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Training is one Thameswey's key focuses. Our main training programme runs from April to September during the Tuesday evening lake sessions, though we also organise other events throughout the year. START COURSES [Info Sheet] Newcomers will undergo a two week induction into the club and introduction to paddling leading to the PaddlePower Start award. Inductions will start on the following dates:
April 13th, May 4th, June 8th, July 13th, and September 7th (in kayaks) Pre-booking is essential, please download the Info Sheet for more details. We will only be able to accept new members on these dates. However, if you are an experienced paddler or coach do get in touch with Paul, our Training Officer, via the contacts page to discuss your situation. ONE AND TWO STAR AWARDS We offer formal courses, rather than ad hoc coaching. Members will need to commit to these by paying a set fee in advance than will cover the lake session fees, equipment hire, etc for the duration of the course. What members will get in return is a constant group, consistency in coaching, trips incorporated into some courses, and hopefully a higher quality course that should lead to an award at the end of it. It will also allow more time on the water as you won’t have to go through the registration process each week that you are on a course. One Star Passport courses will last for five weeks with One Star assessment in week five. Two Star Discover courses will last for ten weeks with assessment modules in weeks six and ten. You should also notice closer links between the training and trips programmes, meaning two star candidates will have plenty of opportunities to do the required trips. For One Star Passport candidates an evening river trip will be a set part of the course. One Star Courses [Info Sheet] The 1 Star award is a clear stepping stone to becoming a paddler. Designed as a basic award, the One Star is the level people would typically reach after a five week introductory course and is equivalent to the PaddlePower Passport award. The award encourages safe practice, regard for equipment and others, and having fun. The award is obtained by taking the assessment in any style of kayak or canoe (where assessment is taken by a doubles crew, a variation of bow and stern positions must be demonstrated.) A journey is included on the fourth Tuesday of each course.
Course 1 (kayak): April 27th, May 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th Two Star Courses [Info Sheet] This is an improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water and is equivalent to the PaddlePower Discover award. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding of how the paddle, boat and water interact. The award is obtained by taking the assessment in both a kayak and a canoe (where the assessment is taken by a doubles crew, each person must perform each task from both the bow and the stern.) Evidence of two journeys of about 2 hours (6 km) duration is required. The assessment is made up of three components, an assessment of skills in both kayak and canoe, and an assessment of the candidates planning and execution of a journey.
Course 1: April 13th, 20th, 27th, May 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, June 8th, 15th, and 22nd ADDITIONAL TRAINING As well as the basic courses we will be running a number of different short courses or sessions on specific topics that again will provide some more specific, focussed coaching. We will running two Foundation Safety and Rescue Training courses on Tuesday evenings and also running Three star courses (kayak and open canoe) towards the end of the summer. Three Star Courses [Info Sheet] While we do not have courses currently planned for the 3 star awards we are able to train and assess the 3* kayak and 3* open canoe awards. Both awards require moving water – in the case of 3* kayak, Grade 2, so it has been decided not to offer courses for these two awards until later in the year. Evidence requirements differ. The 3* kayak award requires evidence of having paddled on Grade 2 water, in addition three journeys of flat water and three journeys on moving water with stretches of grade 2, all these journeys should be about 3 hours (10 km) duration. The 3* open canoe award requires three journeys, one of which should be in an open water environment (large lake or coastal water), all these journeys should be about 3 hours (10 km) duration. You can start logging these journeys at any time. Foundation Safety and Rescue Courses [Info Sheet] This new safety and rescue course has been developed as the pre-requisite for the new BCU Coaching courses but will increase the confidence of any paddler who wants to go on trips, either with the club or independently. The course may be taken in either canoe or kayak, but the candidates will be trained in both. Boat-based candidates are expected to hold the 2* award, or be of 2* standard, bank-based candidates are not expected to paddle, but are expected to fully participate in relevant aspects of the course. The award is not suitable for paddlers below the age of 14. Courses will be held on:
Course 1: July 6th, 13th and 20th TRAINING TRIPS The links between the training and trips programme will continue into the winter, as our aim is to schedule progressive whitewater trips giving a logical route for people to learn and progress their whitewater paddling.
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