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Regents Canoe
Club Based at the Regents canal, Graham Street, London N1 |
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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.
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 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. |
Beginner's
courses at Regents
Regents Canoe Club, based at Regents canal, 16-34 Graham Street, London N1 8JX
Published 30/05/08