Jan-Feb 2025

We kicked off the year with a fantastic six-session beginners’ kayaking course, giving new paddlers the opportunity to build confidence and develop essential skills in a safe and supportive environment. Hosted at Battle Abbey School Pool, the course provided a warm and controlled setting for participants to get to grips with key techniques before heading out onto open water.

Under the guidance of our experienced coaches, participants learned basic paddling strokes, capsize drills, self-rescue techniques, and boat control, gradually progressing in confidence and ability. It was great to see paddlers going from their first tentative strokes to confidently manoeuvring their boats, with many successfully completing their first rescues!

Games played an important role in the learning process, helping participants develop boat handling skills in a fun and engaging way at the end of each session. These activities provided a relaxed environment to practice key techniques while building confidence on the water.

Feedback from the group has been overwhelmingly positive, with paddlers highlighting the friendly atmosphere, structured progression, and the encouragement they received throughout the course. We’re especially pleased that several participants have now joined the club and signed up for the sea kayaking course, taking the next step in their paddling journey.

To support their continued development, new paddlers are also being encouraged to take part in the club’s mentor program, where experienced members provide guidance, encouragement, and advice both on and off the water. This initiative aims to help newer paddlers feel more confident, improve their skills, and integrate into the wider paddling community.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and to the dedicated coaches who made the course possible. We hope to see our new paddlers at some of the regular club sessions and trips in our busy calendar as they continue to build their skills and confidence on the water.

Jon Miles