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Canoeing

Considering Canoeing?

Want to get away from the crowds, experience a new way to access the great outdoors, feeling restricted on land having an urge to get wet, then try canoeing!

Canoe sport in AOAC encompasses placid and white water river kayaking, coastal sea kayaking, open Canadian canoeing, kayak and wave skis surfing.

You can aspire to the exhilaration of white water and surf or perhaps take a more relaxed approach, having chance wildlife encounters on a picturesque river or coastal sea trip. We cater for the complete novice with introductory kayak courses and welcome those with prior experience and coaching qualifications.

The club canoeing events program consists of evening kayak training, day and weekend river trips, surfing and coastal paddles, these are often followed by a sociable migration to the tea shop or pub.

AOAC is affiliated to the British Canoe Union, the National Governing Body for the promotion of paddle sport in the UK. There are many opportunities for you to improve your skills, through our structured coaching sessions. If you wish, these may enable you to gain BCU awards. The BCU also provides a structure through which club members can benefit from the work on access to rivers, and news and reviews on the latest developments in paddle sport, coaching and equipment.

How can I get involved?

Canoeing events are structured on the canoe sport and ability level. The Activity Organisers listed in the events program will be able to assist you in determining which events are most suitable for you. The BCU Star Test structure provides confirmation of personal ability and is used by the Activity Organisers as a guide to convey the expertise required for participating on their events.

The events are organised on the following skill levels, participation is at the discretion of the Activity Organiser:

Level	BCU Star Award	Activity
Introductory / Beginners	1	Introductory training leading to short placid water trips
Fundamental Skills	2 (new)	Very sheltered environment: Participant as part of led or managed group. Coastal water or lakes for sea kayaking, low surf, placid water journeys and easy flowing river trips, any craft
Improvers (with AOAC white water training course)	2 (old and new)	Sheltered water: Participant as part of led or managed group. Grade II white water rivers, low surf, sheltered coastal sea kayaking
Intermediate (with suitable experience)	3 (old) 4 (old)	Moderate water: Participant as part of led or managed group. White Water Kayak: Grade II white water. Flat water: Open water and un-graded rivers. Open Canoe: Open waters or simple moving water. Sea kayaking: Journeys in sheltered sea environment. Surf kayak: Small friendly UK surf conditions. With further experience moving onto water conditions as 4 (New) Star Award but only as member of led or managed group
Intermediate	3 (new)	Moderate water: Participant as part of led or managed group. White Water Kayak: Grade II white water. Flat water: Open water and un-graded rivers. Open Canoe: Open waters or simple moving water. Sea kayaking: Journeys in sheltered sea environment. Surf kayak: Small friendly UK surf conditions. With further experience moving onto water conditions as 4 (New) Star Award but only as member of led or managed group
Leader	4 (new)	Leading on moderate water: Leading a group up to 4 paddlers. White Water Kayak: Grade II/III white water. Open Canoe: Open waters up to force 4 wind or grade II rivers. Sea kayaking: Short journeys up to moderate tidal water environment, winds not exceeding force four. Surf kayak: Managing groups in moderate conditions. With further experience moving onto water conditions as 5 Star Award but only as member of led or managed group
Advanced leader	5	Leading on advanced water: White Water Kayak: Grade IV/V white water. Open Canoe: Advanced river journeys, remote and exposed open water. Sea kayaking: Advanced sea conditions. Surf kayak: Remote and advanced surf conditions.

When can I get wet?

The dates for individual events are listed in the events program; the activities take place on a seasonal basis:

When	Activity	Location
May - August Monday evenings (Thursday following bank holidays)	Training Courses Beginners - New 1 Star - Kayak training Fundamental skills - New 2 Star - Kayak and open canoe training or non BCU award course with equivalent skills training in kayak only Intermediate – New 3 Star – WW kayak (dependant on available coaches)	River Avon, Saltford, the Shallows For 1 Star, first session at Club store, Horfield on Wednesday For 2 Star, one session on Bristol Docks for open canoe
May - August Monday evenings	Recreational paddling - club night	River Avon, Saltford, the Shallows (between Bristol and Bath on A4)
May - August Sundays	Day trips – canal and river trips White water training	Local canals, River Avon and Wye. Symonds Yat rapids
April - September weekends	Kayak surfing, sea kayaking Advanced white water	Devon, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. River Tryweryn, North Wales
September Sundays or weekends	Training course AOAC Introduction to white water and safety	Symonds Yat
September weekends	Advanced White water	River Tryweryn, North Wales
October - February Sundays	Winter white water trips Grades II-IV	Rivers Usk and Dart
October - February weekends	Winter white water trips Grades II-IV	River Dart, Dartmoor Rivers and North Wales

Need a boat?

The club has a comprehensive hire fleet available to suitably experienced members or for novices as part of their introductory course. Please speak to the Equipment Officer for hire details or the Activity Organiser for the introductory & training courses.

The canoe and kayak hire includes paddle, spray deck, buoyancy aid, paddle jacket, helmet and wet suit shoes. Wet suits, if required can be hired at additional cost.

For equipment hire see AOAC website and Equipment Officer. Note, hire equipment provided at the event location will have a supplementary transport charge applied. It is normally the participant’s responsibility to get their hired or own equipment to the event location.

For introductory sessions you must bring:

Old clothes i.e. shorts \ swimming costume \ T shirt (thermal\fleese material is best as it warm when wet) - wet suits shorties or long Jons without arms are OK, but can be hot in summer. An old pair of shoes or trainers with flexible soles or wet suit boots, socks, if you wear glasses, secure them with string approx. 300mm long. After the session, full change of clothes (including something warm and waterproof) and footwear, towel.

For other events please speak to the Activity Organiser for equipment requirements.

Costs

The cost for individual events will vary, these could include club canoe hire, accommodation, river access, share of travelling costs of fuel, bridge tolls, car parking and the food I drink. Speak to the Activity Organiser for details. The accommodation for sociable weekend trips is normally camping during the summer and warm bunk houses and holiday cottages in winter.

Health Requirements

Please inform the Activity Organiser and the Coach I trip Leader if you suffer from Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy, heart condition or any other condition that could impair your ability to swim or may render you more susceptible to the cold.

Safety

You must be able to swim 50 metres in light clothing. The club canoeing events are undertaken in accordance with the recognised practices of the BCU, all participants must be aware of their responsibility for their own safety and that of the group, under the direction of the Activity Organiser.

Have you considered Coaching or trip Leader?

AOAC has a few BCU Coaches supported by many very experience paddlers, however not all activities will be organised or led by a qualified Coach.

AOAC welcomes new members with BCU Coaching qualifications, particularly those of sea kayaking, wave ski, canoe polo and open canoe who may wish to foster and develop these paddle sports.

One of the aims of AOAC is to develop member's personal proficiency and leadership skills. The Club Coaches are able to assess for many of the prerequisites for BCU Coach awards and are happy to assist Trainee Coaches to gain practical experience under their direction.

Members can apply to the committee for a contribution towards the cost of relevant coaching, safety and leadership courses provided that the applicant uses their new skills for the benefit of other members (approval must be prior to course).

Contacts

Keith Chant (Level 4 Coach Inland Kayak) Canoeing Organiser, 01179391427

Phil Webster - Activity Organiser - 0117 9043686

 
You can also email canoeATaoac.co.uk

For weekly updates on events and news subscribe to the club Email service, eventsATaoac.co.uk  . Details on www.aoac.co.uk

Members may join the Canoeing topic on the AOAC Forum, see the AOAC website for details

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