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Beginner's
courses at Regents
The Regents Canoe Club
Beginners Course is designed for people who have little or no previous
experience of paddling kayaks. You begin by learning how to control
your boat on the relative calm of the Regents canal, quickly progressing
to moving water and ultimately your first taste of white water!
Regents tries to run
two or three beginner's courses each year. The 2008 courses are
now full. We will be running more courses in 2009. Dates have
not yet been finalised for the 2009 courses, but they will be advertised
next spring.
In the meantime, if you
wish to try out kayaking, scroll down to find other organisations
offering training at the bottom of this page. You are also welcome to drop by the club for a 'taster' session (see visiting the club) but please note that such visits do not include any formal training.
You
do not need to complete a beginners course or be a skilled paddler
to join Regents Canoe Club (although basic skills are required before
you can join club trips). You will find members friendly and happy
to offer advice on club nights. However, the easiest and most enjoyable
way to learn about kayaking is definitely to do a beginners course.
About the course
The course runs over
five weeks, comprising four sessions on the Regents Canal, two sessions
in the swimming pool, a day trip to the Thames, usually near Shepperton
on the outskirts of west London, and a weekend away to paddle white
water. For the weekend away we will travel to the Welsh borders
to paddle the River Wye or Severn, leaving London on Friday evening
and returning on Sunday evening.
The course is intended
to introduce you to kayaking in a safe and enjoyable manner. Please
note that this course is not accredited by the British
Canoe Union (BCU) and does not lead to any qualification or
certificate. Many club members do go on to earn BCU qualifications,
usually through instruction organised by the club.
Ability
The course is suitable
for all ages and abilities. It can however, be quite strenuous,
so you may find it useful to do some other form of exercise before
the course starts. Whatever your age or ability, you must be able
to swim 50 meters in light clothing.
What you need to wear
Bring along some old
clothes that you dont mind getting wet, such as an old tracksuit
or woolly jumper. Jeans and other heavy cotton clothes are not suitable.
Footwear, such as old trainers or plimsolls, is a must and, if it
is cold, a woolly hat and a lightweight nylon jacket or cagoule
would also be useful. You will need to bring a towel, a change of
clothing and a plastic bag (for your wet gear). There are changing
rooms and hot showers at the club. For the pool sessions you will
need a swimming costume, and you may also wish to wear shorts and/or
t-shirts to maintain warmth when not in the water.
Instructors
All of our instructors
are experienced white water canoeists, with a variety of qualifications.
Many of them joined the club as a result of learning to paddle on
a Regents beginners course, so they will be sympathetic to any fears
or concerns you may have. They are all volunteers and no one gets
paid for their time.
Cost
The total cost of the
course is £175.00 per person. This includes all tuition, hire
of equipment as well as breakfast, lunch and accommodation on the
weekend away. We also charge a compulsory £50 refundable deposit
for the kit. This will be refunded on return of gear at the end
of the course. The only additional expense will be a packed lunch
on the day trip, a Saturday evening meal on the weekend away and
beer money!
Typical timetable
for beginner's course.
See the club calendar for exact dates.
| Session
1 |
|
Thursday
6.30 8.30 pm Regents Canal |
| Session
2 |
|
Wednesday
7.00 8.30pm Highbury Grove School |
| Session
3 |
|
Wednesday
7.00 8.30pm Highbury Grove School |
| Session
4 |
|
Thursday
6.30 8.30 pm Regents Canal |
| Day Trip
|
|
Saturday
9.30 am 5.30 pm Shepperton Weir |
| Session
5 |
|
Thursday
6.30 8.30 pm Regents Canal |
| Session
6 |
|
Thursday
6.30 8.30 pm Regents Canal |
| Weekend
|
|
Weekend Away River Wye |
After the course
If you have enjoyed the
Beginners Course we hope you will become
a member of the club and join us on trips away. As a member
you can come to club nights to practice your paddling, keep fit
and socialise, and you can sign
up for trips away, which are always enjoyable and very sociable.
More experienced paddlers will look out for the less experienced
on the river, so don't be shy about joining these trips. However,
if you are a recent beginner it is worth contacting the organiser
before paying any deposit, as some trips will be harder than others.
The website calendar should also make
it clear if a trip is only for the more experienced paddler.
We don't run 'intermediate'
paddling courses, although we often run practise sessions at the
club where further skills are taught (e.g. safety and rescue, or
use of throwropes). The easiest way to improve your skills is to
get on the water and simply enjoy yourself, but if you are looking
for further professional instruction we would recommend the following
websites, all of which offer courses.
Organisations offering
professional instruction
Westminster
Boating Base - charitable trust teaching young people and adults
to sail, canoe and kayak on the River Thames.
Plas Y Brenin - National Mountain Centre - www.pyb.co.uk
Plas Menai - National Watersports Centre - www.plasmenai.co.uk
Glenmore Lodge - Scotlands National Outdoor Adventure Centre - www.glenmorelodge.org.uk
Canoe Control - www.canoecontrol.com
Kayakojacko - www.kayakojacko.co.uk
Pool sessions
The pool sessions
are scheduled to take place at Britannia Leisure Centre, 40 Hyde
Road, N1. Nearest Tube is Old Street or buses along New North Road
or Kingsland Road will take you there.
Please note
that due to structural problems at the pool we may need to use a
different location. If so, course leaders will ensure all participants
are aware of the new location and times.
Click
here for a map showing Britannia Leisure Centre. You can zoom
in on this map using the controls in the top left of the screen.
Parking is
available at the centre (keep your ticket and the receptionist will
refund the cost). Bicycles can be locked outside, but the receptionists
may allow you to bring them through. If left outside, bikes need
to be locked up well. Each session lasts from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
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