News
- Paddlesport Update from Brian Greenham
- Juniors gain International Success at Tremolat 27/05/2004
- Reading Juniors at Bochum 12/06/2004
- Reading Juniors at the Bosbaan 19/06/2004
- Juniors at the National Sprint Regatta 05/07/2004
[by Phil Ede]
Under 18's Canoeing - Join us
All equipment including buoyancy aids are supplied.
Instructors are fully qualified
Summer Training
Now that summer is here we can get out on the water more. The summer junior training sessions are:
- Monday 5 - 6 Closed Cockpit Skills - Nigel Frankland. 7 - 8 5km time trial in K1's, 3km for juniors - club session
- Tuesday 7 - 8 Slalom - Nigel Winters
- Thursday 5 - 6 Closed Cockpit Skills - Nigel Frankland
- Saturday 11 - 12.30 Lightening/K1 training - Gail & Brian
A full summer time table is on the notice board, where updates and races are published. There may be some session changes during the summer as and when holidays occur. We will let you know about these. For all other information check the noticeboard and the web site.
The numbers for each course will be limited to a maximum of 8 beginners in line with the British Canoe Union guidelines on coach to student ratio.
Contacts:
Youth SectionReading Canoe Club,
The Warren,
Caversham,
Berkshire,
RG4 7TH,
U.K.
General Information
All those participating must be able to swim well and complete a Parental/Guardian consent from. (Unless this form is completed your child will not be allowed out on the water.)
Please remember to bring with you
- a complete change of clothing
- a towel
- suncream - in the summer
- (if you wear glasses please make sure that you have the means of securing them to you, in case you capsize. We cannot be held responsible for lost glasses)
- a plastic bag to put the wet kit in afterwards!
- Light weight shoes (old ones!)
- Warm clothing ( it is better to have several layers of thin clothing rather than one heavy layer - jeans should not be worn under any circumstances)
Canoesport
Here are a few facts about our sport which we hope you will find useful......
The River
The River Thames is classified as a 'Placid Water River' and it is on this placid water that the members learn to paddle and train. The club also slalom canoes which normally happens on faster moving water, when the canoeist has to progress down a given course through gates (similar to skiing) but we train on the River Thames and go else where to compete.
Boats
There are two basic boats:
- A kayak - this is what your child will use and is moved by using a paddle with a blade at each end;
- A canoe - what most people recognize as a Canadian Canoe, where each person has a one blade paddle
We often call the sport the generic word of canoeing when we mean kayaking or canoeing so the odd slip up in terminology is permitted and will not cause offence - except to the purists.
Paddles
These are what with the help of your child, propels the kayak along. They come in all different shapes. The ones your children will use are 'feathered' - i.e. not straight.
Your child may also mention wings, these are not awarded for progress: but another style of paddle used by more advanced paddlers.
Starting to canoe
We use a variety of stable kayaks to begin teaching in. Once your child has become proficient in a stable 'K1', he or she will progress through a range of less stable 'K1' and eventually will be canoeing in a racing K1
K1 stands for kayak 1 which is a boat for one person, therefore 'K2' is for two people and a 'K4' is for four people. The same is for Canoes a 'C1' is for one person, 'C2' for two people etc.