Grade 2 Refresher Course

Need to Renew Your Grade 2 Certificate for Coast to Coast?

- Is your Grade 2 Certificate expired, but you’re ready to race again?
- Does the thought of getting back on the river make you a little nervous?
- Are you feeling rusty and want to sharpen your skills before race day?

With Canterbury Kayaking’s , you’ll get expert coaching, guided river time, and a certification assessment to ensure you’re race-ready for the Coast to Coast.

If you’ve paddled the Waimakariri Gorge within the last 10 years, our 3-day Down-River Racing Skills Course will refine your technique in your racing kayak on the Waimakariri River.

If it’s been more than 10 years, our 4-day Whitewater Skills for Multisport Course will rebuild your whitewater foundation, sharpen your river safety skills, and help you regain confidence in rapids.

Whichever course you take, you’ll refresh your skills, renew your certification, and return to the river with more confidence than ever before. Without valid certification, you can't kayak in the next Coast to Coast.

Many athletes get the opportunity to race Coast to Coast again, only to realize their Grade 2 Certificate has expired—putting their entry at risk. Without official certification, you won’t be allowed on the kayak stage, and without strong paddling skills, your race-day performance will suffer.

On this course, you’ll refresh your river skills, rebuild your confidence, and renew your certification through a structured, step-by-step process. Whether you need to refine your technique in a racing kayak or relearn whitewater fundamentals, we have the right refresher course for you.

Once you’ve completed your assessment and renewed your certification, you’ll feel more confident on the river than ever before and be fully prepared to take on the Coast to Coast again. How to Book
- Select your dates and complete your booking at the top of this page ↑
- Download your information pack, and train with expert coaching over 3 or 4 days.
- Receive your renewed certificate and send it to Coast to Coast, securing your race entry. Meet Your Coach

Sam Milne is the most experienced kayak instructor on the Waimakariri River and the founder of Canterbury Kayaking. Having coached over 1,000 athletes for the Coast to Coast, he knows that a Grade 2 Certificate alone isn’t enough—you need real skills to paddle with confidence on race day.

Over the years, Sam has seen too many paddlers treat recertification as a checkbox exercise, opting for a one-day assessment instead of proper training. But the reality is, most paddlers renewing their certification also need a structured refresher to rebuild their confidence and sharpen their skills. A single-day test doesn’t make you a better paddler—it just gives you a piece of paper if you pass, or leaves you frustrated if you fail.

That’s why Sam now only offers multi-day refresher courses—because real improvement takes time. Instead of a rushed assessment, you’ll get expert coaching, progressive training, and enough time on the river to actually get better.

If you’ve paddled the Gorge in the last 10 years, the 3-day Racing Skills Course will fine-tune your technique in your racing kayak and get you race-ready. If it’s been more than 10 years, the 4-day Whitewater Skills Course will rebuild your foundation, sharpen your river skills, and prepare you to transition back to your racing kayak with confidence.

No matter which course you take, you’ll refresh your skills, renew your certification, and return to the river fully prepared for the Coast to Coast. What do I get with the course?

- The 3-Day Down-River Racing Skills Course includes:

- 3 days of skills coaching with Sam Milne, the Waimakariri River's most experienced kayak coach.
- Paddle the entire Coast to Coast race route from Mt White to Gorge Bridge.
- Transport and shuttle for the Gorge on day 3.
- Option to hire a boat, paddle, spray skirt, PFD and helmet.
- Drills you can take away and use to keep improving beyond the course.
- Pre-scheduled bad weather backup day for day 3 (Gorge day).

- The 4-Day Whitewater Skills for Multisport Couse includes:

- 4 days of professional skills coaching with Sam Milne, the Waimakariri River's most experienced kayak instructor.
- Free use of a whitewater kayak, paddle, and spray skirt for the entire program.
- 2 nights accomodation in Murchison.
- 1 day of pool and lake sessions, plus 3 river days.
- Exclusive discount on products from our gear shop.