Joanna is right that most people need not bother with the new Two Star if they have the old one as you are better off going straight to the new Three Star. The exception is those who wish to enter the coaching scheme. The prerequisites for a Level 1 Coach training course include either, old Two Star in Kayak and Canoe, or new Two Star. The new star tests came in to force on 1 September so the only way to meet these prerequisites, if you only have your old Two Star Kayak, is to do the new Two Star.
Buried within the BCU web site is some rather ambiguous documentation which sets out details of the new awards across three documents for each award: Syllabus, Trainer notes and Assessor notes.
My interpretation of these is that the new Two Star award requires:
- Experience of two different 'paddlesport' craft (could be different types of kayak, need not include a canoe)
- Experience of paddling in two different locations
- Two journeys, or participation in two competitions (not necessarily in different craft)
- To take the assessment in both kayak and canoe (yes, two assessments)!
- For the assessment to include a short journey planned by the students (one only in kayak or canoe)
Hope that is clear as mud!
Club Secretary