Courses

About our courses

All our courses are run by our coaches, who are volunteers. We run member-only courses throughout the year (at the coach’s discretion). We also offer a 2-day Hampton Paddler course for people wanting to gain the skills needed to paddle independently in our craft and join the club.

All money raised from courses goes toward the running costs of the Club.

Course Dates & Booking

Courses can be booked by clicking the image below.
And are advertised on the British Canoeing Events system. Please log in with your regular BC portal username and password, if you have one.

Courses and coaching for non-members

Paddle Safer Award

If you’re a new or novice paddler and want to raise your awareness of paddling safely, then the Paddle Safer is for you! It’ll help you develop a better understanding of how to be safe when taking to the water.

During this award, your instructor will work with you to develop your knowledge around equipment and environmental factors, as well as practical rescues, giving you confidence on the water.

What is the Paddle Safer Award?

The Paddle Safer Award is exactly what it says on the tin. This practical course gives you top tips and considerations to support you to paddle safer. Over the two hours, you will learn how to choose appropriate equipment. You will also develop an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling, such as the environment.

During the session, you will develop your knowledge, experience and ability to plan your paddles and trips. It will highlight what to expect and look out for, based on the places you paddle.

You will practice a range of rescue techniques, and learn how to support each other and explore possible solutions to common mishaps.

Who is Paddle Safer for?

This award is for adults who want to gain knowledge and raise awareness of how to paddle safely on the Thames near Hampton, Molesey, Sunbury and Walton on Thames. You don’t need any previous experience to take your Paddle Safer Award, just the desire for fun and learning! You can use any craft, including kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, sit on tops and inflatables.

Anyone under 18 years old who wishes to do the course must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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Hampton Paddler course

An important part of Hampton Canoe Club’s mission is to introduce new paddlers to the delights of kayaking and canoeing and to ensure that people can paddle safely and competently when and where they like on placid waters.

Our Hampton Paddler course is designed to provide you with the essential skills to become a basic adult paddler and is the required minimum standard if you are planning to join the club. You will also receive the British Canoeing Paddle Discover qualification.

About the Hampton Paddler course

Qualified, experienced coaches will lead the course, which is done in ‘K1’ racing kayaks (we are not a racing club, but most of our members prefer to paddle recreationally in racing craft). 

Each course starts with a welcome briefing to explain our plans for the course, the do’s and don’ts of paddling on the Thames, and selecting and adjusting your equipment. Then we will go afloat, explaining the best way to do that and cover the basic techniques of handling a kayak effectively and efficiently. 

We will also cover rescue techniques – how to rescue a pal and how to rescue yourself.

The courses include two days of coaching over a series of evenings or a weekend. All coaching, boat hire, and equipment costs are included.

The course fee also includes membership in Hampton Canoe Club until March of the following year and certification for the British Canoeing Paddle Discover Award.

Prerequisites

Course participants should be water confident and able to swim 50 metres.

Cancellations

Please note that if a course has fewer than four people booked, it will be cancelled. You will be eligible for a full refund or a space on the next available course with spaces.

Course content

The full syllabus for the course is attached here.

The risk assessment for the course is here.

The courses are led by British Canoeing qualified instructors, leaders and coaches.

We only run courses for adults.  If you are after children’s courses, you could try Surrey Canoe Club or Albany Outdoors in Kingston.

Courses and coaching for members

We run a range of courses for members, which are laid on throughout the year.

Kayaking

Members will have the opportunity to take part in any sessions organised by coaches, leaders or other members at the club. These range from improver sessions to informal fitness paddles, externally provided technique clinics, rolling and rescue training, etc.   

In addition, we have created the Hampton Kayaker+ course, which aims to develop further the skills and confidence of club members in our ‘K1’ racing boats.

The syllabus for Hampton Kayaker+ is attached here

Canoeing

Our coaches offer informal canoe training sessions throughout the year.

In addition, we have created the Hampton Canoeist+ course, which aims to further develop the skills and confidence of club members in our open canoes.

The syllabus for Hampton Canoeist+ is attached here

Stand Up Paddleboard 

Before using a SUP at the Club, members need to hold a BC SUP Award or have completed a SUP training course that has been provided by a qualified SUP instructor. 

SUP courses include self-rescue, rescuing others and being rescued, and will be run during the warmer months if there is sufficient demand.