1-Day Course (Woodstock Braids)
A fantastic day of learning on the Waimakariri river with Sam Manson.
This day is all about improving your river reading skills and saving precious time on race day. The rapids you are focusing on are during the 15km section of the Waimakariri River from Woodstock to the Gorge Bridge. This includes the bluffs in the section and how to navigate the braids.
This 1 day course is all about stepping up your skills!
This is the perfect course to tackle if you're looking to take your skills to the next level. You may have just ticked off your first grade II course, or a seasoned paddler looking to get more out of your kayaking and gain precious time. This day out will help you to improve both your river reading and paddling skills with the aim of understanding how to identify the fastest lines for race day. You will gain in both confidence and ability over the duration of this course. This is a great day on the river with Sam and we cannot recommend it enough.
Download all the information you need to know here:
Click to download: Information Pack
Trip Details
The day will be focused on braid reading and any bluffs on this section. We will be looking to build your skills and confidence. There will be the opportunity to paddle some of these features multiple times and fine-tune those lines! Sam will demonstrate good race lines and continue to work on your river reading skills.
Click to download: Information PackTrip Schedule
- 9:00am - All arrive in personal vehicles at the Gorge Bridge riverbed: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BZqMLmk4Hg8Zyb5o9 (Please let us know if you need assistance getting there)
- 9:05am - Get changed, load boats and gear on the Topsport Trailer, jump in Topsport Van and head to Woodstock
- 9:30am - Arrive at Woodstock - Team meeting to discuss the plan for the day. Some whiteboard theory and open floor for personal skills requests.
- 10am - On the water - River braids skills
- 11:45pm - Off river at Gorge Bridge - Lunch on side of the river while shuttle is done
- 12:30pm - All boats loaded and drive back to Woodstock for lap #2
-1:40pm - On the water at Woodstock - River braids skills
- 3pm - Off the water at Gorge Bridge
- 3:20pm - Debrief. Clients can head home by 3:40pm.
Kayak Hire
After booking your course, if you need to hire a multisport boat please book below - We can provide other gear too
Travelling Athlete Info
If you are travelling from outside of Christchurch to spend some time with us on the river or over the mountain here is some information to help plan you trip.
Requirements
These requirements are in place for your safety and to ensure we can fit you in one of our boats (if required)
- You must be able to swim
- Be training most days and have a good base fitness
- Weigh less than 110kg
- Be shorter than 6'4.
Please contact us to discuss options if you don’t the fit these requirements.
Topsport Kayaking Cancellation Policy
Terms and Conditions
Topsport Kayaking’s cancellation policy allows clients to reschedule or cancel their booked course or guided trip provided enough notice is given. This policy ensures our small local business can continue to operate if someone cancels their space at short notice.
COVID 19 – Our standard cancelation policy applies.
Cancelling a booking
If for any reason (this includes illness, COVID, travel delays and injuries) you need to cancel your kayak course, gorge trip or mountain run, you will receive a refund minus our cancelation fee. This is provided you contact us at least 21 full days before your booking. We are a very small business and cannot afford to operate our business without the policy. If you cancel outside this period full payment is still required.
We have a lot of cancelations due to sickness and injury. Whilst we are always sorry to hear of an injury or illness, both are a common reality in multisport. Our business is unable to cover the cost of a missed course or trip when an injury or illness has prevented someone from cancelling within our cancelation period. This is a common occurrence for us, therefore full payment is still required. You can transfer your space to another person if you know someone and can organise this.
We deduct an administration fee for any courses or trips that are cancelled.
Our Cancelation fees for courses or trips cancelled 21 days prior to starting are as follows:
- Grade II Certificate Course - $295
- Guided River Trip - $95
- Guided Run Trip - $95
- Guided Run/River Combo - $195
- Waimakariri Skills Course - $295
Cancelling Part of your Grade II Course
If for some reason you are unable to attend a day or days of your kayak course we will try to rebook in with another group, if successful there is an additional cost of $250 per day. There is a no refund for the days missed.
Rescheduling a booking
If you need to reschedule your course or trip, Topsport requires a minimum of 21 FULL DAYS notice. Any booking rescheduled outside this time period will require a new booking and new payment.
All rescheduled trips are subject to an administration fee which is as follows:
- Grade II Certificate Course - $49
- Guided River Trip - $49
- Guided Run Trip - $49
- Refresh with Ryan - $49
- Guided Run/River Combo - $49
- Waimakariri Skills Course -49
- Two Day River Course - -$49
Sometimes Topsport Kayaking postpones your trip
Topsport Kayaking can only operate in favourable conditions. Our trips and courses are 100% weather and river flow dependant. For this reason YOU MUST be flexible with your availability. If you cannot commit to flexibility please do not make a booking with us.
When we have to postpone a trip it is not something we want to do. When a trip is postponed it is for your own personal safety and the safety of our Topsport staff. Your trip may be postponed due to high river levels, high wind or cold alpine conditions.
If we need to postpone your trip we will contact you as soon as possible. This may be in the days leading up to your trip or in the morning of the trip. If this happens you will be provided with a code to rebook your trip on our website at no charge on another date that suits.
Please Note – As we get closer to race day in February the rebooking options may be limited due to the time we have left before the race. If you are unable to make a rescheduled trip a refund will not be given.
When travelling from out of town PLEASE make sure you book flexi flights and accommodation as none of our trips are ever guaranteed to run. We can only operate our trips when weather and river conditions are safe to do so.
In exceptional circumstances we may need to cancel your trip after travelling to the start location or even part-way through your trip as conditions change. Typically we decide prior to leaving town but sometimes we make the extra effort to make an important trip take place e.g race week and overseas clients. If this happens there is a minimum cost of $100 pp. Our standards are to cancel are trip using the latest weather and flow resources BEFORE we leave town but occasionally the forecast is incorrect and we do not know until arriving at the start location.
Cancelling your Coast to Coast Kayak Hire Booking
Topsport Kayaking will gladly cancel your Coast to Coast kayak hire booking prior to the 30th of November. A cancellation charge to the value of 20% of the original hire fee will be deducted. You will be credited back the balance through your original form of payment. If you cancel your hire outside of this time period the full amount is still payable.
If you have any questions, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by:
Phone (Kate): 021 51 61 75
Email: info@topsport.co.nz
Epic Two-Day Adventure with Topsport!
I recently completed the two-day course with the Coast-to-Coast recce through Topsport Kayaking, and it was absolutely epic! The combination of running and kayaking made for an incredible adventure, and the entire experience was smooth from start to finish.
A massive shoutout to Sam, who was fantastic and truly a credit to the business. His knowledge of the terrain was exceptional, and his patience throughout the course was second to none. He made sure everyone felt confident and safe while also keeping the vibe fun and engaging.
If you’re considering a challenge or want to sharpen your skills in an amazing setting, I can’t recommend Topsport Kayaking highly enough. This experience was well worth it – I’m already keen for the next one!
- Jamie Orr
Customer reviews
"Our instructors managed the certification course as true professionals"
"Our guides were professional and had safety at the forefront of their minds in challenging conditions"
"Their kayaking passion, capability and knowledge were the real difference"
"Incredibly knowledgeable with a strong emphasis on safety and completing all skills to a high standard"
