KEEN TO LEARN TO PADDLE?
JOIN US FOR OUR TRY LEARN EXPLORE COURSES!
PLEASE REGISTER BY CLICKING ON YOUR CHOSEN COURSE BELOW!
TRY ~ LEARN ~ EXPLORE
INTRODUCTORY LEARN TO PADDLE COURSES
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If you love the water and are eager to give paddling a go then we would love to hear from you! Kayaking is a great sport to get into. It offers low impact, all levels of intensity, accessibility for all ages and abilities and a friendly family culture. From social to competitive, there is something for everyone!
How do I get started? It’s really easy to get involved. North Shore Canoe Club is delivering the Canoe Racing New Zealand accredited "Try Learn Explore" Paddling Programme.
Our next round of courses will be in Term 4.
We will have Adult (18 years and over), Youth (10-17 years) courses available. The adult courses are 4 x 1 hour sessions over 4 weeks and the youth courses are 8 x 1 hour sessions over 8 weeks.
These courses introduce you to paddling and teach you the skills to paddle effectively and safely. It is focused on participant fun and wellbeing, learning paddling skills and building water safety and confidence. The course will complete the first two stages ("Try" and "Learn") of Canoe Racing New Zealand's accredited paddling programme and is delivered by CRNZ accredited coaches and assistant coaches. By the end of one of these courses you should be at the level where you can consider joining the North Shore Canoe Club and continuing to paddle in one of our Development Squads and if you are in Year 7 and 8 at Intermediate you can consider registering through your school for Canoeing at the 2023 AIMS GAMES!
If you have been wanting to learn to paddle then we encourage you to sign up! To register, select from the Courses below based on your age and preferred session day / time. Once you've booked and paid, we will email you a consent/waiver form and link to a registration form to complete, then all you need to do is turn up 15 mins before your first booked session is due to begin to enjoy getting out on the water at Lake Pupuke.
Our clubrooms are located at 1A Northcote Rd, Takapuna
What do I need to bring?
Boats, paddles and personal flotation devices (PFD's) are provided. Please note that there is every likelihood that during your first few sessions you may fall out of the boat and get wet. Being comfortable in water and the ability to swim is essential for learning to kayak. Please wear suitable watersport clothing such as togs with a sports singlet/long or short sleeve rash vest and shorts over. Please do not wear long sleeve tops, long pants or any other type of loose fitting clothing. A wetsuit is also fine if you want the extra warmth but usually not needed during summer. Bring along a towel and a change of clothing as you will be able to have a warm shower afterwards!
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What's next?
Once you have attended one of our Try Learn Explore courses, please consider joining the North Shore Canoe Club as a member if you would like to continue on your kayaking journey. We would love for you to sign up as a member and then you will be able to join in our regular development or social paddling groups depending on what level you are at. As a member you are also eligible to use club gear (boats, paddles and life jackets) for a nominal annual fee in addition to your membership fee. It doesn't usually take long to get the hang of kayaking and many of the paddlers in our development group quickly move on to taking part in canoe sprint regattas and longer-distance races run by Canoe Racing New Zealand at beautiful scenic locations such as Lake Karapiro (near Cambridge) and Lake Tikitapu (near Rotorua). These regattas include a novice category for beginners as well as an U12 category for kids aged 8-12 years old.
Depending on how fast you progress you may eventually want to look at purchasing your own boat and/or paddle. We can certainly give you advice and help you to find the right ones for you!
Whatever level you want to take it to, we are confident you will quickly grow to love paddling! Kayaking regularly will build your general fitness level, strengthen your core, burn fat and increase your cardiovascular fitness and overall stamina. It’s also a lot of fun!