What's it all about?
Canoeing and Kayaking or otherwise called Paddlesports can offer something for everyone. From calm steady paced touring on canal and placid waters to competitive sprint racing and facing the challenge of racing down raging torrents. From exploring fantastic coastal scenery by Sea Kayak to performing the ultimate play boat moves while 'playing' and 'shredding' the river. Paddlesports offers something for everyone young or old.
Paddling can offer a relaxing, once or twice a year tour on a local canal, an adventurous trip, or expedition on the thousands of miles of waterways in the United Kingdom and the Continent. An interest in Paddlesports can be an all consuming hobby, exciting, challenging and testing on white water, on the sea or through the numerous competitive disciplines.
Choose the level of challenge to suit. Paddle for enjoyment, to keep fit or, if you have kids, paddle as a family and enjoy the experience together.
Canoeing is an Olympic sport and there are two types of Canoe and Kayak race at the Olympic Games – Flatwater (or Sprint) and Slalom. Both demand extreme endurance and highly specialised skills.
The difference between a Canoe and a Kayak is relatively easy to spot: canoeists use a single paddle and kneel in the boat, while kayakers compete sitting down with a double-ended paddle.
Taking part
While
many canoeists may not be interested in competition at any level,
one common theme of all types of Paddlesport is that your enjoyment
will increase as your skill level increases.
Get Involved
- Bewl Canoe Club, Bewl Water, Kent - www.bewlcanoeclub.co.uk
- Maidstone Canoe Club, Maidstone, Kent - www.maidstonecanoeclub.net
- Seapoint Canoe Centre, Kent - www.seapointcentre.com
- Tonbridge Canoe Club, Tonbridge, Kent - www.tonbridgecanoeclub.org.uk
National Go Canoeing Week 2012, 6th-15th April…...Be part of it!
Canoe England has identified a 10 day period to promote Canoeing and encourage people to get out on the water. The week will be packed full of nationwide canoeing activities which will include local events for beginner’s right through to Olympic canoeists taking to the water.
The aim of the 2012 National Go Canoeing Week is to encourage 2012 new participants by date of the London Olympic opening ceremony, and we would like you to be part of it! For more information please visit the Go Canoeing website.
Structure of the sport
The International Canoe Federation is the world wide Canoeing organisation and creates the standard rules for the different disciplines of Canoe/Kayak competition.
The British Canoe Union, as governing body of Paddlesport, has an established range of discipline committees to help promote and inform on aspects of their particular discipline. They also promote a large network of competitive events offering the chance to take part in 'Taster Events' and perhaps even the real chance to represent your country.
