Contents
- Star Courses
- Public Star Courses
- Singapore Weather Info
- Safety
- Techniques
- Water Venture Contact Info
- Kayak Or Canoe?
Star Courses
Info http://www.scf.org.sg/Awards/Personal1.html
Absolute beginners start with the 1-Star Course, which consists of 2 sessions. For those who yearn for more, there is the 2-Star Course that consists 3 sessions where participants are introduced to more advance skills. The 4-session 3-Star Course will impart the technique of “rolling” and more technical skills. Advancement beyond 3-Star takes place beyond local waters. SMUX Kayaking Team helps organize star courses every semester, look our for our emails!
Costs
1 Star – 2 days
$80 for course alone
$85 for course + membership
$45 if already member (course only)
2 Star – 3 days
$95 for course alone
$100 for course + membership
$60 if already member (course alone)
Public Star Coures
Please note that not all courses are posted online! You may want to call the the various water venture centres. Contact Details at the end of the page.
The only difference these courses are from those organized by SMUX Kayaking is that you have to take the initiative to sign-up and pay up for the course by yourself. Should you be interested, please visit http://one.pa.gov.sg and follow these steps:
1) Click on “Register for Courses” at the left hand side column of the page
2) Click on the category “Adventure and Water Sports”
3) Click on the course you are interested in “Kayaking 1 Star” or “Kayaking 2 Star”
4) Click on “Click here to register for this session” under the Action column
5) Call up the relevant WaterVenture Centre to make a reservation and make a trip to the particular centre to sign up and pay for the course
The contact numbers of the relevant WaterVenture Centres can be obtained at
http://www.water-venture.org.sg/1178608239351/1178608239359.html
or at the bottom of this page
Singapore Weather Info
With all-year warm waters, the sea is welcoming at all months of the year. Northeastly monsoon winds are from Dec-Feb, and Southwesternly monsoon winds from Jun-Sep. Rain can be expected all year round, with higher chance of heavy rain during the Monsoon months, especially in February or August. For latest weather updates, please read the current issue of the Straits Times.
http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1453
http://intranet.mssinet.gov.sg/nowcast/
Tide Times
http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=2293
Safety
1) Always paddle in a group if you are new to kayaking or unfamiliar with the places you planned to paddle.
2) Plan and leave a trip plan behind with someone detailing your route and contact details.
3) Always wear a PFD.
4) Always bring a handphone.
5) A bilge pump, sponge, paddle float, leash, sea sock, and internal flotation are very important if you planned to paddle out alone.
6) You can’t outrun weather, so it is best to return to shore and find shelter in adverse weather.
7) Wear proper sun protective attire.
Have plenty of hydration before, during, and after kayaking.
9) Look our for boat traffic and cross channels only when safe; be clear about your intentions and do not stop inside the channel.
10) Constantly aware of your surroundings. Fish lines in particular.
11) Always give way. Who can maneuver faster? Kayaks or Ships?
12) Bring a whistle. Invest in a storm whistle. Storm whistles are for sea use where the sound can still travel despite strong winds.
13) Attached 3M reflective strips to your PFD
14 ) Ensure there are no loose lines after a tow. Keep them immediately.
15) Always be first aid equipped and get trained.
Useful Phone Numbers
MPA Safety Co-ordination Center +65 63252488
Marine Accident : 6325 2488
Weather and Tide : 6542 7788
GSOC Cat Status : 6282 6821
Police Coast Guard : 1800 375 0000 (hotline)
Police hotline : 1800 225 0000
MPA : 6375 1600
MPA Marine Safety : 6325 2488 / 89
Control Centre
Ambulance : 995
Techniques
Forward Stroke
First: Sit up straight. Slouching forward or backwards limits your upper body’s ability to move. You can get more power by using your upper body than by using just your arms.
Second: Don’t apply power to the paddle until the paddle blade is completely submerged. Don’t use just the tip of the blade. If the paddle is making gurgling noises, you are wasting your effort. If you are pulling a lot of air down into the water you are wasting your effort.
Third: Push with your upper arm at the same time you pull with your lower arm. Rotate your torso to follow the paddle. You should feel like you are pulling the boat past the paddle. You may push your upper hand across the centerline of the boat.
Fourth: Don’t pull your lower hand past your hip. If you rotate your torso, this point may be a little farther back than if you don’t rotate.
Fifth: Don’t lift water at the end of the stroke. If you are splashing a lot, you are wasting your effort.
Additional Forward Stroke Tips
http://race.fit2paddle.com/C1450826492/E20070523095813/index.html
Edging (from http://www.water-venture.org.sg/1179821373933.html)
Basically, edging is to tilt your kayak sideways while keeping your body in balance. This is an essential technique to provide directional control and efficiency while kayaking.
To edge, you must lift one cheek of your butt and push all your weight onto the other. This is accompanied by lifting the knee on the side being raised and straightening the leg on the side being weighed down. You will be able to edge further if you rest your head on your shoulder on the side of the kayak you are raising.
Water Venture Contact Info
Water-Venture(Bedok Reservoir)
Tel : 9710 1697
Fax : 6345 4186
SBS Transit Bus Service
From Bedok Interchange : 18, 28, 66, 67, 69, 168, 228
From Tampines Interchange : 18, 21, 22, 28, 65, 67, 69, 168 (Alight at Bedok Reservoir Park)
Water-Venture(Changi)
285 Nicoll Drive
Changi Point
Singapore 498988
Tel : 6545 1140
Fax : 6545 8897
Bus Stop
SBS Transit Bus Service : 9, 19 & 89
Changi Village Bus Terminal
SBS Transit Bus Service : 2
Water-Venture(East Coast)
Located off East Coast Parkway, and nestled in the corner of East Coast Beach Park, this outlet specialises in Windsurfing. The outlet also provides storage facilities at an affordable rate for members who wish to store their windsurfing equipments.Windsurfing courses are conducted on a regular basis over the weekends. The outlet is also the organiser for the annual Windsurfing Championship, which attracts a host of top international windsurfers.
Water-Venture(East Coast)
1390 East Coast Parkway
Singapore 468961
Tel : 6444 0409
Fax : 6442 7054
SBS Transit Bus Service: 36 from Changi Airport
Water-Venture (Jurong Lake)
Tel : 9710 1619
Fax : 6345 4186
(Near the public toilet at the entrance of Chinese Garden main carpark)
MRT->Buses
Lakeside-> 154,246 (Alight at Jurong Lake Park)
Take 335,180 or MRT and alight at Chinese Garden MRT
(Walk in through Chinese Garden and exit at the Chinese Garden main carpark)
Water-Venture(Kallang)
Water-Venture(Kallang)
4876 Beach Road
Singapore 199587
Tel : 6296 6683
Fax : 6294 4393
MRT Station
Lavender Station
Bus Stop A
SBS Transit Service : 7, 32, 51, 63, 80, 82, 100, 145 & 197
SMRT Bus Service : 61, 961, 980
Bus Stop B
SBS Transit Service : 7, 32, 51, 63, 80, 145 & 197
SMRT Bus Service : 961, 980
Bus Stop C
SBS Transit Bus Service : 10, 14, 16, 70, 196
Water-Venture (Lower Seletar Reservoir)
Tel : 9710 1826
Fax : 6345 4186
(Near fishing jetty at Lower Seletar Park, opposite Yishun Stadium along Yishun Ave 1)
MRT->Buses
Khatib-> 39,85,851,852,853,853C,854,855,857,858, 965,969
(Alight at Lower Seletar Park along Yishun Ave 2) or walk over to the park from Khatib MRT.
Water-Venture(Pasir Ris)
Water-Venture(Pasir Ris)
125 Elias Road
Singapore 519926
Tel : 6582 4796
Fax : 6581 5781
MRT Station
Pasir Ris Station
Bus Stop
SBS Transit Bus Service : 403
Water-Venture (Sembawang)
57 Jalan Mempurong
Singapore 759057
Tel : 6755 0225
Fax : 6755 0263
MRT Station
Sembawang Station
Bus Stop A
SMRT Bus Service : 882
(Alight at bustop after St Andrews Road )
Kayak or Canoe?
Many people are confused over the terms kayaks and canoes. It is not rocket science to understand their differences.
Under the big umbrella of Canoeing, there are 2 families. One being kayaking, the other is Canadian Canoe.
White Water Kayking
In the family of kayaking, there are various types. Generally, there are the sprint kayaks, river/creek kayaks, playboat kayaks, sit-on top kayaks and sea kayaks. There are so many types of kayaks, and its’ design is limitless. A common rule is in a kayak, your legs are not exposed and you use a two- sided paddle.
Now in the family of Canadian Canoe, the paddler paddles with a one-sided oar in either a sitting or kneeling position and the legs of the paddler are exposed. The boat maneuver techniques are can be different from that of a kayak, one of which is the Pry Stroke. The modern whitewater canoe follows the design of the Canadian canoe with some similarities to the kayak.
White Water Canadian Canoe
Kayaking is still known as canoeing since it still falls under the big family of canoeing, but it can never be Canadian canoe. To be specific. We always say kayaking.
