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A Guide To Paddlesport, by Dennis Stanfield

 

The goings-on of "canoeing" can be quite confusing to the uninitiated. I will now try to explain some of the terminology used by "paddlers".

 

Paddler. - The world-wide generic term for someone who kayaks, canoes, coracles or rafts.

Paddle (i), Blades, Stick. - The item used to propel your given craft, these can be referred to as a set or a pair and in either the singular or plural, without the object changing.

Paddle (ii), Paddlesport. - To take part in the above sports with the above item.

Canoe. -

i) A water-craft used by most indiginous peoples of the world. Usually propelled by a single-ended paddle whilst kneeling. 

ii) What most British (& only British!) people say when they mean a kayak. 

Kayak. -

i) A water-craft originally used by the Inuit peoples.

   Usually propelled by a double-ended paddle whilst sitting.

ii) What British (& only British!) people tend to refer to when saying canoe.

Grades. - The way river sections are classified, starting at 1 for the easiest barely moving river section through to 6 for the hardest, barely runnable river section.

Levels. -  The way BCU coaches are classified, from a Level 1 who can coach and assess the basics on very calm, sheltered waters, often supervised by a higher level coach, through to Level 5, supposedly a paddling God!!
Level 1 can assess 1 Star, Level 2 can assess 1 and 2 Star, Level 3 can assess 1 and 2 Star and 3 Star in their discipline.

Stars. - The Star awards are progressive, personal proficiency awards, giving the holder a way of showing their ability. The 1 Star is the first rung on the paddlers ladder, it goes through big jumps to the 5 Star (almost a God!). After 2 Star the awards become discipline specific, Canoe, White Water Kayak, Sea Kayak, Surf etc.

4 Star is a Leadership award, not to be confused with a coach, and holders of this award can act as a leader of peers in their respective discipline.

Shuttle. - An essential part of paddling. When at least one car is left at the end of the river and the driver(s) is collected and returned to the start of the river. This means when the group finish their fun they have a way of returning to their other car(s).

Faff. - This seems to be an all-important part of paddling. You need to take as long as you can getting ready to paddle, changing, loading sarnies into your boat, sorting the shuttle and generally chatting as much as possible. This is even more fun when you see the look on the faces of those that have been ready for ages and who just want to get on the water and have fun before it gets dark.

 

How would someone new to paddlesport get started? 

Firstly, you would need to sign up to a training course, in which you should gain your 1 Star, there are several run by AOAC from May at Saltford, a calm section of the River Avon, near Bath. 

Success at this could mean you want go on and work to get your 2 Star, again run at Saltford, this involves using both canoe & kayak and developing everything learnt for the 1 Star plus new strokes and rescue techniques to make you a more efficient paddler.

 

The 3 Star involves a lot more work, and rightly so, by this stage you are showing you are a committed paddler and probably have, or are starting to aquire, your own kit. Holding this award shows you can control your craft in moving water and be an effective member of a led group. In 3 Star kayak you will able to "eskimo roll" and help out in a variety of rescue situations.

 

By the time of your 4 star you would have spent a lot of time (and considerable money!!) in your respective discipline. To gain this award you are showing you are a profficient paddler and able to look after yourself and your peers and will be able to perform rescues, of people and kit, in quite demanding situations.

 

If you would like to try paddlesport then you are in good place to start. AOAC has plenty of kayaks and canoes and runs taster & beginner courses, sea and surf trips all through the summer, then through the winter we go off and put those skills into practice on the white-water of the South West and Wales. Keep an eye on the on the website's ( www.aoac.co.uk ) Calendar and Forum to see what's coming up over the next few months.