Year 10 Whitewater Kayaking Camp

Our Outdoor Education program builds kayaking skills in a sequence. Students start by learning flat water paddling in sit-on kayaks and progressing to sea kayaks in river environments, before being offered an opportunity to try whitewater kayaking in Year 10. The Whitewater Kayaking Camp is held just after the Avon Descent kayaking race so that students can attempt some of the same rapids used in this iconic event. 

Learning to control a kayak in flowing water takes practise and time, and usually involves a few capsizes when paddlers lean the wrong way and are still learning to ‘read the river’ and respond with skilful paddling strokes. Many students took a swim or two and came back for more, determined to improve their skills until they were ready for the bigger rapids, ‘The Devil’s Slide’, ‘The Dog’s Breakfast’, and ‘The Viper’s Tongue’. 

It was extremely memorable to see our Year 10s tackle these rapids for the first time and feel the exhilaration of the water hitting them in the face as they powered down through to the bottom!

Whitewater kayaking is extremely challenging. The river has a powerful flow, and there’s a chance of hitting rocks, capsizing, and having to swim through the rest of the rapid. Tackling such an adventurous activity requires grit, courage, the ability to make decisions under pressure, and the ability to bounce back when things don’t go so well. We are very proud of our students for embracing the challenge! 

– Mr David Boldy | Head of Department – Health Outdoor & Physical Education (HOPE)