A fun canoe and kayaking club based at Chiswick Pier
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
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
A very brief review of CPCC’s Taster Training Session with Andy Course Leader and Tudor and myself (Steve). Six people were signed up for the course and on Saturday they each arrived at the pier house some more apprehensive than others. but all willing to give this kayaking malarkey a try. We all gathered outside the pierhouse and chatted about what experience our attendees had. We were very pleased to hear the several had paddled … Read more
A simple Sunday paddle with Hammersmith Bridge closed indefinitely, our only option is to paddle in the Richmond direction. So looking forwards to some tough paddles in that direction for the future. It was a flood tide as we got on the water, so a float and boat Sunday. Our pod of two MJ and myself bobbled into the middle of the river, leaving a suitably large gap such as the rowers could approach and … Read more
The lesson plan was to teach poling, however when the flow is right as it was on this day then a quick practice of S turns on the wave. We followed this up with canoe poling and then how to sharpen our turns. It was then a quite paddle and a bit of larking about and then a sail back to the pontoon. With a low tide at the get on for the club’s Sunday … Read more
