Reviews of Canterbury Kayaking. (Personal Trainer) in Christchurch (Canterbury).

Canterbury Kayaking

267 Reviews

95 Comments

Personal Trainer

Training centre

Canoe & kayak store

29 Sunvale Terrace, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand

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Description

Information of Canterbury Kayaking, Personal Trainer in Christchurch (Canterbury)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

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Reviews of Canterbury Kayaking

M. C.

I've completed the Rolling course, Half Day Grade II Prep and the 4 Day Grade II course and highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking. Sam (Steve & Josh) are very professional, instruct with good clear explanations, give positive feedback and are full of enthusiasm. I was hugely impressed with the speed in which they responded to anyone in need (swims on grade II). The trust they built with the group within a very short time was really impressive. The knowledge they share goes way beyond the course content and I'm stoked I chose a provider that taught me to roll. Thanks

K. S.

Last weekend my daughter and I attended the grade two course with Canterbury Kayaking. My son had completed a number of courses with them in the past and had positive experiences. We are not training for C2C but wanted to learn a new sport that we could do as a family. Sam and Stephen were so supportive and worked with our varied skills and confidence levels. We got to meet other great people on the course and see some amazing parts of the country. Sam and Stephen are so experienced and knowledgeable they made the entire trip feel safe. However, from my experience their empathy and understanding of what are their client's individual needs are their greatest asset.

J. M.

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.

A. S.

I am hoping to do the Coast to Coast and recently completed the 4 day Gd 2 certificate course. I live in Christchurch and didn't consider other courses. Sam Milne, the instructor was excellent. I got the feeling that every part of every day had been refined over years. The skill explanations and demonstrations were great and we all made big strides. Regardless of skills and certificates acquired, our time on the river was fantastic fun. I have enrolled for an intermediate course in October (in my own kayak as per advice after this course) and will also be doing some evening rolling sessions between now and then.

L. J.

I would highly recommend Sam and the Canterbury Kayaking organisation to anyone who is looking at competing in the Coast to Coast and looking to gain there Grade 2 certificate. Over the 4 days I never thought I would actually become confident and comfortable in a kayak and kayaking down rapids was something had always been afraid of. Sam was great he definitely pushed us over the 4 days so we got the most out of our money.

J. H.

I recently did the 4-day grade 2 course (for the second time) and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone starting their Coast 2 Coast prep or wanting to take their first steps into whitewater kayaking. Sam and Steve were brilliant and the course excellently structured and paced so there is a real sense of fun, challenge and accomplishment throughout. Looking forward to following it up with some of the follow-on options you have available.

A. C.

I did the 4-day Level 2 course with Sam and Steve and it was fantastic. A great intro to kayaking, I'd very much recommend. Ideal for anyone interested in doing the Coast to Coast, but also pretty essential for anyone wanting to get into white water kayaking in a safe environment. Loved it, will probably do it again just for fun.

M. F.

I have just completed the 4 day Grade ll Course with Sam and Steve, it was awesome! Could not recommend the team at Canterbury Kayaking enough! Both Sam and Steve are wildly impressive kayakers but equally as impressive teachers - they were able to clearly break down each new skill, modelled what to do, allowed time to practise and refine and were always providing positive and constructive feedback in a clear and concise way. It is only the beginning of my novice kayaking journey but working with Canterbury Kayaking has been the best start - highly recommended!

E. J.

I have just completed the four day grade II course with Sam and Steve. It is fair to say I was bit apprehensive at the beginning as although I have been fortunate enough to have exposure to other water sports, rivers and kayaking was uncharted territory for me. Fortunately I had picked Canterbury Kayaking to help me build the skills and knowledge required for Grade II certification. I could not fault the course in any shape or form. From the get go Sam had clear communication and a very well thought out plan to gradually expose the group to all the skills required for your grade II certificate. Both Sam and Steve were constantly providing demonstrations in numerous formats to suit all learning needs, encouragement, advice and reassurance throughout the course. Their enthusiasm and love for what they do is so evident and set a fun, engaging tone for the whole group. I would definitely recommend Canterbury Kayaking to anyone looking at doing Coast to Coast.

S. A.

In the past I’ve done various courses with Canterbury Kayaking including my grade 2, gorge trips, and I have just come back after a decent break and completed the Coast to Coast Skills Course as a (much needed) refresher. Despite a significant weather system coming through Sam worked hard to get us on the river as much as possible, while refining and learning new river reading and boat handling skills - and yes, more successful rolling. I am not a natural kayaker by any means and always carry a level of anxiety with me, but I fully trust Canterbury Kayaking and they delivered once again. The course was an invaluable four days which has restored my confidence, improved my skills, and given me plenty to work on too. It was exactly what I needed. Thanks Sam & team.

Just completed the 4 day Grade 2 Kayaking Skills course and it was epic. I would totally recommend Canterbury Kayaking to anyone looking at giving Kayaking a go or wanting more skills, Sam is an excellent trainer and gives you all the necessary tools to understand and be safe in the water.

R. P.

I highly recommend this course. It was set up really well starting from the basics to gradually building our skills and becoming confident in the kayaks along with learning how to read the river and river safety. Sam and Paloma were great instructors, both very clear and concise.

I have just completed my Grade II Certificate with Canterbury Kayaking and found it awesome. Sam & Steve were professional but also made the course really enjoyable. The communication was incredibly clear, especially when we moved to 'Plan B' due to river volumes. I found the learning environment supportive and constructive, and my confidence has grown hugely. I'm planning to book some further instruction with CK before C2C 2022!

R. T.

Preparing for Coast to Coast 2023 and needed to update my kayaking skills. Had previously completed grade 2 in Taupo but never felt comfortable with where I was at. Decided to go to Canterbury Kayaking to get close to the real thing. So glad I did. Redoing Grade 2 course with Sam, was challenging. Structured progression, attention to needs of those in the group, great honest feedback, beautiful scenery, opportunity to feedback and felt like I was listened to. But also great fun. Was nice to see Sam have a play which also highlighted his skill and took away some of the apprehension of white water, which helped me alot. Thanks Sam, experienced, rangatira, kaitiaki, manaaki and whanaungatanga throughout the 4 days. See you in November.

M. G.

Took a learn to roll course lead by Sam, comprising 3 pool sessions. Sam has a great coaching technique and the patience of a saint while I put it all together. Sam had me rolling the kayak by the third session so ticked all the boxes. Now I just need to work out if I can get my packraft over!

P. W.

It has been about 10 years since I have actively kayaked and last obtained by 1st grade cert, and on entering the Coast-to-coast (C2C) again, needed to obtain a grade 2 kayak certificate. I decided based on the course contents, and Sam's excellant Waimakariri best-lines and other kayaking you-tube videos to go for the Canterbury Kayaking course. Although I could remember some apsects of the required kayaking skills, I needed to be relearn skills to gain the grade 2 cert. Of note was Sam's comment that the majority of rescue's in the C2C race are due to flipping on eddies and eddie-lines, with onlythe minority on the rapids. On my recently completed course with Sam, assisted by Paloma, there was a lot of drills on getting into and out of eddies, and the best way to do this; and I now understood much better than before how to deal with this aspect of this vital river kayaking skill. I also managed to do some rolls in the river by the end of the course, where Sam and Paloma spent several sessions teaching this skill. Overall I found the course excellant, the people on the course were great and I think we all learnt a lot, and improved greatly in the 4 days of the course. Thank you Sam and Paloma.

O. W.

Awesome course, did the grade 2 white water cert. Epic 4 days. Great gradual progression into some really fun and exciting rapids. Ended up doing plan 'b' which was up in murchison but I really enjoyed the weekend up there, was well worth the drive and you stay in a nice wee holiday park by a river. Sam's a very good teacher, as was our other guide Jaron. Good group to instructor ratio, and they were both fantastic teachers. No negatives essentially.

S. D.

I attended the Grade 2 course with Sam and Stephen as a complete novice with the aim of gaining some basic skills and confidence. I found the course extremely beneficial as safety and having the basics sorted was a top priority, which was a great reassurance as you moved forward with different skills. I would highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking for people who don’t want to just tick the box for Coast to Coast and get your grade 2 certificate, but for becoming a better kayaker too.

P. R.

Having never kayaked before signing up to the Coast to Coast I knew I desperately needed to get some experience but wasn't sure where to start. I found Canterbury Kayaking highly recommended online and signed up for their Grade 2 course. Its fair to say I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into and was more than a little nervous. Fortunately for me I had a great tutor in Sam. He did a great job of leading the course and demonstrated all the qualities you'd wish for in a teacher. He was constantly on hand with much needed advice, encouragement and an occasional nudge when I needed it. Sam has done a great job creating the course, learning and iterating over many years and it was clear that a lot of thought had gone into the course structure and content. While it was a pretty challenging 4 days I am really thrilled I completed it and would definitely recommend to anyone!

T. S.

I did 3 courses/trips with Sam and his team in the course of preparing for Coast to Coast 2021. I did an intro course, a post Gr 2 C2C skills course, and a trip through the Gorge a couple of weeks before the race. All these sessions were hugely helpful in my paddling journey. I ultimately completed the race happily and confidently with no swims. Sam and CK are great to deal with, take a real personal interest in developing their learners and are tremendously patient, skilled and professional. Highly recommended .

A. B.

I've just completed the grade 2 kayak certificate with Sam at Canterbury Kayaking and it was a great experience. He was a true professional with the patience of a saint and had a knack of being able to teach the skills in a way that I could understand and achieve some things that I thought were impossible. He also has plenty of advice to get to the next level and beyond in the sport, and he can supply all the gear you'll ever need. I'd recommend to anyone wanting to get started or advance with their kayaking to get in touch with Canterbury Kayaking.

S. M.

Just completed the half day intro and 4 day Gr 2 Course. Sams knowledge of kayaking and ability to break skills down into manageable chunks made it a great journey. From 0 experience to having the confidence to smile through a rapid and roll when required on day 4 I'd highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking for both teaching and gear advice/supply.

P. C.

I attended the 4 day Grade 2 Certification course with Sam in Early Sept 2020. This was a simply awesome experience. Sam and his team have a tremendous level of skill and experience which combine to provide a really fantastic balance of encouragement, confidence and skills building. This is all wrapped up in a prudent and thoughtful delivery with a range of alternative venues should the weather or water level conditions require. Whether you are looking to learn how to kayak, enhance your skills or aim for certification, I could not recommend Sam or Canterbury Kayaking highly enough. I will certainly be spending a lot more time on the water with Sam to learn from the best.

C. M.

I did the Grade 2 certification course run by Sam and Steve at the Hurunui river. The course was very professional, well prepared, structured and delivered by both of them. They are very passionate about kayaking and definitely know their stuff! This came across with everything they taught and I felt they loved passing on their knowledge to the newbies! The first couple of days were spent honing our new found skills in the pool (rolling!) and on the lake / river. There was a lot of time spent practising paddling technique and reading the river conditions, which can seem repetitive, but this is what's needed when you get to day three and four! The rapids were both exhilarating and daunting, but I always felt completely safe in their hands, which is testament to their level of professionalism and safety. Everyone on our course was doing their Grade 2 to compete in the C2C. Sam went through previous years failures on the C2C and how he/they were trying to pull the level of competence up for Grade 2. I completely understand and agree with his philosophy on this. I think in the past you could just pay someone to get the tick, not anymore. The course can be intense at times, but Sam & Steve always gave honest and direct feedback with a smile on their faces, which is what you need! Overall I thought was one of the most professionally, fun and safe run courses I have been on! I would definitely recommend Canterbury Kayaking for your Grade 2 cert. I have already booked another guided trip with them and can't wait to learning more skills! Thanks guys, you were awesome!

B. J.

I was green at Whitewater Kayaking before attending the Grade 2 certificate course, however Sam's knowledge and experience was really helpful and his teaching methods were spot on. He is understanding, patient and very knowledgeable. It was a mentally and physically challenging 4 days, however it was a great experience and I am stoked I completed it. Highly recommend!

H. N.

I completed the grade 2 course with CK and it was an amazing experience! The instructors were able to manage a large group with varying skills and abilities and still cater to everyone individually. Would especially recommend this course as they teach a rolling session which makes you far more confident on the water when you get to the river.

C. S.

Completed Grade II course with Canterbury Kayaking. I had the best time on the course. I was a total novice and the course progress so you can apply skills to the river. I would recommend for anyone interested in doing grade ii course or who is interested in getting into kayaking.

S. o. a. G.

Did 4 day Grade 2 course. High quality technical instruction and delivered with excellent coaching, using a variety of methods to help get the message through to newbies. Built the challenge gradually from pool, to lake, to basic river, to grade 2 river so was not overwhelming and built confidence. Fostered good team dynamics as well so we all had fun. Two instructors for eight people meant plenty of 1:1. Very good safety. Excellent course. Go here if you are preparing for CTC

M. H.

I would recommend this course to Coast to Coast competitors and anyone looking to learn the skills and techniques required to navigate down a Grade 2 rapid. I completed the Grade 2 course and was really impressed by the professionalism and passion of the coaches, Sam and Jarron.

B. C.

I initially did my grade 2 certificate with Sam 10 years ago and I’ve just completed the refresher course. Sam explained the theory very well and constantly demonstrated the techniques down the river for us to follow so we really learned when and where to edge and use his gliding low brace. And Sam teaches how to roll which is a great skill to have.

G. C.

Just finished the 4 day Grade 2 course, it was definitely challenging but the well thought-out progression and quality coaching had me building confidence and skills throughout. I enjoyed having some theory alongside plenty of practice and 1:1 time, and Sam and Meg gave clear and constructive feedback throughout - an invaluable experience. Thanks team!

t. b.

Thanks for such a great Grade2 course, fantastic instructors taking the time to teach us to roll and how to navigate grade 2 rapids. Moving the course to Murchison to ensure it could still happen, with high river flows in Canterbury, made for a fun weekend away.

I had the pleasure in doing the four day grade 2 kayaking course with Sam and his amazing team! We ending up heading to Murchison for our river training due to bad weather in Canterbury and it was epic! Super safe and positive experience, I would highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking for anyone that wants to start their kayaking training. Great training, quality equipment and very thorough safety systems!! Thanks Sam, I look forward to our next training session getting closer to race time!!

Sam has developed a product that builds core kayaking skills efficiently without being overwhelming. I was grateful for the fantastic amount of practical time spent on the water and awesome support and guidance from Sam and Steve all the way through the course. You guys are fantastic - I am really pleased I chose Canterbury Kayaking.

C. S.

Canterbury Kayaking were instrumental in my successful completion of the 2 day individual Coast to Coast race. The kayak leg of the race is probably most people’s undoing however, Sam and the team at Canterbury Kayaking helped me to enter this part of the race with confidence in my abilities. I feel that completing the Grade 2 certification course on actual grade 2 rivers and spending time in white water boats gave me a really good foundation and helped with my ability to read the river. Doing a course with Canterbury Kayaking is not a “box ticking” exercise but an invaluable experience that will set you up for some amazing experiences on the river!!!!

J. B.

Just completed a 4 day skills course with Sam. I had very little experience on the river previously. I learnt a massive amount of skills and gained a lot of knowledge everything from better stroke technique, how to tackle braids and bluff corners, learnt too roll the list goes on! We kayaked the 70km C2C course which is a absolute must do before C2C, following Sam's lines I managed to stay up right the entire way! Highly recommend this course with Canterbury Kayaking.

R. P.

I did the kayak introduction course with Sam . Way better than I though, Great course to kick start my kayaking adventures , I have now also completed the grade 2 cert, C2C skills course and a guided trip down the waimak, all courses were invaluable to developing the required skills to complete the coast to coast race, once again highly recommend signing up with Canterbury kayaking.

C. S. R.

Just finished Canterbury Kayakings 4 day grade 2 course. Not having my drivers license yet made it a challenge for me transport wise and to get accomodation but Sam and his team helped me get past these hurdles by helping me organise transport with other participants and getting a tent for me to stay in. It was very reassuring to know when you were on the river that Sam or his other instructor were just behind you or in front. Would definitely recommend these guys if your wanting to find a fun and safe Grade 2 course!

L. C.

Big ups to Canterbury kayaking. Living up north getting limited time on the course Sam made sure the last guided trip covered everything I would need to know for race day. Posting the lines video was also so good and bonus... Got down the river with no swims! I’ll be back next season!

K. H.

I have just completed my Grade 2 Kayaking Skills, 2nd time around with Sam. And I don't think I have ever, or will ever have as much fun while completing an assessment. I wasn't disappointed not to have passed on my first attempt because I knew I would learn so much more doing the same course a second time. Sam is very demanding of standards required, you will only pass when you absolutely demonstrate the capabilities required. Sam is not just capable & professional but encouraging beyond any expectation. He can take somebody who is scared of what is coming next and give them the motivation not to turn down any challenge, regardless of how daunting they seem. Sam is not just focused on the progression of his student, but on their safety at all times under his guidance. I don't know of a more capable white water instructor.

R. C.

Worked with Canterbury Kayaking team to achieve the Grade 2 Certificate. I believe the course run by the team to be the most tougher course available. I am now even able to confidently roll my kayak, so if you're looking to complete your grade 2 and become confident in white water the Canterbury team should be the choice for you.

Epic instructors and epic fun! These guys have absolutely perfected the art of helping you learn the skills you need to run a Grade 2 river, and I'm really glad I made the trip up North to complete my G2 with them.

This was an awesome course and great value for money. We spent two sessions in the pool and one in a lake before heading out to the Hurunui river. Sam and Steve were patient instructors and highly skilled kayakers, and safety was their priority the whole time. I learnt so much on this course and improved my kayaking skills one thousand fold. This course is great preparation for the C2C or if you are just interested in learning whitewater kayaking. They also went through the pros and cons of the gear you need including boats so its a good idea to do the course before you actually commit yourself to a specific boat. Definitely recommend, especially the focus on rolling which will save you so much time if you can pull it off in the river. 5 stars! :)

K. C.

Jan 2021 update: Just finished the C2C skills course with Sam and Steven. Even better than the Beginner's Kayak course I did with Sam in Sept (if that is possible). The Waimakariri is no longer this terrifying thing I have to endure to do the C2C - I actually enjoyed it. Thank you both for teaching me the skills and giving me the confidence. Sept 2020: I have just completed Sam's 4 day beginners kayak course as a total novice. I highly recommend it. Sam has the patience of a saint, amazing skill as a teacher and kayaker, and his customer service is amazing. Thank you Sam.

W. F.

I've just spent 4 days with Sam & the team doing my grade 2, a great experience & well organised course

A. M.

I've had the pleasure of doing two courses with Sam and his team. He takes you from being a nervous beginner to a confident grade two paddler in days. I really appreciated his approach to coaching, always helping you work on what's working well and what's not. I always felt very safe in their hands and had complete trust in them. I highly recommend his courses for anyone wanting to do the Coast to Coast or wanting to go from newbie to grade 2 confident in days.

M. P.

Such a fun, positive experience. Top notch coaches that take the time to individually teach you how to become confident on grade 2 white water. Highly recommend to anyone looking at the Coast to Coast or just for an awesome four days learning the basics of how to white water kayak!

N. O.

The Team at Canterbury kayaking are awesome. They run a very professional fun safe business. I did my grade 2 cert with them And have the skills course booked in with them in prep for coast to coast. Thank you very much sam & Steve

n. a. J. s.

I did the Introduction Course with Sam .A very well thought structure and Fun learning experience. Then went on did grade 2 and Coast to Coast skills course and a guided trip. All where ultra professionally run and superb value. I cannot recomend Canterbury Kayaking highly enough.

Awesome course with two great instructors. Highly recommend anyone that is interested in completing their Grade 2 cert to jump on board with this team. Very professional, super fun, and rewarding course. Thanks Sam and Steve!

L. a. C. S.

I did the Coast to Coast this year. I did my Grade 2 certificate through Canterbury Kayaking and then all my other courses and river trips with Sam and the team. The kayak rolling course was one of the best things I did as learning to roll gave me more confidence in my boat. Sam and the team knew I was a nervous paddler so on the river trips they were very encouraging. With all their river experience I was able to enjoy the trips. Sam was also at the start of the kayak leg of the C2C to offer last minute tips and encouragment. Sam and the team are all super friendly, professional and their knowledge of the rivers is amazing and invaluable. Thanks Sam. Lou Stephens.

G. T.

Have just finished the 4 day grade 2 course and have come back very impressed. The guys really know what they are talking about and make it very easy to learn. Learning on the whitewater kayaks makes a lot of sense and it was good to be able challenge yourself and make mistakes on the river without the risk of anything really bad happening and then correcting these on your next run. Cheers Sam and Steve.

Highly recommend Sam, Phil & Rata for C2C kayak training. The Coast to Coast 4 day course was that I did following my grade 2 course with them was informative, confidence building & value for money. Sam put me in the right boat for my first C2C and the result was a great kayak on race day. I have booked to do another course and river trip with them again !

P. L.

This year my partner and I completed the skills course and did some rolling lessons. From these we gained confidence and learnt how to roll successfully. These skills contributed to a bolder approach to training and the increase in confidence led to a fun day paddling down the waimakariri gorge

N. B.

Best in business. Highly recommended for anyone getting starter in kayaking just for the pleasure of it or to do races. I did the 4day grade 2 course is high ended up on the buller. The skills gained are second to none and build confidence exponentially. Sams coaching skills and tricks can assist anyone of any level while to advance appropriately and guaranteed to develop while his system truely works if you trust the process and commit. He has spent years refining this and its clear now how it works and how professional he is about applying it. Its also very clear that this is the best course in the country and his intent is to increase the level of this grade 2 standard, how serious he takes it and his willingness to ensure time spent with him is maximized. Don’t hold back sign up now and trust the system and process. It works. Enjoy the journey. Thanks Sam.

S. C.

I completed my grade 2 and multi sport kayaking course with Canterbury Kayaking. Both four days, each course was outstanding. I followed this up with a guided trip down the Waimak. After this process I had the confidence to paddle the C2C Waimak race course with a couple of mates and then go onto completing the C2C with no swims. Thanks to Sam and the team at Canterbury Kayaking for supplying a range of courses that even a new comer can complete the C2C with no swims and I needed that on race day!

I highly recommend Sam and Canterbury Kayaking! I was the unconfident girl afraid of water and didn’t much like swimming after a near drowning as a teenager but I had big hopes and dreams of completing the Coast to Coast. Fair to say kayaking was my weakest discipline. After completing my grade 2 certificate with Sam and beyond course turns out I went on to complete three Coast to Coasts and not one single swim! I actually ended up enjoying the kayaking the most and it quite possibly became my strength. Sam was patient, always ensuring a safe yet fun training environment he believed in me and also encouraged me to challenge my comfort zones. This will always be one of my proudest and greatest achievements thanks to Coach Sam 😊🌊

A great days training with Canterbury Kayaking, these guys are amazing at what they do. The tuition is excellent and their step by step approach ensures you will progress quickly and successfully. They also provided very helpful guidance with gear selection, I thoroughly recommend their services. Thanks 😁

B. P.

Canterbury Kayaking's Grade 2 Course not only provided me (a total beginner) with the skills needed to ace the Waimak as a competitor in the Coast to Coast, I left the course with a new outlook and perspective after spending four days living and breathing kayaking! I'll certainly be back in the future, and I wholeheartedly recommend Sam and his crew for anyone that wants to ace the Waimak and beyond. Do it - you won't regret it!

K. W.

Would highly recommend! Was heaps of fun completing a grade 2 course with Canterbury Kayaking, came out feeling very confident on the water with skills learnt. Very well run outfit!

A. S.

I have used Sam over the last 2 years for various kayaking requirements (guided trips, white water sessions, rolling sessions and fast lines). I have always found him up front, incredibly honest and professional with his work. I would recommend Canterbury Kayaking very anyone after a quality and safety conscience kayaking service.

I did the level 2 certification course in February 2018. I have been involved in the outdoors for some years, and the course, under coach Phil's tutelage, was easily the best thought out and implemented I've done. And that includes relatively high level courses in rockclimbing, mountaineering and cycling. I look forward to paddling with Canterbury Kayaks again, and have no hesitation in recommending them to my friends.

I’d already done my G2 with Canterbury Kayaking, but C2C was my aim so this training seemed perfect for me. It was a good call, I’d been struggling with conflicting coaching info from my limited whitewater experience, some work I’d done with flat water racing clubs and a bit of ocean racing. Canterbury Kayaking helped me to figure out what I was actually trying to achieve in the boat, and I successfully completed the one day C2C having not done the race previously.

Great course to get confident on whitewater. I was very nervous and my confidence grew every day. Sam and Steve have a well designed course and a great focus on safety.

J. S.

It was awesome being instructed by Sam who is so passionate about lifting the standard of multisport paddling – both in skills & confidence. He made me feel safe to try things out in the boat that I never would have otherwise. He helped me go from being a nervous paddler to having kayaking as my favourite sport! Such great progressive courses.

Coast to Coast 2014 I needed a Grade Two Cert. I signed up with Canterbury Kayaking for no other reason than it was so easy to book in through their website. First week and I was hooked, so I followed it up within another week, then Faster Lines and I became a very competent paddler. In C2C I finished 4th in my division after just nine months in a boat! BUT IT GOT BETTER! I signed up for a white water course and i was just thriving on the Adrenalin, I admit i was pushed by Sam but that what a coach is for. I have now completed C2C five times and have a couple of wins under my belt, one year i achieved the fastest time in the kayak 2 day teams, not bad for a 45 year old. If your honest to your self, if you want to get better, if you need that bit of encouragement and accept that some times we need to be pushed to achieve great things then go get Sam and his team and Canterbury Kayaking Ian Martella Team Moa Hunter

Sam and his team were fantastic. Extremely professional, helpful and friendly. Passionate about developing safe, confident and competent kayakers. Highly recommended.

A. P.

Well structured and run course. Phil was an excellent and friendly coach. He was patient and always helpful and structured the course to suit everyone's ability. I would no have no hesitation to using Canterbury Kayaking in the future or recommending this company to my friends.

C. S.

Sam is a great kayak coach! Feeling much more confident going into the Coast to Coast kayak after every session with him. Highly recommend 👍

m. j.

Sam and the team took us for a very instructive and highly valuable 4 day course in Murchison, this course took myself and others from beginners through to confident grade 2 paddlers. A must do for C2C or if you are starting whitewater Kayaking.

E. B.

If you are looking for anything from learning to roll, advise on the proper paddle gear to get best possible coaching for completing the kayak section at Coast to Coast, Canterbury Kayaking and Same Milne offer best class professional services available. Highly recommendable. / Erik Blomberg, Coast to Coast Longest Day finisher and Ironman Kona Qualifier

L. S.

Great instruction and great practice runs down the Waimak. Really set me up well for coast2coast races. Would highly recommend to all at any stage of kayaking - they do all levels of instruction. Loved learning how to roll, and having the whitewater experience too. This made the Waimak seem tame (well, tamer!) :)

Highly recommend Sam and Stephen, Just completed my Grade 2 Cert over the weekend with them, As a beginner I have learnt so many good skills to set me up for the start of my training and had a blast along the way. Thanks Team

Had a great time with Sam at Canterbury Kayaking up in the Hurunui. Great course, learned a lot and all in a beautiful part of the country. The group was a range of abiliites and everyone came away satisfied. Well done to Sam, great coaching. Thanks a lot, I'll be back.

I've never been in a kayak in my life and by the end of the weekend I can roll a whitewater kayak back up. I can thoroughly recommend Sam's course and his patience!

There is no where else to go for a g2 course other than Canterbury Kayaking, Sam is awsome to deal with and really enjoyed his coaching

Love that you leave each session feeling like you are making solid progress, my confidence has grown so much in 2 sessions. Sam is great for helping with each level and is very attentive. Highly recommend.

Sam's team at Canterbury Kayaking are super thorough and take the time to really drill into the detail - their grade 2 courses are huge confidence builders and thoroughly recommended.

I went down the waimak in a guided trip with Sam and his team as part of the build up for Coast to Coast longest day. I can't reccomend the team enough, they were skilled, personalble and fun! If you're signing up for C2C 2021 make sure you head down the river with these guys multiple times as you learn something new eveytime! Thanks guys!

I still can’t believe the transformation we all went through over 4 days! This course is brilliant. I would highly recommend it, whether you want to paddle the Coast to Coast, or just dip your toes into the world of kayaking.

I am really looking forward to my next kayak rolling lesson with Sam. We're breaking the moves down to their component parts and, in the process, it's making what seemed difficult now seem very do-able - and a lot of fun.