The 5 most common mistakes preparing for the kayak stage of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast

So you're preparing for the Kathmandu Coast to Coast kayak stage, but where do you start?

That's a big question and the exact answer depends on many things, but here are the most common mistakes we’ve seen over the years at Topsport Kayaking Multisport School in Christchurch. 

1. Put off doing a Grade II course until the last moment

All skills take years to improve. The sooner you learn the better. We have had many try to do their first ‘learn to kayak’ course late in the year to find out how unique this sport can be.  It can then become really overwhelming and intimidating for them once they realise the C2C race is only a couple of months away! That's the last thing you want on your mind when trying to learn. This can make your process significantly more stressful and emotional when you realise it's much harder than you thought. Our March courses used to fill before the C2C ballot entry system, we even had courses at the end of February! However now with so many waiting till later in the year to find out if they have an entry, it's a recipe for disaster. Entry in or not, learn to kayak now. Autumn is always much better weather and river flows. The beautiful calm after a wild Canterbury Spring and Summer. Spring is generally much colder and with more rainy weather systems. Learn in Autumn and have 3-4 months extra to practice (Including our organised kayak series on the lower Waimakariri!). You cannot do the C2C off the couch, you must put the work in. 99% of those we speak to after C2C each year wish they had learnt to kayak earlier, some of them it's after their 2nd C2C race! 

2. Incorrect gear

They purchased a boat online from someone who insisted that it is the perfect boat for a beginner or first time Coast to Coaster. Chances are it was sold by someone who is after an easy quick sale or/and they don’t realise what they are selling. This boat choice has meant they now immediately feel unstable and uncomfortable, they won’t admit it and brush it off, telling themselves that even though it is hard to stay upright, they have plenty of time to figure it out so no worries. No - this NEVER works out, get the right boat for you from the start, talk to neutral professionals like Topsport first! We also cover this in our intro to kayaking courses and all other kayaking courses.

3. Zero previous kayaking and/or low fitness

This is OK, but definitely more suitable if you are doing a course in Autumn, allowing you 10 months to use your learnings to prepare and be your best. A lack of fitness is less than ideal in Spring or Summer. We are very inclusive and many people can't get started without a course with us first. If this is you, it needs to be Autumn! If you show up in Spring unprepared you must understand you may find it harder to learn and frustrating a lot of the time.  Learner paddlers need to break it down and focus on small improvements rather than comparing yourself to other people on your course who may be younger, fitter or/and spent time kayaking before their course. This is significantly less stressful if you learn what you need to know early in the year! + You get to do the winter race series, designed for beginners!

4. Expect a guaranteed Grade 2 certificate sign off at the end of their course. 

The Grade 2 certificate sign off means you have met all the requirements: skills, fitness, safety, rescue, knowledge and experience to be able to paddle the 70 km Waimakariri river stage with hundreds of rapids, rocks and trees, essentially on your own (race day scenario, don’t paddle on your own typically!). 4 days of kayaking is generally not enough time to get completely signed off. However, do a course! At the end you will know the next steps. You do not need to do another grade 2 course if you have not been signed off. Another day for assessment is ideal but evidence of your improvement is all we are after, you’ll likely come through with us for a guided gorge trip later anyway. We have loads of skills days that are hugely beneficial later in the season too and we can do final sign offs for anyone who requires it then. We are so proud of our standards at Topsport, and our value to be the best. We know the Coast to Coast race and the Waimakariri River inside-out, we know what's required and how to teach it.  We guarantee on any of our courses that you will have the knowledge to know what to do to achieve your complete sign off, and generally this is just: PRACTICE. We guarantee we have the best multisport instructors in the world. We want you to learn everything you need to know and help you pass. If you receive a certificate sign off, it's one to be proud of. Other kayaking schools appear to be guaranteeing that you will be signed off on their course and not assessed in multisport kayaks, this down right dangerous and hopefully not true, you should not be signed off until you have the experience and skills at the right level.

If you are ready then absolutely we will sign your certificate! Please go to the C2C website, download the certificate template and see what is actually required.

5. Make little to no effort to get on moving water after their Grade II course

This is crazy! You must get on moving water regularly. A fast moving river with rapids, is a completely different dynamic that is not understood to anyone new. It is powerful and dangerous to anyone who does not learn the skills, you need to avoid hazards such as rocks, trees, jet boats, other kayakers. It is significantly safer if you continue to practice, practice means better skills and confidence for making ALL moves on the river so you can actually enjoy your trips! Kayaking is fun, lack of practice makes it no fun at all and scary (like other sports e.g. technical mountain biking, mountaineering). We will help you figure out how to practice safely on our courses, you will also meet new friends here you can go out on the river together with. Topsport is also running a winter ‘race’ series with 4x events on the lower Waimakariri - these events are specifically designed for newer kayakers who have done a course and need help getting in practice, unbelievably we still have local kayakers do a course in Autumn and not show up to these events. Practice, practice, practice and you will have fun!