White Water Beginners Guide

Also known as Moving Water, water that flows in our rivers gives the advantage of stunning scenery and exhilaration. For us in Paignton we have a number of rivers accessible within a short distance, such as Rivers Dart, Teign, Exe, and Barle.  These have different sections that have a level suitable for a beginner to complete adrenalin junky.

Paddling on moving water requires a certain skill level and ability to control a boat. The general starting skill base for moving water is that equivalent to BCU 2star or the club Improvers course. Once these skills have been obtained and honed in a practical situation, (usually over a summer season) then moving water can be the next stage in your paddling progression.

In today’s technological world any information can be found on the Internet. However to make things simpler below are a number of links that point paddlers in the right direction. If you want more information, then feel free to ask a coach or committee member.

One skill to practice that you’ll hear is the term Edging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoPTebYaErA

Another Term is Momentum. Sorry the narrator hasn’t learnt the letter T https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZvr9tlHecg

http://gene17kayaking.com/articles/pdfs/genetic_turning.pdf

http://gene17kayaking.com/articles/pdfs/genetic_support.pdf

http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/White-Water-Safety-DR-The-Paddler-August-2013.pdf

http://www.pyb.co.uk/articles/breaking-in.php

http://www.pyb.co.uk/articles/carving-turns.php

The video below is fairly old but covers many details of white water paddling. It is 40mins long, however because it is a vimeo film don’t try and advance or fast forward as it reverts to the beginning again. There is about 3mins of advertising at the beginning. The club does have this video in the library. Beginners White Water http://vimeo.com/1851719

This is the next video is also from Gene17 and is more progressive but also worth watching. http://vimeo.com/1849765