Outrigger Santa Cruz

Steering

Outrigger Santa Cruz is actively training new and progressing steerers. It is at the discretion of the club and the program leaders to provide time to paddlers to learn and spend time steering. In the interest of safety, everybody on a canoe should be able to steer in an emergency. In many conditions, paddlers in seats 1, 2, and 5 assist the steerer in seat 6, so club-wide skill in steering a canoe is essential. As conditions permit, Outrigger Santa Cruz coaches encourage members to practice steering in the various seats in a canoe.

However, because of the responsibility for life and property inherent in the role of steerer, no one without formal accreditation can steer an Outrigger Santa Cruz six-person canoe, except under the direct supervision of a coach or other accredited steerer, which can be done from another canoe.

Accredited Steerspersons who have been accredited less than one year should not supervise or mentor a steersperson in training or other non-accredited steerspersons.

To accredit steerers, Outrigger Santa Cruz follows the process described below.

Steering Accreditation

Accreditation enables the steersperson to solely operate an OC6 single hull fiberglass canoe and crew. Paddlers also have the option of learning to steer and not become accredited. The process is self-regulating. The desire to learn to steer is at one’s own discretion. The pace of moving forward with the skills and acquired knowledge of seat 6, is set by the individual. If you are interested in becoming an accredited steersperson, please click on the following link to access the document: Steps for becoming an Accredited Steersperson.

The roles and responsibilities provides a snapshot of who has responsibility for what during the steering accreditation process. Please click on the following link to access the document: Roles and Responsibilities for becoming an accredited steersperson.

As a Steersperson In Training (SIT), you are highly encouraged to maintain a log of your progress. Your ASM (Accredited Steersperson Mentor) may want to periodically view your log. The log can be accessed at the following link: Steersperson In Training Log.

For a list of Accredited Steerspersons, please click on the following the link: Accredited Steerspersons.