Dan
A brilliant course run by the excellent Sean. His knowledge and experience shone through all the time and he really made the course a valuable learning tool.



Paddlesport leaders will take paddlers on great journeys creating amazing experiences and inspiring participants to enjoy paddling in a range of environments. They should allow paddlers the freedom to journey at their own pace whilst supporting individuals to paddle in environments that are safe but challenging.
A paddlesport leader is seen to be an independent leader who can work outside an organisation.
Training courses are appropriate for:
You may well also decide to:
The key part of any training course is the individual debrief to assist with your development of your detailed action plan.
This courses will take place in Cumbria. For the majority of our courses the meeting points / venues will vary depending on weather conditions and water levels.
The most commonly used lakes are Ullswater, Derwentwater and Windermere and the most commonly used rivers are Eden, Leven and Lune. Favourite spots would include Glenridding at the southend of Ullswater, the river Eden north of Penrith, Middle Derwent near Keswick, Lune near Kirkby Lonsdale, Kent through Kendal and the Leven near Newby Bridge.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the sheltered water environment. For assessment all candidates must register with British Canoeing.
For Level 1 Paddlesport Coaches: This award is a valuable complement, fostering enhanced autonomy in coaching duties. It demands a higher proficiency in personal and safety/rescue skills, ensuring robust leadership decisions on water.
For Club Activity Assistants (CAAs): Those seeking increased responsibility will find this award beneficial. It qualifies leaders to manage diverse crafts in sheltered waters, supporting both single and mixed fleets, encompassing racing crafts, kayaks, canoes, sit-on-tops, paddleboards, and crew boats.
Paddlesport Leaders are certified to guide participants on simple, sheltered water trips. These could include flat waters within 200 meters from the bank, wind conditions under force 3 (below 12mph), and very slow-moving rivers navigable against the flow. The itinerary might feature manageable weirs, locks, or shallow rapids, easily circumvented on foot.
Suitable venues encompass sheltered coastal bays with minimal risk and tidal estuaries with very low current (0.5 knots). Examples of Lake District venues are the south end of Ullswater under 10mph wind, north end of Windermere, including parts of the rivers Brathay and Rothay, and the river down to Newby Bridge in favorable wind. Other locations include Norfolk Broads, non-tidal sections of the Thames with low flow, Llangollen Canal from Horseshoe Falls to Whitchurch, most of the lower Wye excluding specific sections, and the River Medway from Tonbridge to Maidstone.
Paddlesport Leaders are equipped to lead paddlers requiring support in any craft, whether in mixed or identical groups. They have the discretion to determine the group size, with eight solo crafts or six tandem crafts considered large.
To book the assessment for after this training, scroll down to other courses by this centre and find 'Paddlesport Leader Assessment.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the sheltered water environment.
For assessment all candidates must register with British Canoeing.
At registration evidence of the following is required:
A brilliant course run by the excellent Sean. His knowledge and experience shone through all the time and he really made the course a valuable learning tool.
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