Watersports Courses

Watersports Training Programme

Paddle Start, Discover & Explore Awards

We are passionate about introducing people of all ages and abilities to Paddle sports (SUPs, kayaks, canoes and inflatables) and then developing their skills. As a Paddle UK Discovery Centre we can run these development awards either for you as an individual or as part of a school / private group.

Paddle Safer Award

The Go Paddling Paddle Safer course is designed for anyone new to paddling, or relatively inexperienced to paddling, wanting to gain knowledge and raise their awareness of paddling safely in a sheltered water environment, in or on the craft that they paddle. Typical craft would include kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, sit on tops and inflatables.

Length of course: 2 hours delivery not including breaks

Venue: usually Westbury Sailing Lake or Chippenham Sea Cadets Unit

Age restrictions:  none

Max. group size: 8 per trainer

Min. experience needed: none – but it would be good if you have paddled something before

Cost: £25 a head or for a private course £150 (up to 8 people)

Paddle Safer Syllabus

Paddle UK Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course (PSRC)

This course is for a pre-requisite for those who wish to move on to their Paddle Sport Instructor Course OR those who wish to gain a good understanding of rescue skills for SUPs, kayaks and canoes.

Length of course: 6 hours delivery not including breaks

Venue: usually Westbury Sailing Lake or Chippenham Sea Cadets Unit

Age restrictions: 14 years and older

Max. group size: 8 per trainer

Min. experience needed: Old ‘2 star’ or Paddle Explore award

Cost: £90 a head or for a private course (up to 8 people) £400

PSRC Syllabus

Paddlesport Leader (Training & Assessment courses)

The Paddlesport leader is open to all paddlers and will allow you to lead journeys, on sheltered water, for a range of mixed craft. As a Paddlesport leader, you can work independently or be deployed by a club, centre or organisation to lead trips and journeys on ungraded sections of slow moving rivers where the group could paddle upstream against the flow, areas of open water where the paddlers are no more than 200 metres offshore and the wind strength does not exceed BF 3 (gusting 4), and slow moving estuaries (less than 0.5 Knots).

This training takes place over 2 days – with day 1 usually based at the Westbury Youth Sailing Lake, and day to on the River Avon (exact location to be clarified). Course content details and Paddle UK pre-requisites can be found here:

Rolling Clinic

Kayak Rolling Coaching

Learn to roll a kayak with 1 to 1 coaching. We offer private coaching in a pool heated to approx. 34 degrees C. We supply all kit needed. Sessions can be from 1 – 2 hours (including changing time). 2024-25 costs £90 per hour.

To discuss and / or book please contact us.