• Why Paddle
  • Try Kayak
  • 1 Star
  • 2 Star
  • FSRT
  • Pool & Rolling
  • Paddlepower
  • Evening Paddles

pictureWhy Paddle...

Paddlesports offer something for everyone, from calm steady paced touring on canals and placid waters to competitive sprint racing and facing the challenge of racing down raging torrents. From exploring fantastic coastal scenery by sea kayak to performing the ultimate playboat moves while ‘playing’ and ‘shredding’ the river. Paddleports offers something for everyone young or old.

Paddling can offer a relaxing, once or twice a year tour on a local canal, an adventurous trip, or expedition on the thousands of miles of waterways in the United Kingdom. An interest in Paddlesports can be an all consuming obsession, exciting, challenging and testing on white water, on the sea or through the numerous competitive disciplines. Choose the level of challenge to suit. Paddle for enjoyment, to keep fit or, if you have kids, paddle as a family and enjoy the experience together.

Set up in 1936 to send a team to the Berlin Olympics, the British Canoe Union (BCU), is the governing body of paddlesport in the UK, and has an established range of specialist committees to help promote and inform on aspects of their discipline specialism’s. The BCU also promote a large network of competitive events offering the chance to take part in ‘Taster Events’ and perhaps even the real chance to represent your country.

The BCU is the umbrella organisation for Canoe England, Canoe Scotland, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland and the Welsh Canoeing Association.

Why paddle with us...

Quite simply because we are focused and dedicated to customer service and satisfaction, no matter what it takes.

What you get for your money...

  • Well, all your instruction will be from properly qualified coaches for all aspects of your course.
  • The majority of our courses also include all equipment. If there is an expectation that you will have your own equipment, which tends to be for the more advanced courses, then we will let you know. Don't panic though if you don't own your own, you can always hire it from us for the duration.
  • Entry into our routine training site.
  • Entry into the pool where appropriate for the course you're doing, (rolling, FSRT)

What you might have to pay a little more for...

No one likes to get stung for those hidden extras, which is why it's always useful to know before hand what you don't get

So

  • BCU registration is paid directly to them by you on successful completion of your course.
  • Entry into any other sites where we need to conduct training or guided paddles.
  • Equipment hire for the more advanced courses if you don't have your own, or for guided paddles.
  • er, that's about it really.

kayak and canoe picturesTry Kayak/Canoeing - £30

2 hour session

Have you ever just wanted to give paddle sports a go, or maybe you've tried it before and just need a refresher under the guidance of a qualified coach, then the try Kayaking is for you.

We have a number of different styles of boat for you to try, from closed cockpit kayaks to Canadian canoes.

kayak and canoe picturesBCU 1 Star - £80

1 Day Course

The BCU 1 star course is an introduction to paddle sports and covers all the basic aspects of safety and paddling skills required for the safe handling of paddle powered craft.

The course can be conducted in a variety of craft, such as closed cockpit kayaks, sit on top kayaks, or canoes.

At the end of the training, the student can choose to take the assessment to gain the award from the BCU. This does include a capsize and swim to shore drill.

Includes: Full equipment. Certifictaion is paid directly to the BCU

Students will need a packed lunch as food is not always available at the training site.

BCU 1 Star Assessment

Half Day Course - £30.00

This half day assessment is designed for those paddlers who may not have undertaken any formal training but still feel they have the necessary skills to achieve the BCU 1 Star Award.

Includes: Full equipment. Certification is paid dirrectly to the BCU

Students may need a packed lunch depending on the time of your session as food is not always available at the training site.

kayak and canoe picturesBCU 2 Star - £160

2 Day Course

The BCU 2 star course covers Kayak and Open Canoe. We take a look at the basic strokes and safety learned from BCU 1 Star course and improve on these techniques .

We introduce new strokes and cover some basic rescue techniques. We also look at the various types of paddle sport in more detail and introduce students to Open Canoe & Sea Kayaks

Includes: Full equipment. Certification is paid dirrectly to the BCU

Students will need a packed lunch as food is not always available at the training site.

BCU 2 Star Assessment

1 Day Course - £30.00

This is a one day assessment designed around those paddlers who have completed 2 star training but have not been assessed, or for those paddlers who think they may have the ability to pass without any formal training.

Includes: Full equipment. Certification is paid dirrectly to the BCU.

Students will need a packed lunch as food is not always available at the training site.

kayak and canoe picturesFoundation Safety Rescue Training - £80

1 Day Course

The course aims to provide the student with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely and to be able to deal with common emergencies. These skills will then form the basis of all safety and rescue training throughout the BCU Scheme.

Includes: Full equipment. Certification is by application directly to the BCU

picturesKayak Rolling Clinic - Fm £10

Learn to eskimo roll.

Increase your confidence and ability in the comfort of the pool. During the session our coaches will guide you through the principles of rolling your kayak.

This is purely a clinic for personal ability, it does not lead to any BCU certification.

Our pool session runs from 1830 to 2100 at Havant Leisure Centre. If you wish to come along then please contact us to book your space and we do have to restrict the number of boats on the water.

A coached rolling session starts from £25 and for a paddle from £10.

kayak and canoe picturesPaddlePower

Paddlepower is an exciting scheme that has been designed to meet the needs of young people, so is perfect for 8 to 14 year olds.

It’s colourful and youth centred approach aims to:

  • Encourage more young people to come into and stay in the sport
  • Provide progression and reward achievement in a wide range of topics
  • Show them all aspects of the sport – both competitive and adventurous
  • Provide signposts into Clubs where their skills and development can be nurtured
  • Provide a flexible structure for delivery according to venue/situation
  • The scheme has recently been revised and now comprises of 5 Awards to support a young paddler’s introduction and progress in Paddlesport.

The Paddlepower Awards

Paddlepower Start- Level 1 upto 3 hours to comlete

An entry level award suitable for taster sessions or as part of a series of sessions.

Paddlepower Passport - Level 2 to 5 upto 8 hours to complete

Four progressive levels based on 24 topics which can be grouped into Safety Awareness, Paddling Skills, Varied Experiences, and Supporting Knowledge. The award is equivalent to 1 Star.

Paddlepower Discover - Level 6 to 9 upto 20 hours to complete

This follows on from Passport with a further 4 levels to take the young paddler to equivalent of 2 star standard.

Paddlepower Explore - Level 6 to 9

Three different levels take the paddler on an extensive journey exploring the great variety Paddlesport, with topics focused on participation in events and journeys in the competitive and non-competitive disciplines.

Paddlepower Excel - Level 10 to 12

Three levels to test the paddler on all elements of paddlesport including being responsible for self and others, participation in journeys, coaching sessions, training, events/competitions in a variety of disciplines, background knowledge of the sport; access, rules, environmental, nutrition and goal setting.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

At Paddlepower Start there is a certificate which is awarded by the coach. This also has space for an organisation to add their contact details to signpost the paddler to future courses.
For each award after Start there is a colourful 6 page Progress Card for the young paddler to record their progress and to encourage them to move to the next stage. On completion of the award the youth sends the Progress Card to their home nation to receive a certificate

kayak and canoe picturesEvening Paddles

The evening paddle program was launched in 2009 and proved very popular during the summer, so for 2011 we're bringing it back and making it bigger and better. We have a choice of locations to suit all levels of ability.

With the nights now drawing out why not join us after work for a relaxing paddle, meet other like minded paddlers, socialise, or just have some fun.

Please call for availability. Costs may vary depending on location.