Activities: Kayaking

Kayaking

We can provide kayaking sessions  for all abilities from beginners to coaches -either fun sessions or working towards a qualification.  Longridge taster sessions are great experience for the first time paddler – of any age. Our kayaks are fitted with retractable skegs, when in the down position these enable paddlers to paddle in a straight line very quickly. Our taster sessions take place throughout the day and evening from April until the end of October.

For those that want to progress their kayaking, they can take one of our courses and join a Longridge club.  We can assist with qualifications up to instructor level - in fact most instructors in the UK, will have received part of their training here at Longridge.

Our activity session prices are based on groups of 8 for a fun session or 6 if working towards a BCU qualification. All sessions are run by one of our qualified instructors and last for 75 minutes.

For those wishing to broaden their experience we can offer courses based on the BCU syllabus (British Canoe Union). Click on courses to find out what we are running this year or ring Longridge on 01628 483252 to arrange a bespoke course for your group.

BCU PaddlePower Passport

This 8 session course is takes you through all the basic strokes and safety procedures in either a kayak or a canoe. Participants work in small groups of 6 to ensure a high level of safe training, which enables all paddlers to advance their skills at their own pace.

After school courses start week commencing 16th April and week commencing 3rd September from 16.30 to 17.45 on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday or Friday.  

Alternatively we run intensive 2 day courses on the dates below.

We add new course dates all the time, so if the date you want is not shown ring the centre on 01628 483252 and we will see what we can do.

BCU PaddlePower Discover

This 20 session course is the next step for young paddlers who have completed their Paddle Power Passport. As with all courses, we work with small groups to ensure that all participants are able to work at their own pace. 

The Discover course requires minimum 25 hours tuition which is 20 Longridge sessions.  The after school course has been split into 2 parts therefore called Part One and Part Two. Discover Part One is 9 weeks long, will skip Summer half term and there will be an extended session at week 7 which is the 2nd week after half term therefore making 10 sessions in total. Discover Part Two- is also 9 weeks long, will skip Summer half term and there will be an extended session at week 5 which is the week before half term therefore making 10 sessions in total.

After school courses will start on the 17th or 19th April and the 4th September.

Dates for the 5 day intensive Discover courses are below, through this course students should achieve Part One and potentially Part Two.  However as this is a modular course it would be possible to complete areas that needed further tutition in our club sessions.

As with all our courses, we add new dates all the time so if the date you are looking for is not shown please call the centre on 01628 483252 to enquire.

BCU Explore

This course is the final step in the Paddle Power syllabus.  Three different levels take you through a great variety of paddlesports with topics focusing on participaton in events, journeys and the competitive and non-competitive disciplines. 

Evening courses run every half-term for 6-weeks and will focus on the core skills, whilst addtional 2-day intensive sessions will fine tune these skills and build competition talent.  It will take a minimum of 4 terms to complete the Explore syllabus.

After school courses will start the week commencing 16th April and 3rd September.  Dates for the 2-day intensive courses are shown below.

BCU 1 Star PaddleSports (Adult)

This 8-session course is aimed at the complete beginner who working within a small group of 6 will at the end of the course take an assessment that successful completion of which will lead to an introductory award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control in a kayak or open canoe.

You may either do a weekly course over 8 weeks or an intensive 2day course from 9am to 5pm as dates below.

Evening courses run from 8pm to 9.15pm and daytime courses run from 10am to 11.15am for 8-weeks and you can start the week commencing 16th April, 12th June or 7th August

Dates for 2-day courses are below.

Those 14 - 25 years of age are eligible for Sportivate funding to pay for the course, which reduces the cost by 50% - ask for Sportivate courses when you book. 

BCU 2 Star Paddlesport (Adult)

Working within a small group, to enable each paddler to work at their own pace, our highly skilled instructors will take someone with a basic understanding of kayak and canoe and help them develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water in both a kayak and a canoe

Courses run on dates shown and for 12-weeks onTuesdays from 20.00 - 21.15 or 09.45am to 11am and start on either 17th April or 17th July.  Alternatively you could gain your 2-star with a 4-day intensive course either during the week or over 2 weekends on the dates below