All Qualifications

NZRA Oar Guide Grade 2

Entry-level oar guiding on sheltered or moving water up to and including Grade 2, using an oar frame.

Enrolment fee

$150.00

Assessment units

19

Assessment Units

You will be assessed on the following competency areas.

1. River & Industry Knowledge

Verbal and visual assessment of the candidate's knowledge of the rivers current and expected conditions and industry requirements.

Water catchment & weather for trip section
How is the flow info accessed, and what are min/max cut-offs?
River section info (entry, exit, hazards)
Emergency exits and first aid protocols
Comms equipment and blind spots
Process of logging intentions
Accident/incident reporting

2. Trip Prep & Equipment Management

Demonstrates knowledge and competency in pre-trip preparation and equipment management.

Pre-trip intentions completed
Gear selection (Rescue Equipment, Guide Equipment, Client Equipment)
Trailer Loading (Safely Loaded, Secured)

3. Trip Briefing & Client Screening

Demonstrates competency when instructing clients on trip expectations and screening for trip suitability.

Run Introductions
Outline Trip
Set Expectations
Checks Clients needs/abilities
Brief on gear
Risk/Hazard disclosure
Client gear correctly fitted for the tour or task

4. Safety Briefing

Safety brief delivered to clients covering all required safety information.

Foot Entrapment avoidance
Swim Positioning (positive/defensive)
Flip Potential and actions
River signals
Swimmer Recovery (Throwbag and lapel rescue)
Specific River Hazards

5. Client Training

Client training including positioning of clients, instructions and checks for understanding.

Client Positioning and Hold on points
Rafting Skills (weight shifts)
Practices, checks for understanding, and gives feedback

6. Guiding Skills

Demonstrates effective raft guiding skills on the water.

Use of oars to create effective raft maneuvering
Ferry glides (forward/backwards)
Catching eddies and mid stream eddies
Crew commands (sit down, weight shifts with clarity and timing of calls)
Client Safety (Timing of Hold On's)
Wrap avoidance / dislodging stuck raft
Technical manoeuvring, line choice and river running
Maintain spacing/order (if multipule raft tours)
Communicate with other guides (Whistles, Signals, Talking) If a multi raft tours
Emergancy stopping techniques
Placement of raft for rescue

7. Raft Flip Management

Demonstrates competency in managing raft flips including client safety and re-entry.

Flip drill execution
Client management during flip
Raft re-entry techniques

8. Hazard Management

Can explain or demonstrate competency in identifying and managing hazards.

Hazard identification
Risk mitigation strategies
Emergency response procedures

9. Professionalism

Demonstrates courteous and professional conduct throughout the trip.

Demonstrated courteous/professional conduct
Communicates effectively with cliental

10. Post Trip

Demonstrates competency with post-trip procedures and debrief.

Equipment check and pack-down
Client debrief
Incident/trip reporting

13. Raft Construction

Knowledge of raft construction, components, and maintenance.

Demonstrates knowledge/differances of PVC and Hyperlon

14. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Knowledge and correct use of personal protective equipment.

PPE worn correctly, knowledge and correct use of
Appropreate clothing and footwear worn

15. Knots

Demonstrates required knots and can explain their limitations.

Demonstrated knots and explained limitations
Clove Hitch
Family of 8's
Alpine Butterfly
Tape / Water Knot
Bowline
Fishermans
Sheet Bend
Prusik
Trucker Hitch
Italian Hitch
Half Hitch

16. Signals

Knowledge and use of river signals.

River signal knowledge and use
Stop / Go
Right/ Left
OK
Swimmers ( multiple )
Whistle
3 Whistles
Eddy Out
Cover / Safety
First Aid
Look
Don't know
Come to me
Last craft
Rope required
Foot entrapment

17. Required Equipment

Core river rescue required to be worn

PFD
River Knife
Flip Line
Boat Throwbag (doesn't have to be worn on person)
Prusik
Whistle
Watch
Locking D Carabinners

18. Throwbagging

Throwbag deployment and rescue skills.

Throwbag deployment and accuracy
Recoil throw 10 meters
Static belay
Dynamic belay
Discuss selection of access and retrieval points

19. Rescue swimming

Swimmer rescue techniques including contact rescues.

Manage yourselve as a swimmer
General river bank access
Access mid stream boulders
River crossing

20. Raft Rescue Context

Raft management in a rescue context.

Placement of craft to support flips and/or rescue
Access and retrieve a wrapped raft or pinned raft

21. Rope Systems

Setup and use of rope systems for river rescue.

Basket anchors and No knot anchors
10 person pull
Vector pull
Progress capture