Session is still on tonight, it will be breezy and people are more likely to get wet so please make sure you bring change of clothes if you’re coming! Don’t worry about missing a session, you can always catch up next week if you decide not to.
Tag: Beginners
An excellent turn out last night at Bridge End for our first Outdoor Session.
With almost twenty beginners turning up to make the most of the good evening, we had a really busy few hours getting everyone set up and out on the water for their first paddle outside.
Hopefully the first of many nights on the water!
Forecast isn’t too bad (better than tonight) and by the time we get on the water should be a fine night.
Just to recap – meet at Bridge End sometime 6.30pm/ 6.45pm ish, report to Arthur and then break up into groups ready to go on the water. Coaches and helpers will match individual beginners with boats and kit, we’re aiming to get on the water at about 7pm.
We’re going to finish back at Bridge End around 9pm. If you’re happy to stay later please speak to your coach when you’re getting sorted.
It’s not a planned wet session but if anyone falls in we’ll practice rescues!
Existing members please note – for the first few Thursday sessions priority will be given to this year’s beginners for boats and gear.
(Please please please remember that membership needs to be sorted before you use club equipment.)
If you’ve never kayaked and thought you’d like to give it a go, this is a good way to learn some of the basics before you get out onto the sea.
Each week we’ll spend just under an hour looking at safety, equipment and general paddling do’s and don’ts before heading into the pool. At the end of the four weeks you’ll be ready to head out to Bridge End to put some of what we’ve been doing into practice before getting going with trips.
You need to be able to swim and be over 13, all children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Meet 7pm at poolside suite for the dry bit. There will be time to get changed before we go into the pool. Please bring your completed enrollment form with you.
Hi everyone
Leading trips
The 2013 season is almost here and we’d need to get an idea of who’s likely to be around and able to lead trips at points through the year. Ideally I’d like to know who’s willing to from the experienced paddlers, what sort of trips comfortable with (beginners or 2* and above, something in sheltered waters or a paddle round yell etc) and get some discussion about leading and how we can help people prepping for 3* and 4* + to get some relevant experience with support there while they’re doing it.
Coaching sessions
The next lot of beginners sessions start in a few weeks. I’d encourage coaches and anyone who’s going to help out to have a meeting to discuss how you want to run these sessions and see if there is anything you want to change in the way we do things. Personally, There’s a suggestion that we push things once we’re outside to get people tested to 1* as soon as possible and then move to coaching trips on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings, splitting the beginners so there isn’t too many on any one session. We also need to discuss child protection issues with everyone who is assisting as well as the formal coaches.
I’d also really like to see something separate on offer for last year’s 1* paddlers and we have a number of people returning to paddling after a break who don’t need the beginners sessions. You need opportunities to get support while you get back on the water without tripping over newbies!
Young unaccompanied paddlers
There has been a suggestion that any paddler under 16 should be accompanied by an adult on all trips, and may be excluded if the trip leader isn’t happy (which is true of any of us going on a trip!!!) . After discussions at committee meetings, we’d like to consider this for this next year. It doesn’t have to be a parent (though that would be nice), just a nominated adult.
Paddling season
I feel we’re missing opportunities to get out and paddle.
Trip leaders and coaches need some paddling time without having to worry about it; intermediate paddlers need to get some stretch to move on to next levels. And beginners need opportunities to develop confidence in waters other than bridge end. A suggestion that came up at last year’s symposium was that all trip leaders and coaches should have an outdoors wet session to practice a range of rescues and familiarise themselves with all of the club equipment at the start. I’d like to try this and get a Sunday in early April to do this.
I’d also like to see some Saturday or Sunday short club trips on offer now (weather dependent obviously, possibly restricted to groups of 2* plus or similar) and see if we can get the most out of what is a short paddling season when it comes.
The Club Forum
We’re also going to have to rethink how we let people know of trips as Craig isn’t able to continue to organise texts and sort venues etc. We now have a forum linked to the website (thanks Tam for the idea) and I’m hoping it will make it easier to organise short-notice club trips, let people know what’s going on and make communication across the club a bit easier. It’s a closed group so it’s club members only, just signup and we’ll get accounts activated ASAP.
My email isn’t working well and I’ve had to move to this address as a temporary basis. I’ll check back here but having a shared place where everyone can get the gist of an email without swamping email inboxes with responses is a good thing. I’m not going to email back and fore and back and fore trying to set a date for a meeting of club coaches and leaders, it’s too complex. I will however put a post on the forum and would encourage people to put available dates there so everyone can see it.
Thoughts on any or all of these things would be much appreciated!
Kind regards
Iain
Free try it night
25/03/2010 at 08:00
Open on Friday
Venue Clickimin Centre
Cost Free
Just a reminder that the pool sessions start again on the 4th Feb 8-9 p.m. and continue up to Easter hols.