Canterbury Kayaking

I did the 4-day grade two course with Canterbury Kayaking to start preparing for the Coast to Coast next year. As a total kayak novice, I chose Sam after seeing some of his YouTube videos and liking his calm methodical style. Sam and the other instructors, Steve and Will, were fantastic. Great at clearly conveying some complex skills and they really took the time to personalise their instruction to each person. These guys aren’t just great kayakers, they are awesome teachers. The way the skills were constantly built on made the whole four days a constant challenge that was incredibly rewarding. I wasn’t expecting to feel that much progress while having so much fun along the way. Learning to roll has given me a lot more confidence to get out and push myself more than I could before. Kayaking suddenly feels a lot more exciting and a lot less intimidating. I’m already booked in for the next skills development course later in the year.

Completing the Grade 2 course marks my first step toward tackling the kayaking component of the 'Longest Day'. It was a bit of extra effort to travel cross country to Canterbury Kayaking but very glad I did. I achieved my original objective to 'get certified' but perhaps more importantly, the advice and guidance I received from Sam over the course has helped me set realistic kayaking race goals and put a plan in place to get my kayaking skill level to where it needs to be come February. Now I can progress my kayaking journey with confidence. Added to that it was a very enjoyable four days of fun on the river with a great supportive crew. Five stars.

Before I'd even decided on a course, many people had mentioned Sam's name as a first-class instructor, and they were right. Sam's passion is kayaking, and he shows this in the way in which he teaches you. He is clear in his instructions. He teaches you all aspects of river hazards and how to read and navigate the dynamics of the river. The course was paced at a level which enabled me to grow and develop skills with increasing confidence. Sam provided a good combination of instruction and practical skill development. He was excellent at getting feedback on how we were experiencing the course. Sam is very calm; he understands the needs of the individuals on the course; and gives clear advice on how to improve--whether it be stroke development or reading the river. He is clearly an experienced instructor who cares about and wants the best for his students. Sam's communication in the lead up to the course was excellent. I knew exactly what gear I needed and how to be prepared. Sam carries a heap of specialist gear (available for hire or purchase) to ensure that you enjoy your time on the river. I would recommend this course to anyone needing to gain their grade 2 certificate. Steve

Came on a grade 2 kayaking course with already some grade 2 experience but also with a lot of fear of the river and of kayaking. Sam created such a safe and trusting atmosphere on the lakes and rivers where I was able to overcome my fears and therefore improve my skills. I had such a great experience and would recommend this course to anyone looking to get into kayaking.

Id signed up for c2c 2023, Sam and his team provided a great course to ensure you have the best foundations to get down the Waimak dry. recommend.

Having entered the C2C 2-Day individual, I needed to gain my Grade 2 Certificate. I joined Canterbury Kayak Grade 2 Course to get the job done.I had a fear of whitewater and fast flowing rivers before going on the course so I was dreading it however after reading reviews about Canterbury Kayaking, I knew I would be in safe hands.Right from the start, Sam, Steve and Will were extremely helpful and took us through the basics in depth, before taking us out on moving water.Their patience and enthusiasm to give us the skills needed to get down the river were great and although I ended up upside down in the river multiple times, I knew they weren’t far away. A quick pep talk on why I fell and we were back at it.I highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking for your C2C Certification Course as they are patient, safety conscious, enthusiastic and their equipment is top quality. And if you forget a piece of gear or want to be more comfortable, Sam has a truck full of gear on hand to purchase from.Thanks team for an awesome 4 days where you helped conquered my fear of whitewater!

I recently completed the Grade 2 course in prep for the 2024 Coast to Coast, having no previous whitewater kayak experience. The course was fun, met some great like-minded people and learnt heaps including a successful roll in moving water! Importantly, I felt safe for the entire course under expert guidance of Sam.

Had an amazing experience doing the grade 2 kayaking course with Canterbury Kayaking. The course was very well structured building our skills and confidence each day.The instructors Sam and Will created a great team environment. The standout for me was the rolling lessons and how they taught you individually and specific to your roll, this really improved my confidence going down the rivers. Thanks for a great course!

As someone who has found themselves entered in the team kayak leg for the Coast 2 Coast with absolutely zero experience on the water i could not recommend this course more. Getting into the whitewater and heading down the river was a pretty daunting experience but Sam and his team always made me feel super safe. Moving down the river we were always in smaller groups of 3-4 with one instructor who would show the way, give us advice and be close by to help correct any accidental flips. I started the course nervous and not knowing what to expect and ended it having had so much fun and looking forward the next step in my kayaking journey. I couldn't recommend Sam and his team, the course and Canterbury Kayaking more highly.

Grade II Course…Brilliant course from start to finish.The coaching was excellent - clear and direct. The course was really well designed to ensure our learning and confidence were reinforced after each session.We felt extremely safe under the watch of Sam and Paloma on the river. The course also provided nice opportunities to bond with other members of the group which was good for winding down after a full day of learning new skills.