also prevent us from paddling the Gorge on your Backup Day, you will receive alternative skills training on this day at the next-best available location, determined closer to the time.
Yes. If you are unable to pay in full at the time of booking, please enter the discount code DEPOSIT during checkout to reserve your spot with just a 25% deposit. We will invoice you for the balance, which will be due 21 days before your first course.