A fun canoe and kayaking club based at Chiswick Pier
(Saturday – 10 10 2020) Really cool morning session with Jules and Heather, with James, Frank and Eliza. Bracing, outside edge, edge turning, ruddering, a couple of rescues – playing, experimenting, practicing, talking and re-assessing – team work, splashing, chips and beer and a singer from Iceland (the country). A little trip against the tide, a pub visit and a gentle – tide assisted paddle back to the pier.
In rather unpleasant weather and river conditions four complete beginners attended Coach’s Steve and Elaine’s beginners paddling course. The original plan was based around a low tide occurring during the session. On the day the tidal conditions were changed by The Thames barrier being closed. This resulted in the river water level rising and falling, but the tidal flow remain in one direction, an ebb tide. These weren’t ideal conditions to teach in, nor for … Read more
We had to change our plans for the south coast and ended up attacking the Marlow-Henley stretch of the Thames instead.The weather was pretty awful, loads of rain, the autumn cold started biting and the skies were grey and low. Luckily the team was extremely enthusiastic about the scenery and our guide, the rain stopped and the sun came out – tentatively. We started appreciating the virtue of good gear (layers of paddling clothes), waterproofs, paddling … Read more
Another early start at Chiswick Pier Canoe Club, meant one group with Martin lead coach another with Sarah D as lead coach left the pontoon at some ghastly time of the morning. By the time I had arrived there were only two groups left, Coach Andy and Coach Dean took one group, leaving the last group to be coached by both Elaine & Steve. Whilst all the other groups headed towards Chiswick Bridge, we in Elaine’s group took … Read more
Chiswick Pier to Teddington Lock Fan-tas-tic UK weather – rain, a bit of sun and loads of wind: Northerly Bft 3-4 with gusts reaching Bft 6) with Jules Julie Wright & Heather Turnbull Definitely some tidal support on the way out but somebody put the low-tide barrage down in Richmond on our way back (to enhance our experience).
It’s late September and still lovely and warm for an autumnal paddle with CPCC So a typical Sunday morning with coaches arriving to take our lovely paddlers out on to the water. There were three groups Coach Leon led the first kayak group with Coach Dean in a canoe as backup. The second group of kayakers was led by Coach Michelle with back up from Liz. The third group was led by Coach Steve, the … Read more
Three coaches had volunteered to help with this Sunday’s session. Dean and I had been out of action for several weeks (me due to injury and Dean as he had been away) so we had agreed to meet before the members would arrive and learn from Leon what had been working well and how we would run the session. Although it probably feels a bit of an imposition that we ask members to let the … Read more
Another week’s teaching open boating for me, whilst the club ran two Sunday sessions. Our Sunday sessions were led by Coach Leon group one and Coach Dean group two. There was a beginners group which went out at about two o clock with our beginners and first timers. These guys were led by Coach’s Sarah and Michelle with youthful backup from Julius. Sunday and a high tide at approx 11:30am not the best time to … Read more
I had been told I was teaching two people to paddle a canoe, however there was a problem. I had a need of four canoes and the FSRT people needed another two and the club only had five. Solution stall the start time of MJ one of my open boat paddlers and handily one of the students needed to leave early. In the end it all worked out and we had enough kit for everyone to enjoy … Read more
My Fellow coach Young Michelle contact me during the week and asked the question could we? Well of course we could, but not without the help of Young Julius and his Mr Fix it skills. Happily Julius was able to help and fit a kneeling thwart into the forth of our open boats, so we can now teach two students. Thanks Julius as that was the exact number I was asked to teach. Next issue … Read more
