Soon we started taking the kids on moving water so the first stage in developing as a family was to set up a few paddling sessions on some relatively easy moving water. Many months were spent planning out where it’s safe to paddle but adding a bit of adventure into the mix with safe rapids to explore.
Are you looking to progress in paddling as a family from flat water paddling to moving water skills. what are the stages you need to learn to get the most out of your family paddling skills on moving water and the best places to visit to get experience.
Our family paddling journey started with heading out with open canoes which where ideal for getting the family out on the water in the process developing in the kids a new interest in paddling.
using a canoe was a great introduction to paddling together and as the kids progressed we where soon off looking for our next adventure.
We soon started training on Two step weir in Hertford and visiting water shoots on the River Stour between Sudbury and Catterwade – with lots of different weirs to explore on an adventure with weirs that are friendly to learn on for most of the year, the river thames offers several weir opportunities – but paddle with an experienced paddler if planning to go near any weir and places like the river Ivel on the Bedfordshire plains also helped in developing the kids skills.
River trips and adventures white water paddling included exploring rivers in Dartmoor and Wales to get the taste for moving water looking for locations where there is a safe flow of water and a good place to start paddling. Visiting the English and Welsh Canoe Symposiums was a great way to get the kids experience in paddling and understanding the skills needed to paddle well as was seeing camping set ups tarps and hammocks and learning bushcraft skills
Moving up from these introductory weirs there are places that really start to offer longer stretches of moving water and these are starting with a simple white water course at Cardington and River Nene centre in Northampton, finally leading to heading over to Lee valley white water centre for a children’s course in kayaking skills.
Mile end mill on the River Dee and the River llugwy as well as the lower stretches of the River Dart when the levels are favourable offered a chance to learn handling skills
a 4 day adventure on the River Spey with wild camping and overnight hammocks camping by the side of the river in a mosquito and gnatty woodland adventure, a learning curve to have the camp with an onshore breeeze
Taking a step up the best place to develop skills is on some of the excellent Legacy course in the Lee Valley which is now a hugely popular place for as work out.
My current favorite are a little further from home with paddles in France on the Tarn, Ardeche and Allier Gorges
Paddling on the River Allier Southern Pyrenees
Paddling the 5 weirs on the stour
Paddling on Two Step weir in Hertford and shooting weirs is a Christmas adventure where Drysuit and helmets are order of the day.
paddling little John a single person Canoe on the Stort. A popular boat for a summer afternoon adventure.
The centre hosts a popular club Lee Valley Paddlesports Club which offers a range of paddling opportunities from Freestyle boating to Slalom, to River tours and trips along with some rafting and progression training onto the Olympic courses as well as Pool sessions and shop Above and below for paddling advice.
whitewater paddling on a feature on the Legacy course at Lee valley Whitewater centre under flood lights on a cold winters night at LVPC
Paddleboarding to the coffee shop on a Saturday morning with customers out on the Stort heading up to Latte and Lock in Spellbrook.
The kids are now out on the rivers coaching , leading friends on moving water or working on safety and rescue courses, undertaking work as safety crew for open water swimming or off doing canoe polo or white water racing ! at least that not when they are off traveling the world with the paddling community.