Communication

Environment

Equipment

Paddling technique

Communication

Navigating PUK websites
Firstly British Canoeing is now officially 'Paddle UK'. Something we need to get used to (I still refer to themRead MORE
CLAP
No, not 'The clap'! C.L.A.P. is an acronym most kayak leaders will be very familiar with but it's useful toRead MORE
Emergency communication
Whenever you go paddling, you should always carry a means of contacting the emergency services.  The equipment you should carryRead MORE

Environment

Dressing for winter paddling
This advice is for paddling on sheltered waters (Thames above Teddington or canals). The advice would be different for whiteRead MORE
Pre-paddle checks
Today's Paddling Tip is what to check for before going for a paddle. This tip is relevant for paddling onRead MORE
Biosecurity
Invasive non-native species (INNS) are a major threat to our native biodiversity and many of the nastier ones are foundRead MORE
Paddling hazards
Whilst our section of the river is fairly safe, kayaking and canoeing are 'assumed risk' sports (i.e. as a participantRead MORE
The bird breeding season
During the bird breeding season (March to August inclusive), we need to be careful not to damage or destroy nestsRead MORE
Cold water shock
If we do capsize, one of the risks we can face at any time of year, but particularly when waterRead MORE
Waterbourne diseases
Weil’s disease (Leptospirosis):  is an infection caught through contact with infected animal urine, mainly from rodents. The incidence may beRead MORE
River flow
As I'm sure everyone is aware, the Environment Agency displays stream warning boards at locks when the river flow reachesRead MORE
Paddling in thunderstorms
The risk of thunderstorms is increasing with climate change and are most likely to occur in spring. Although not thatRead MORE

Equipment

Wing paddle advantages
Jackson et al. (1992) carried out a number of tests and calculated that wing paddles had an efficiency of 89%Read MORE
Choosing your paddle length
How do you decide how long your paddle should be? The tried (and not so tested) method is that ifRead MORE
Choosing a paddle feather angle
How you set your paddle feather (the offset angle between one blade and the other) is shrouded in mystery. TraditionallyRead MORE
Choosing a blade size
We have a number of different sized paddles at the club and blade area is another factor to take intoRead MORE
Sizing a canoe paddle.
We have a variety of canoe paddle lengths at the club, so how do you choose the right one? OnRead MORE
Which K1 should I paddle?
Lots of factors come into play when considering which K1 to paddle: boat stability, volume, weather conditions, comfort, how muchRead MORE
Why paddle a K2?
If you're finding that you're struggling to keep up with a group or simply want to go faster, especially whenRead MORE
Trimming your kayak
What is trim? Kayak trim is all about having the boat in a neutral balanced, horizontal position in flat waterRead MORE
Adjusting seat height and pitch
Many of our kayaks (Tercels and Hobbys) have standard seats in which the seat height is fixed (unless you putRead MORE
Seat and footrest positioning
To measure the distance between your footrest and seat, sit next to the boat on the ground in roughly theRead MORE
Sea kayak footrest and backrest positioning
Set up is all a bit simpler in a sea kayak than in a K1 as, generally, it's not possibleRead MORE
The skeg
Four out of our 5 sea kayaks are fitted with skegs rather than rudders. There is often confusion about theRead MORE

Paddling technique

Positive and negative paddle angles
At the beginning of a paddle stroke force is generated down and backwards, moving the kayak up and forwards (rememberRead MORE
Path of the paddle
It's important to consider the path that your paddle should take during a paddle stroke. Back in the 1970s whenRead MORE
Fixing the paddle in the water
In the ideal paddle stroke, the paddle is immersed in the water as far forwards as possible. As you applyRead MORE
Connectivity
Have you ever seen someone on a sit on top or inflatable kayak wondering all over the river, seemingly outRead MORE
Legs and hips
Your legs and hips play a crucial part in an effective and efficient paddle stroke. To transmit power into theRead MORE
Torso
Together with your legs, your torso (core and back muscles) is responsible for generating most of the power of yourRead MORE
Top arm
Before discussing what your arms should be doing during a paddle stroke, I'd like to share a quote by IvanRead MORE
Bottom arm
In an effective paddle stroke, the bottom arm (the one nearest the water), a bit like the top arm, hardlyRead MORE
Set up
Let's consider the 4 phases of forward paddling, starting with the setup: The setup is where you're preparing to takeRead MORE
The Catch
After you've set up the stroke, the next stage is the catch. Put the paddle in the water - simpleRead MORE
Drive phase
A successful drive phase, when the paddle is in the water, depends upon a good set up and catch. TheRead MORE
The exit
Once your rotation has finished, your paddle should be taken out of the water quickly and cleanly. The blade shouldRead MORE
The paddler’s box
When paddling, it's important to maintain a square produced by your chest, arms and the paddle shaft. Although your armsRead MORE
Paddling drills
We have a number of tips on paddling technique. If you take each component in isolation i.e. the 4 phasesRead MORE
Getting in and out of your kayak
K1 There really is only one way to safely getting into a K1 from the pontoon without falling in orRead MORE
Emergency stop
We don't have brakes on our kayaks but knowing the most effective and safe way to stop in an emergencyRead MORE
Paddling backwards
We may need to paddle backwards for a variety of reasons, perhaps to assist in a rescue etc, so aRead MORE
Forward sweep
If you want to make a sharper turn than is possible using the rudder in a K1 or edging inRead MORE
Reverse sweep
The reverse sweep is essentially the opposite of the forward sweep. Rotate your torso and place the blade near theRead MORE
Sculling draw
It can be really useful to be able to move sideways, for example when you're too far away from theRead MORE
The T draw
One option for moving sideways is the classic draw stroke or T-Draw. This is a simpler version of the scullingRead MORE
Hanging draw
This stoke is used to go sideways on the move and is very useful for obstacle avoidance, rafting up etc.Read MORE
Low brace
The low brace is a 'bread and butter' (i.e. essential!) stroke that everyone should know and practice. The low braceRead MORE
High brace
*Warning* - this is an advanced paddle stroke and performing it incorrectly can result in a shoulder injury. This one'sRead MORE
Edging
Edging is a key technique for sea kayaking but can also be used in a K1 in certain circumstances.Putting yourRead MORE
K1 deep water rescue
Emptying the kayak If a paddler capsizes a K1 and it's either some way from the bank or getting outRead MORE
K1 rescue of another paddler
If you're paddling with someone else and one of you falls in, follow the same procedure as a self-rescue, butRead MORE
Simple sea kayak self-rescue
If you capsize in a sea kayak near to the bank/shore, sometimes it's easiest just to swim to the bank,Read MORE
Sea Kayak T rescue
This tip considers how you can help someone to empty their boat in deep water. Firstly the capsized kayaker shouldRead MORE
The heel hook
Here is one way of getting back into your sea kayak with assistance. This is my preferred assisted rescue whichRead MORE
Motor Imagery
If you haven't been able to paddle over the winter or haven't been paddling for a while because the riverRead MORE
Using spraydecks
Our club has two different types of spraydeck: Spraydecks for K1s/K2s can be used by anyone. They keep you warmerRead MORE
Paddling in a straight line
A couple of members have mentioned that they struggle to paddle a sea kayak in a straight line. One solutionRead MORE
Landing a K1
What's the best way to approach the pontoon/bank so that you land like a pro? We need to be ableRead MORE
K1 self rescue
If you capsize and are paddling a K1 alone or with a group and you're near the bank, here areRead MORE