Y Paddle’s autumn introductory course starts on Monday September 27. Learn to kayak in the warmth and comfort of the Central YMCA pool in London’s West End. Our six-week beginners course will teach you all the basic skills to safely handle a kayak and will take you through to the new BCU One Star award. [...]
Apologies for the late update, but there are still spaces on our latest introductory course. Learn to kayak in the warmth and safety of our pool then get out and enjoy the British countryside in the British summer. Book via the Y at http://www.ymcaclub.org.uk/programmes/lifestyle.aspx
Want to know the best time to learn to kayak? Develop the skills this winter in the warmth of the Central YMCA pool, and you’ll be able to put them into practice as the weather improves. Our six-week beginners course will teach you all the basic skills to safely handle a kayak and will take [...]
Castle Canoe Club, Stoke Newington, London – www.castlecanoeclub.org Chiswick Pier Canoe Club – www.chiswickcanoeclub.co.uk Ealing Canoe Club – www.ealingcanoeclub.org.uk Pirate Castle Canoe & Kayak Club – www.thepiratecastle.org Laburnum Boat Club, Hackney, London – www.laburnum.org Regents Canoe Club, Islington – www.regentscanoeclub.co.uk Shepperton Slalom Canoe Club – www.sheppertonscc.freeserve.co.uk Tower Hamlets CC – www.towerhamletscanoeclub.co.uk
Been bitten by the paddling bug over the summer? Perhaps you had your first experience of sea kayaking or inflatables, or been inspired by Griff Rhys-Jones canoeing the rivers of Britain? Our six-week beginners course will teach you all the basic skills to safely handle a kayak and will take you through to the new [...]
After a successful Spring course, we’re pleased to be running an additional beginners course this July. The course will run for six weeks on Monday nights at the YMCA pool. It will teach you all the basic skills to safely handle a kayak and will take you through to the new BCU One Star award. [...]
The Central YMCA is now taking bookings for our beginners’ course starting Monday 20th April 2009. The course will run for six weeks (excluding the Bank holidays) on Monday nights at the YMCA pool, and will include two outdoor sessions. It will teach you all the basic skills to safely handle a kayak and will [...]
A little advance warning, the Central YMCA pool will be closed for our session on Monday 6th April – we’re taking the opportunity to hold our AGM that evening. It will be followed by our traditional curry. The Spring Beginners’ Course will run for six weeks from Monday April 20th until the 8th June (excluding [...]
This Winter we’re running our rolling and rescue course. This is a chance to improve your rolling technique in the comfort of the YMCA pool. You will receive close guidance from from the club’s coaches and members. Participants are expected to have BCU 1-2 star kayaking skills. This is NOT a beginners’ course. The course [...]
Inspired by the canoeists and kayakers at the Olympics? Why not learn to paddle in the comfort of our Central London pool? The seven week course leads to BCU Star qualifications, and starts Monday 22nd September. It costs £77, with a third-off for Central YMCA members. To sign up contact the Y on 020 7343 [...]
The spring beginners’ course will start on Monday 14 April for six weeks. Learn to kayak in the comfort of our Central London pool. The six week course leads to BCU Star qualifications, and starts Monday 14th April. To sign up contact the Y on 020 7343 1700 or http://www.ymcaclub.co.uk (booking info. on http://www.ymcaclub.co.uk/lifestyle.html) +442073431700
As you may know, the Y pool closes at the end of this week for its annual clean. So there won’t be another pool session until Monday 31st March. But we’ll be getting together on Monday 17th March for our AGM. It’s an opportunity to review how the Club is doing and discuss how we [...]
It’s that time of year when the Central YMCA pool is closed for its annual repair and refurbishment. This means there won’t be pool sessions on the 10th, 17th and 24th of March. We’ll resume on the 31st of March – and will use the opportunity to have our AGM on the 17th (official notice [...]
Here’s a quick link to our good friend (and occasional paddler) Dawn, who with three others will be taking part in the Trailwalker challenge this July. Find out more, and sponsor the team, here: http://nosleeptilbrighton.wordpress.com
Y-Paddle’s weekly pool sessions are held in the Central YMCA pool every Monday from 8.30pm to 10pm (except Bank Holidays and other pool closures). We use the pool for practice, coaching, and fun & games. Access may be limited during our beginners courses (usually February, May and October). At the pool we have a selection [...]
A chance for kayakers to learn and improve their rolling techniques in the comfort of the YMCA pool. Please note, the course is now full. In between courses, the pool remains a great place to work on your rolling technique. Please contact us if you’d like to find out more. Paddlers will receive close guidance [...]
Learn to kayak with Y Paddle in the comfort of our Central London pool. The six week course leads to BCU Star qualifications, and starts Monday 24th September. To sign up contact the Y on 020 7343 1700 or http://www.ymcaclub.co.uk
Y Paddle’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 11th April. We will meet in the Y’s poolside cafe. This is your chance to get involved with the club and make a difference. All members, old and new, are welcome.
After our successful trip to the whitewater centre at Northampton in March, we’re planning a second trip on Sunday 22nd April. Please get in touch if you’re interested.
Update The course is now full, and we’ll be returning to normal pool session in July. Summer’s on its way, what better way to cool off than getting on the water in a canoe? And what better way to learn to kayak, than with Y Paddle in the comfort of our Central London pool? The [...]
A four week course to learn, or refine, kayak rolling and rescue skills in the warmth of the pool. There is an optional outdoor session at end of the course. This winter we’re running a four week rolling and rescue course starting February 5. It’s a great opportunity to learn or refine kayak rolling and [...]
Another good turnout for the traditional end of course social paddle
Saturday 23rd Sept 2006 was a very pleasant and warm late summer day as Patrick, Richie, Mirkka, Jemima, Simon and Roger made their way to Shepperton for possibly the last slalom event of the year. It was for Div 2, 3 and 4 paddlers, so everyone was eligible to compete. There was a reasonable flow [...]
Learn to kayak with Y Paddle in the comfort of our Central London pool. The six week course leads to BCU 1 and 2 Star qualifications, and starts Monday 25th September. To sign up contact the Y on 020 7343 1700 or http://www.ymcaclub.co.uk
Time: 6.30pm – 8.45pm Location: Jubilee Centre, King’s Cross Fortnightly paddle on the Regent’s Canal http://www.jubilee-centre.org.uk
We’re planning a trip to the 2/3/4 slalom competition at Cardington on Saturday the 2nd of September. It will be a day trip leaving London around 7am and returning early evening. This is an entertaining little artificial course with moving water that is safe enough for beginners and a technical challenge enough for intermediates. For [...]
Top-notch coaches and all-round good eggs Kayakojacko are visiting Y Paddle in the pool on the first Monday in September. They reckon they can teach you everything you need to know about paddling: turning, rolling, playboating, open boating, whitewater, surf… Okay, maybe not all in a single session. … and maybe not in the pool. [...]
Fortnightly trip to the Jubilee Centre in Camden
Marking the end of our summer beginners’ course, Roger, Jon and Martin took the six out onto the Thames at Shepperton.
Time: 6.30pm – 8.45pm Location: Jubilee Centre, King’s Cross Fortnightly paddle on the Regent’s Canal http://www.jubilee-centre.org.uk
To mark the end of a highly successful Summer Course, we are taking to the river Nene at Peterborough for our traditional social paddle. This combines rather nicely with the Orton Mere slalom, a great event for beginners and intermediates. More details will be posted before the event.
Time: 6.30pm – 8.45pm Location: Jubilee Centre, King’s Cross Fortnightly paddle on the Regent’s Canal http://www.jubilee-centre.org.uk
Time: 6.30pm – 8.45pm Location: Jubilee Centre, King’s Cross Fortnightly paddle on the Regent’s Canal http://www.jubilee-centre.org.uk
Learn to kayak with Y Paddle in the comfort of our Central London pool. The six week course leads to BCU 1 and 2 Star qualifications. To sign up contact the Y on 020 7343 1700 or http://www.ymcaclub.co.uk
Good news or perhaps bad news, our beginners’ course (starting Monday 15th May)Â is now full. It runs for the next six weeks, and will (hopefully) lead to our students earning their BCU One and Two Star awards. Normal pool sessions will resume in July.
The club’s annual general meeting will be held at 7.30pm in the Central YMCA’s cafe.
The Central YCMA pool is closed for the next two weeks, re-opening on the 18th April (Tues) Therefore, our next pool session will be on the 24th. We will be taking the opportunity to hold our AGM on the 10th April at 7.30pm in the poolside cafe.
This year’s spring social paddle will be held on the 26th March. Our traditional end of beginners’ course paddle is a chance for new and old members to get out of town and onto the water. More details to be posted soon.
Following a lead from Roger, Alice and I pursued the chance of a free day on the river paddling big open boats. The catch? We were to be students on a Level 3 OC (Open Canadian) coaching assessment. One of the examinees was world famous Mr Kayakojacko himself, who had been hunting for willing guinea [...]
Our new beginners’ course begins on Monday (6th Feb) – it leads to the BCU 1 and 2 star awards. If you’re looking for an activity that will give you exercise, get you out and about, and out of London, this is a great time to start paddling. To sign up contact the Y on [...]
There won’t be the usual pool session on Monday 19th December. Instead, we’ll be convening for our traditional Christmas Curry. Venue, etc. to be confirmed.
The year’s drawing to a close, and we’re already looking at our final sessions of 2005, and the first of 2006. I’ll post more details here as I get them, but for now: Monday 19th Dec, Christmas Curry Monday 26th Dec, Monday 2nd January: No pool session Monday 30th Jan: Likely start date of BCU [...]
September 26th sees the start of our 5-week beginners course. It leads to BCU 1-star and 2-star qualifications. To book, please contact the Central YMCA on 020 7343 1700
News reaches us from Sweden that John and Louisa have finished their marathon effort. We did it !!! On the evening of Sunday 31st July, we pulled into Haparanda on the Swedish-Finnish border to complete our journey around the coast of Sweden. After 56 days of paddling, nearly 1.5 million paddle strokes and dozens of [...]
John writes: Just completed 1300km so only(!) 1000km to go.
Congratulations to Jemima, who starred for Y Paddle at the Shepperton slalom this weekend, she earned promotion to D3 on her very first attempt. Well done to Richie and Patrick, and thanks to Roger for his help. I’ve just posted a handful of photos from the 2005 Ironbridge Slalom. You’ll see Roger and Olaf doing [...]
Our 5-week beginners course starts on Monday May 9th, we still have a couple of spaces left. It leads to BCU 1-star and 2-star qualifications. To book, please contact the Central YMCA on 020 7343 1700
2220 Expedition Site It is with some sadness, some envy, and a boatload of best wishes that Y Paddle says goodbye to John and Louisa. They’re now leaving these shores to make final preparations for their epic 2220km, 60 day paddle of the entire Swedish coastline. We’ll post more news here as we get it. [...]
30 April – 1 May 2005 Bala Mill Slalom Division 2/3/4 – suitable for beginners
The pool is closing for its annual spring clean, which means a different look to Monday nights over the next month: March 7: Pool session as normal March 14: Video evening, 7pm YMCA Boardroom March 21: Club AGM and Curry March 28: Easter Monday April 4: Pool session as normal
Inspired by the Olympics? We won’t have you powering your way down raging whitewater by the end of this 5-week course, but you will have learned all the basics to get you started on the road to Beijing in 2008 (possibly). The course leads to BCU 1-star and 2-star qualifications. To book, please contact the [...]
Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm Location: Castle Canoe Club, West Reservoir, Stoke Newington Weekly evening paddle on the West Reservoir Join Castle Canoe Club and come paddling at the reservoir! There is a wide selection of boats including open canoes, playboats, sea kayaks and wave hoppers. If you want to know more about Castle and paddling [...]
Time: 8.30pm-10.00pm Location: Central YMCA Pool Paddle in the Pool The Monday sessions take place every week, except Bank Holidays or other times when the YMCA or pool is closed. The content of each session depends on the group of paddlers attending. Afterwards we go for a quick drink at the Bricklayers.
Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm Location: Castle Canoe Club, West Reservoir, Stoke Newington Sunday morning paddle on the West Reservoir Join Castle Canoe Club and come paddling at the reservoir! There is a wide selection of boats including open canoes, playboats, sea kayaks and wave hoppers. If you want to know more about Castle and paddling [...]
Time: 8.30pm-10.00pm Location: Central YMCA Pool Paddle in the Pool The Monday sessions take place every week, except Bank Holidays or other times when the YMCA or pool is closed. The content of each session depends on the group of paddlers attending. Afterwards we go for a quick drink at the Bricklayers.
Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm Location: Castle Canoe Club, West Reservoir, Stoke Newington Sunday morning paddle on the West Reservoir Join Castle Canoe Club and come paddling at the reservoir! There is a wide selection of boats including open canoes, playboats, sea kayaks and wave hoppers. If you want to know more about Castle and paddling [...]
Time: 8.30pm-10.00pm Location: Central YMCA Pool Paddle in the Pool The Monday sessions take place every week, except Bank Holidays or other times when the YMCA or pool is closed. The content of each session depends on the group of paddlers attending. Afterwards we go for a quick drink at the Bricklayers.
Time: 8.30pm-10.00pm Location: Central YMCA Pool Paddle in the Pool The Monday sessions take place every week, except Bank Holidays or other times when the YMCA or pool is closed. The content of each session depends on the group of paddlers attending. Afterwards we go for a quick drink at the Bricklayers.
Time: 10.30am – 1.00pm Location: Castle Canoe Club, West Reservoir, Stoke Newington Sunday morning paddle on the West Reservoir Join Castle Canoe Club and come paddling at the reservoir! There is a wide selection of boats including open canoes, playboats, sea kayaks and wave hoppers. If you want to know more about Castle and paddling [...]
January sees the start of our 5-week beginners course. It leads to BCU 1-star and 2-star qualifications. To book, please contact the Central YMCA on 020 7343 1700
Ah, another year is fast drawing to a close, and suddenly we’re faced with our final paddling sessions of the year. Here’s a quick summary of the ones I know about, feel free to add any others into the comments: Y Paddle 13 Dec 04: Paddling in the pool as normal 20 Dec 04: No [...]
Brighton Canoes, Newhaven – www.brighton-canoes.co.uk Desperate Measures, Nottingham – www.desperate-measures.co.uk Whitewater the Canoe Centre, Shepperton (nr London) – www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk
A short report and a handful of photos from the September Shepperton Slalom: Read more
Roger writes: Saturday was rather miserable and damp and Shepperton was as flat as a mill pond. So they ran an open Div 4 event too – for the 20 or so Islington Boat Club kids who were there.
It’s a bank holiday, the Y closes early, and we can’t paddle So why not go out and do something constructive like driving slowly on motorways. Maybe take a caravan.
Inspired by the Olympics? We won’t have you powering your way down raging whitewater by the end of this 5-week course, but you will have learned all the basics to get you started on the road to Beijing in 2008 (possibly). The course leads to BCU 1-star and 2-star qualifications. To book, please contact the [...]
It’s a div 2/3 slalom at Shepperton (just down near the start of the M3 at Sunbury) More news nearer the time
John’s posted somewhere approaching half a million photos from the London and South-East Region’s whitewater training weekend at Holmpierrepont. Find them at http://www.hydropia.com/hpp04.htm
Training weekend for London and the southeast. The water levels will vary during the weekend to make sure there is a suitable level to practise on for everyone. The lowest levels are at the beginning of each day. On Saturday there is an opportunity for anyone feeling brave to swim down the course when there [...]
We all had a good day out at the Peterborough slalom on Saturday. Congratulations to Duncan, an experienced paddler taking part in his first slalom, whose winning time of 128 seconds would have earned him second place in the D3 competition. Results: www.canoeslalom.co.uk/results04/240704ortonmere.htm Once again, I (Simon) managed to avoid promotion by one place. Undoubtedly [...]
Location: Orton Mere, Peterborough Individual events on two days, hosted by friendly Proteus Canoe Club. Camp on site, right next to the water. Leave London on Friday evening and return on Sunday evening. Directions: http://www.cdw.dircon.co.uk/slalom site.html
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John’s posted dozens of his Ironbridge photos on his website: www.hydropia.com and they’re excellent. Meanwhile, I’m suffering from bad case of zoom lens envy!
We’ve a social paddle planned for Sunday 11th July. Harefield is to the west of London, just inside the M25 and where we paddle is pleasant rural canal, with a section of moving water for those who want to explore paddling on moving water. The plan is to meet at the Y at 9.30am Load [...]
Location: Ironbridge, Shropshire Individual events on both days. Camping on site. We’ll leave London on Friday evening and return Saturday night.
I know it’s a bit of a cliche on the web, but “welcome” to the Y Paddle website! Please feel free to look around and let me know, via the comments below, if any page doesn’t appear to be working properly. Y Paddle members, if you would like to help contribute to the site, let me [...]
Proteus Canoe Club, Peterborough – www.cdw.dircon.co.uk
Pig Ugly – T-shirts for the discerning sporting person – www.pigugly.com
Hydropia – Our own John Bichard’s personal site with great photos and loads of links – www.hydropia.org Thames Weir Project – our eye on the Thames weirs- www.thamesweirproject.co.uk UK Rivers Guidebook – http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk
Our friends (well, suppliers) from Shepperton relocate to the Nene Whitewater Centre, Northampton for the day, hooking up with major manufacturers for a chance to try the best new kit.
… and then there were two. Roger and I both arrived at Shepperton Lock just before nine on Saturday morning, and a quick look at the weir confirmed our expectations, the water was flat. Not the conditions I needed to get my promotion to division 3.
Membership of the canoe club is free, however members also have to pay to join the YMCA itself: Full membership costs around £500 a year (most members will agree it is one of the best value gyms in London). Canoe club only membership costs approx £86 per year (or half that for six months), giving [...]
We do like to venture beyond Central London at weekends, particularly to get onto moving water. Many trips are to competitive events and several of us are active slalom competitors. Slaloms give us a chance to paddle “white water” on weirs and man-made courses as well as rivers. The club has a number of slalom [...]
Some of our members also paddle outdoors on the West Reservoir in Stoke Newington/Hackney on Tuesday evenings (in the summer) and on Sunday mornings. We also join Chiswick Pier Canoe Club for Sunday morning paddles on the Thames – these take place every week in the summer and on some Sunday’s during the winter months.
Dawn writes: On Sunday Mirkka, Jon and I went to the River Loddon slalom for the day. Happily we picked the sunniest and warmest day of another washed out bank holiday weekend and we all came back with pink noses!
Dawn, somewhere over the Atlantic (not permanently), writes: Well, I had intended to keep a Yat diary over the course of the Easter weekend. My head torch was primed and ready for long evenings, under the canvas, spanking the muse. Sadly there was no time for spanking the muse, nor anything/one else for that matter. [...]
Y-Paddle runs three 5-week introductory courses a year, usually starting in February, May and October. The course will take you from a complete beginner to BCU 1 or 2-Star level. It involves 5 pool sessions, voluntary (though recommended) outdoor sessions, and an outdoor examination. In the weeks and months that follow we aim to reinforce [...]
Y-Paddle Canoe Club c/o Central YMCA 112 Great Russell Street London, WC1B 3NQ Location Map