White Water and Recreational

Courses  |  Emergency Contact Details |  Equipment for White Water trips  |  External links  |  River Levels

There are several superb white water opportunities on rivers within reach of the club. Most white water paddling with the club takes place during the winter months, enjoying the local rivers of the south west. These offer challenges for novices and experienced paddlers alike, with the club leading trips ranging from the Exe and lower Dart for newcomers through to the Erme, Teign and many others including the upper Dart for those with a few more years experience (N.B. we don’t allow club boats on the upper dart or other Grade 4+ water).

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Courses

Discover

We will start you with the basics of paddling on flat water, on the canal, so don’t worry, you won’t be put in at the deep end like the photo above! we will look at basic paddling skills such as moving forwards, backwards, sideways, turning and how to fall out of your boat and ‘self rescue’ (swimming to the bank with your boat and paddle and getting out and emptying your boat). The British Canoeing Discover award details can be found HERE. You should be able to complete this within the 5 week course. You may be able to complete it sooner, but it is still worth practising your skills. The more you practise, the better you get!

You can book on our Discover for short kayaks HERE

You may be able to join us on easy trips like the lower lower Dart (Buckfast to Staverton) once you have completed this course, your coach can advise if you are ready.

Explore

We look at the skills as above, but look to advance these following British Canoeing’s Explore Award. You may get to have a go on Head Weir, and experience the thrill of running weirs in a more controlled environment.

You should be able to join us on trips like the lower lower Dart, and the lower Dart (Holne-Buckfast), you may be ready to look at more advanced trips like the Dart loop as well as other rivers that we have around the area (and further afield).

You can book on our Explore short kayaks HERE

White Water Award

This award is looks specifically at White Water Paddling, learning to Roll (you can start to look at this at our pool sessions at any point once you have started paddling). In the past we have run a White Water award course at the club on Tuesday evenings.  Unfortunately as Trews Weir is unusable and St. James’ Weir has collapsed this course has not run in recent years.  Instead paddlers who are keen to try white water can sign up to individual club trips that are suitable for their level.

The more you paddle and practise your skills, the better you become. The more you run rivers, the better your knowledge of the rivers becomes and your skills become automatic.

Emergency Contact Details

Each paddler on a club trip is required to carry a waterproof card with the telephone number of their emergency contact details.  This is in case a paddler is injured and the leader needs to contact the paddler’s relative / friend.  A laminated card carried in the buoyancy aid is a suitable method.

Equipment for White Water Kayak Trips

Paddlers should already have completed the Introductory and/or Explore course and found a boat that they are comfortable paddling for two hours at a time.

In addition they should wear/use/carry:

• buoyancy aid
• white water paddles
• spraydeck
• cagoule: wind and waterproof but not necessarily specific to kayaking – suitable for some trips, speak to your coach
• dry suit for more advanced paddles
• spare clothing (you are likely to get wet during the paddle)
• paddling helmet
• food and drink – we may stop for a break during the trip
• sun cream
• whistle
• personal first aid kit
• knife: required when a throwline is carried
• mobile phone

Advanced paddles

• spare paddles
• map
• first aid kit
• repair kit

External Links

Weather: Met Office
Weather: swell forecast Exmouth

What do River Grades mean?

Stop Swimming – From Paddler Magazine

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