Embark on a journey to discover the magic of paddlesports under expert guidance. With us, you can complete the PaddleUK Start, Discover Awards in Canoe, Kayak and SUP as well as the Explore Personal Performance Award in Canoe and SUP.
Paddle Start
Experience your first session on the water; learning useful skills for an enjoyable paddling experience. It aims to provide you with the basic knowledge to enable you to safely get in and out of your boat, make it move and return to your start point. This is your first step into the world of paddling, ensuring you feel safe, confident and ready to progress to the Discover Award.
Award Content
- Clothing and Equipment
Understanding the clothing and equipment you are using and why it is used is an important part of a first session. You should be warm, comfortable and safe whilst on the water. When being kitted out, some things you can consider are:
- Why am I wearing a buoyancy aid? - How can I tell it is fitted correctly?
- What clothing have I chosen to wear? - Are there items of clothing not suitable for being on the water?
- What type of craft will I be paddling and why is it suitable? - Might other craft be more or less stable? How many people is my craft suitable for? How should I position myself to be comfortable?
- What style of paddle have I been given and why? - Is there a blade at each end of my paddle or only one? Why is this? Does being right or left handed affect the paddle I am given?
- Getting on the Water
Having decided upon equipment for the session you must get it to the water without damage to it, yourself or the environment. Some craft can be heavy and need more than one person to carry them. Once on the water your craft can move around. I may need to consider:
- Getting craft to the water safely and efficiently: What is the best way to lift? Do I need more than one person?
- The safest way to get into/onto my craft: How will I use my body to balance the craft? Is the bank slippery?
- Where am I getting on the water: Is there a drop from the bank? Why am I getting on here and why might other places not be suitable? How can I minimise damage to the bank when getting on?
- On the Water
In order to maximise your enjoyment on the water, you need to feel in control of your craft. Key elements of this are getting the craft to go where you want, when you want it to go there. Key considerations are:
- What area will I be paddling in and why? - Are there places I should not go? Do I need to be aware of any hazards? Is the water moving or still?
- How can I make my boat go forward, change direction and stop?
- What do I need to be aware of whilst enjoying my time on the water? - Who
or what else is on the water? How can I minimise disturbance to wildlife?
- After the Session
As you come off the water we hope you are excited and enthused about your experience. Now is the perfect time to think through all you have learned.
- Look around: How can I protect both myself and the environment when I leave the water? What did I enjoy on the water? Is there anything I would like to improve? Could I be more comfortable next time? Is there another craft type I would like to try?
- Consider what you will take away: What have I enjoyed today? What would be good to learn more about?
- Future Development
There are a wide range of options for future experiences. Clubs and centres around the country can help you to develop your skills and learn more about the choices available. If you enjoyed your time on the water and would like to develop your skills, it might be worth considering moving on to the Paddle Discover Award
Paddle Discover
Your Discover Award allows you to develop your decision making and practical skills for a fun and safe time on the water, taking you on the next steps towards becoming a proficient and independent paddler. Learn how to choose and effectively use equipment, whilst developing an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling; giving you the confidence to progress to making your own choices with the Explore Award.
Award Content
- Getting Ready
Before getting to the water you must choose suitable kit and equipment and have the correct knowledge to use it. Key points you may consider are:
- What will I wear?
What are the clothing options available to me? How might my chosen activity affect which clothing I choose? Am I confident in the use of my chosen personal safety equipment?
- What will I use?
What are the different equipment options available and why might I choose one over the other? How do I use my equipment? What do I do if there is a problem with it?
Have a think about what additional equipment might be useful to have access to on the bank.
- At the Venue
When heading to the water you should have an understanding of your chosen location and how you will access it. Key factors to consider include the type of water, the weather and features of the location you choose.
You can take each of these factors into consideration and ask yourself some questions to ensure the correct decisions are made.
- Factor: Type of water
- I may need to know: Am I on moving or still water? What are the current water levels? What difference will this make to my session? Where can I go and are there restricted areas? Why might those limits be in place?
- Factor: Weather
- What I might observe: What is the weather forecast for the time I am on the water? How might the wind speed and direction affect me?
- Factor: Accessing the water
- I may need to know: Where are the best access points to the water and what makes them suitable? How I can minimise damage to the bank when getting on? What are the best techniques to lift and carry my chosen craft? Are any aids available to help me get it on and off the water?
- On the Water
When on the water you should be in control and aware of your surroundings and other users. Key skills to achieve control include staying relaxed and understanding how to move your craft.
- Consideration: Other users
- I may need to know: Who, or what else, will be on the water? What is the etiquette around fellow water users? How can I minimise disturbance to wildlife?
- Skill: Controlling the direction of your craft I may need to know: Which strokes I can use to move forward and steer my craft? How can I stop my craft and return to my start point? How can my positioning in or on my craft affect its performance?
- Consideration: Safety and rescue
- I may need to consider: How would I safely get myself or others back to shore or into the craft?
- After the Session
Every time on the water is an opportunity for learning and improving. You can create a positive impact on your future experiences by performing a good postactivity assessment.
- Watching what others do: It might be useful to spend some time watching any others on the water. What skills are they using? Are they doing things differently to you? Why might that be?
- Consider your experience: What have you learnt today? What went well? What could you have done differently? How did your choice of equipment affect the experience? What skills would you like to focus on next time? Is there a specific paddlesport activity or discipline you would like to explore?
- Future Development
Each day you spend on the water further expands your skills and knowledge, creating a more enjoyable experience on the water. With no two experiences on the water ever the same, you never stop learning. Continually evaluating the choices you make creates a natural evolution of decision making ability. When you reach a certain point in this, it may be worth considering if you want to specialise in a particular activity or discipline, developing further skills using either the Paddle Explore award or Discipline specific award pathways
Paddle Explore
Your Explore Award gives you ownership; allowing you to choose where you move next in the world of paddlesport. Working with a coach you will be able to develop a programme that suits what you need. Learning to make confident choices with this individualised approach. Recognising your ability to independently paddle your chosen craft in a sheltered water environment.
Award Content
- Getting Ready
Before getting to the water you must choose kit and equipment suitable to the purpose of your chosen activity and have the correct knowledge to use it.
Planning ahead can increase your time spent on the water. Key points you may consider are:
- What will I wear?
What are the clothing options available to me? How might my chosen activity affect which clothing I choose? How might my clothing choices make me more or less vulnerable to external factors? Am I confident in my fitting and the use of my chosen personal safety equipment?
- What will I use?
What are the different equipment options available and why might I choose one over the other? How do I use my equipment? What adjustments can I make to my craft and equipment to make me more comfortable and effective? What do I do if there is a problem with it?
Have a think about what additional equipment might be useful to have access to on the bank.
- What else might I need?
Does the water I am paddling on require a licence and how would I acquire
that? How much fluid and calories will I need to consume during my chosen
activity?
- At the Venue
When heading to the water you should have an understanding of your chosen location and how you will access it. Key factors to consider include the type of water, the weather and features of the location you choose.
You can take each of these factors into consideration and ask yourself some questions to ensure the correct decisions are made.
- Factor: Type of water
- I may need to know: Am I on moving or still water? What are the current water
levels? What difference will this make to my session? Where can I go and are
there restricted areas? Why might those limits be in place?
- Factor: Weather
- What I might observe: What is the weather forecast for the time I am on the water? How might the wind speed and direction affect me? Can I use the weather to my advantage during my session?
- Factor: Accessing the water
- I may need to know: Where are the best access points to the water and what makes them suitable? How I can minimise damage to the bank when getting on? What are the best techniques to lift and carry my chosen craft? Are any aids available to help me get it on and off the water? How can I secure my craft safely to a vehicle or trailer?
- On the Water
When on the water you should be in control and aware of your surroundings and other users. Key skills to achieve control include you staying relaxed and understanding how to move your craft.
- Consideration: Other users
- I may need to know: What is the skill level of other members of my group? Who or what else will be on the water? What is the etiquette around fellow water users?
- Consideration: The environment
- I may need to know: How might our activities have an effect on the environment? What can I do to minimise that effect? How can I minimise disturbance to wildlife?
- Skill: Controlling the direction of my craft I may need to know: Which are the most effective and efficient strokes I can use to move forward and steer my craft? How can I stop my craft and return to my start point? What corrective strokes might I use? What is the most effective and efficient posture when paddling my chosen craft? How will this posture affect its performance?
- Consideration: Safety and rescue
- I may need to consider: Am I confident in my ability to get myself or others back to shore or into the craft? What potential injuries might occur during my session?
- After the Session
Every time on the water is an opportunity for learning and improving. You can create a positive impact on your future experiences by performing a good postactivity assessment.
- Watching what others do: It might be useful to spend some time watching any others on the water. What skills are they using? Are they doing things differently? Why might that be?
- Consider your experience: What have you learnt today? What went well? What could you have done differently? How did your choice of equipment affect the experience? What skills would you like to focus on next time? Are you happy with your chosen activity or would you like to explore other options?
- Future Development
Each day you spend on the water further expands your skills and knowledge, creating a more enjoyable experience on the water. With no two experiences on the water ever the same, you never stop learning.
Continually evaluating the choices you make creates a natural evolution of decision making ability. When you reach a certain point in this, it may be worth considering if you want to specialise in a craft and environment, developing further skills using British Canoeing Awards.
