Learn to paddle this year on the River Stort with Whoosh Explore canoe club.
Our paddling sessions are on the stort navigation offering a great way to get paddling with a group of like minded paddlers who lead our trips and have a vast experience of leading trips on the River Stort for some memerable fun paddling on the river.
Our paddling sessions often include a paddle up to a cafe for a mid morning snack as we ar4 predominately a social paddling group who enjoy relaxing and chilling out in a beautiful kept natural environment. We enjoy our paddles whatever the weather and our core paddlers are keen to head out in rain snow and sunshine. As well as a fun session n the water you’ll be developing some new skills on the way under the watchful eye of our regular paddlers and coaching team who are readily available to support you when needed.
taster sessions are ideal introduction to paddling and we are happy toget you out on a trip which are run on a Weekends Thursdays and Fridays or at other times on request.
The paddling distances are about 5km between Sawbridgeworth and Tednamebury locks, but tipically we extend our paddle paddle to take in Spellbrook lock as it is possible to stop for a cafe break next to the lock, however we always look to see how the group is getting on with paddling journey and will always adjust the paddle accordingly depending on the requirements of the group.
What to Wear
On initial paddling sessions we recommend you wear a long sleeved top and outdoor/ active wear type clothing or gym kit, its best try to avoid cotton clothing or jeans as this will become cold or heavy if it gets wet.
If you are planning on a longer trip, or paddling in winter waterproof trousers will help keep you dryer and a warm dringk can be stored in a secure hatch on the boat. A cap in summer and a woolly hat in winter is a great addition to your paddling kit along with a lightweight wind and waterproof jacket.
We provide Buoyancy aids, boats and paddles, these can store additional spare clothing and we recommend you bring along a dry bag for this and have a waterproof Aquapac for your phone, particularly in winter.
FAQ
Where we paddle
We run local trips and taster sessions on the River Stort in Hertfordshire and if you are looking to explore more local rivers with the club consider our great value club membership scheme for paddlers looking for regular trips away.
What types of boats do we use
We have a fleet of Kayaks Ethos Ten, Ethos Nine and Pyranha Fusion kayaks available for paddlers to use which are great for beginners and we also have canoes suitable for two paddlers and Paddleboards ideal for family paddling
The club also has a range of white water boats for paddling moving water.
Boat set up
Our boats are suitable for paddlers up to 17 stone in weight and we can get most people paddling in our canoes.
Do we need wetsuits ?
Do we need to wear a wetsuit? We don’t plan on you capsizing so a wetsuit is not required until water temperature is cold in November through to April.
Do I need to capsize?
Will I need to capsize or roll a boat? We look to ensure that the boats stay upright, and we have equipment that is comfortable and stable to use as well as easy to paddle in a straight line.
Will I just paddle around in circles as I m not that experienced?
Boats are fitted with a skeg and are designed for beginner and intermediate paddlers.
Can we join the club?
We invite paddlers to join the club after a third taster session or trip. As part of our club you can have access to our fleet of boats all year round as well as paddling equipment.
Do I have to paddle as part of a group I don’t know?
We are on a relatively safe stretch of river, so if you do capsize you are pretty near a bank and the river is fairly shallow as it was designed to be 4ft depth in most places.
There are occasional narrow boats heading up or down the river in the summer months , however most boaters are locals or live aboard sailors so are typically friendly, just remember to paddle on your right!
Can we paddle independently of other groups ?
Yes- but we will check your paddling ability as part of our club’s safety awareness before sending you out onto the river. We will normally assist you through your first lock portage as getting in and out of boats is where you are most likely to fall in.
Our taster paddling sessions are a great way to try out to see if paddling is your thing.
Meeting point
Our taster sessions start from Kecksys Farm, Cambridge Road, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 9BZ.
We meet at our base where we have plenty of on site parking.