PaddleWise Discussion on BCU Proficiency




From: Chuck Holst
Subject: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency Award
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:55:12 -0600


Last summer my wife and I passed the BCU Four Star
proficiency assessment for sea kayakers. Supposedly the
Four Star award certifies that you have the skills and
knowledge to paddle on open water in a group led by a
competent leader. However, to pass the exam, you must
be able to prove that you have already paddled on open water.

This looks to me like a chicken-and-egg problem -- if you are
not certified to paddle on open water with the BCU, how do
you get the experience required to take the exam?

Could someone with BCU experience explain this to me?
How does the Award apply in practice in Britain? Does the
BCU sponsor open water trips for kayakers who do not have
the Four Star award? If so, what are the criteria for taking
people on such trips?

Chuck Holst  


From: Dan Hagen Subject: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:08:23 -0800 This makes sense to me. I can't imagine certifying someone as competent to paddle on open water if they haven't done so. The same thing applies to conducting brain surgery, flying an airplane, piloting a vessel, or just about any other activity where one can be certified as competent. There is always some risk associated with having the inexperienced obtain the practice that is necessary to become competent, but there is no good alternative. The best one can do is to attempt to create the conditions that will allow the necessary experience to be obtained in a relatively safe manner. Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington
From: Chuck Holst Subject: [Paddlewise] FW: BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 13:52:44 -0600 I agree. My question was based on the perhaps mistaken belief that a Four-Star award is required before one can go on BCU- sponsored paddles on open water. So my question is how, under the BCU system, does one gain the experience required for the award? Chuck Holst
From: R. Walker Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 14:59:25 +0000 > Last summer my wife and I passed the BCU Four Star > proficiency assessment for sea kayakers. Supposedly the > Four Star award certifies that you have the skills and > knowledge to paddle on open water in a group led by a > competent leader. However, to pass the exam, you must > be able to prove that you have already paddled on open water. > > This looks to me like a chicken-and-egg problem -- if you are > not certified to paddle on open water with the BCU, how do > you get the experience required to take the exam? Maybe a better question is, when should you personally feel ready attempt your first open water run. At some point in one's paddling life, you have to say, "I've never done this before, but the conditions are good today, and I've done all of the personally selected trials that should prepare me for it, so lets do it." For me, I've got a few smaller things on my list, and then I'll do a crossing in Galveston bay that is about 10 miles each way in rough conditions, then I'll feel ready to venture out onto the other side of the barrier island. Lots of offshore platforms with snapper hanging around within a reasonable 3 hour paddle to try as truly open water paddling excercises. Another question to ask is, how far from land to you have to be before its "open water"? Paddling just beyond the surf zone doesn't seem like "open water", but maybe it is? Also, what counts as proof? A video tape shooting a 360 degree pan with a few oil platforms and no beach in sight? Maybe a GPS track log?
From: Chuck Holst Subject: [Paddlewise] FW: BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 16:04:52 -0600 I don't have the BCU definition with me, but I think it is at least one mile from land in any direction. As for proof, the BCU prefers a log book, but pictures also seem to be acceptable. Though I had some slides with me, our assessor accepted our word based merely on knowledgable conversation. For instructor candidates, I think a log book is mandatory. Chuck Holst
From: Chuck Holst Subject: [Paddlewise] FW: FW: BCU Proficiency Aw Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 17:51:35 -0600 > Bill Lozano at Atlantic Kayak Tours has just launched AKT's homepage, > the section on instruction & the BCU is pretty descriptive, check it out: > http://members.aol.com/kayaktours/ > > Regards, > Barney Molloy Thanks. He has links to the BCU, Nigel Dennis Kayaks, and Great River Outfitters home pages, too. Chuck Holst
From: Robert Starling Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 20:53:52 -0500 >At 10:55 AM 2/16/98 -0600, Chuck wrote: >> >>Last summer my wife and I passed the BCU Four Star >>proficiency assessment for sea kayakers. Supposedly the >>Four Star award certifies that you have the skills and >>knowledge to paddle on open water in a group led by a >>competent leader. >> >>This looks to me like a chicken-and-egg problem -- if you are >>not certified to paddle on open water with the BCU, how do >>you get the experience required to take the exam? Chuck: I have forwarded your message to BCU coach, Scott Williams and will repost his answer. I'm sure he can explain better than I can. Prior to Four Star assessment we invested considerable time practicing and training with Scott in a variety of conditions. Two to three days each weekend in the ocean and afternoons in the lake practicing strokes and rescues. We also participated in a six day group trip to the Apostle Islands. The BCU guide says that 1-3 Stars are assessed on flatwater and 4 - 5 Star are assessed in "actual conditions". Actually, our Four Star assessment weekend had Five Star conditions at times. Even though we were on the water with Scott and Nigel Foster, I was scared sh**less at one point. Wind and current combined for an awesome sea state....it really pushed and expanded our limts and reference points. This doesn't make me a Five Star paddler, but I do feel confident that I would be "Proficient" enough as the BCU calls it to take part in an open water trip and hold my own with the group in real Four Star conditions. I am also proficient enough to recognize and know when I'm not interested in going out for a trip of agonizing paddling, regardless of my ability to handle it. A few hours of playing in rough surf is one thing, a five mile crossing in rough conditions when I have a choice is another. Also, I think Four Star is in addition to a skills level advancement, just as much an awareness level advancement where you are developing a better ability to analyze, predict, understand and respect moving water and the sea state. All within reason of course. >>Could someone with BCU experience explain this to me? >>How does the Award apply in practice in Britain? >From everything I have heard, BCU training is more ongoing in Britain than here in the States. That is to say that people tend to invest more time getting long term training and continued education. That is truly a generalization on my behalf but I hope you can see the underlying point I'm trying to make. It is a matter of attitude toward the training / sport. I'll look forward to hearing what Scott and others have to say on this. CU! Robert ________________________________________________________ Robert Starling Member ASMP / APSG Robert Starling Photography, Inc. Orlando, Florida Phone 407 521-0041 Fax 407 521-0031 http://www.starling.com NetGuide Magazine Internet Site Of The Day
From: Robert Starling Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency (Scott Williams) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 20:53:53 -0500 The following response to Chuck's posting is from Scott Williams, BCU Coach Level 3. I am posting it at his request. From: SWKAYAKS Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency Award Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 17:09:37 EST The four star award certifies that you have acquired the skill, experience, and have the proper equipment to paddle for the day in conditions of up to 17 knots of wind, 3 foot surf, and a 3 knot tidal currents as a member of a group led by a competent leader. No chicken and egg here. All paddling at or above one's skill level should be conducted under the supervision of a more experienced paddler and leader. The BCU provides a very structured system of checks and balances to ensure that all training and instruction is accomplished in definable steps and in controlled conditions. Every paddling experience would be considered a form of training until one passes an assessment. You get the experience by paddling with more experienced paddlers. Even an instruction session should have a contingency plan should conditions deteriorate-the safety of the group is of primary importance. The 4-star award should only be awarded to someone who has not only aquired the technical skills but much more importantly developed the seamanship and judgement to prevent unnecessary risks at that level. There is no shortcut to this end-the experience is acquired thru training sessions. Sea Kayaker Magazine is full of articles about paddlers who have gotten into situations way over their heads-the consequences aren't always pleasant. To specifically answer the question-the criteria for taking people on open water trips who aren't suitablly experienced-YOU DON'T! Scott B Willaims ________________________________________________________ Robert Starling Member ASMP / APSG Robert Starling Photography, Inc. Orlando, Florida Phone 407 521-0041 Fax 407 521-0031 http://www.starling.com NetGuide Magazine Internet Site Of The Day
From: K. Whilden Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU Proficiency (Scott Williams) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 20:19:43 -0800 (PST) The BCU info on the Atlantic Coast Kayak Tours is interesting (http://members.aol.com/kayaktours/). I think these guidelines present a good standard on sea kayaking skill that can be easily measured by others. For this reason alone, it is quite worthwhile, but I would expect it could be also quite useful for hiring kayaks in foreign countries. One of my friends who paddled 1800 mi along the outer coast of British Columbia and Alaska once had a devil of a time renting a kayak in New Zealand... I have a couple of questions however that maybe will be answered here as well. 1. If I believe that I already possess the necessary skill and judgement, can I jump directly to level 5 exam and not spend money/time on the lower levels? 2. Is there a certification program in the Pacific Northwest, perhaps in Vancouver, BC? Thanks a bunch! kevin /--------------------------------------------\ /---------------------------\ |Something there is that doesn't love a wall | Kevin Whilden | |That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it | | |And spills the upper boulders in the sun | Dept. of Geologic Science | |And makes gaps that even two can pass abreast| University of Washington | | -- Robert Frost |(206)543-1975(w) 632-5140(h)| \--------------------------------------------/ \---------------------------/