Axe Vale Canoe Club

We are running a series of introductory courses starting in May 2025 for people interested in learning how to paddle a kayak &/or canoe. The aim of our courses is to provide you with the skills to enjoy paddling in the local river/estuary conditions and then leading on to paddling at sea if you choose to continue paddling with us. The course could help you towards achieving a wish to: go on trips on canals, rivers, estuaries or at sea, take you friends/family for trips in suitable conditions, etc.

We are running introductory and intermediate courses in May, June and July 2025 for people interested in learning how to paddle a kayak or canoe. Qualified Paddle UK coaches will run the courses. The courses follow the Paddle UK awards syllabus comprising Start and Discover Awards with the option of completing the Explore Award as a member of the AVCC. The introductory course is three sessions, starting in May, and will result in the Start Award in either kayak or canoe, as you choose. Following this, if you decide to continue paddling with us, the intermediate course is six sessions during June and July and will result in the Discover Award. For those that wish to progress further with their paddling journey, you can join our club as a full member, and we can help you achieve the Explore Award over the Summer. The sessions are held on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening, depending upon your chosen craft, on the estuary in Seaton. .

Note there is a separate Junior’s Course aimed at young people with a separate information leaflet. If you are 11 to 15 years old, you may prefer the Junior course which runs on Saturday Morning.

Any attendee with additional needs must contact Donna Vincent on 07866 531982 prior to booking on the course to check if the course and our provision is suitable for them as we paddle on complex water and this may not suit everyone.

Is this course suitable for you? We do not use Sit-on Kayaks for the course - enclosed kayaks are used with spraydecks or open canoes. To do our course on our flowing/wavy waters you will need certain amount of flexibility/mobility (typically we would expect as a guide: an ability to kneel down for extended periods, the ability to rotate your torso 45 deg each way whist sitting down). Our courses are aimed at equipping you for group paddling on rivers and sea in a range of conditions, rather than solo sit-on paddling on calm water.

On the Application Form you will be asked to choose your preference of Kayak or Canoe. If you are unsure which to choose then the following general advice applies:

- Kayak - our kayaks are river/sea kayaks which you sit inside and you are given the skills to use the spraydecks to keep dry inside (they are not Sit-On kayaks). If you have a Sit-on and wish to use it for the course then please bring it along. If you choose ‘kayak’ you will be expected to perform a full capsize so you experience how to exit the kayak up-side-down and swim to shore safely, so you need to be happy to get your head wet. Max number per session is up to 12 people.

- Canoe - these are open canoes (Canadian canoes) which you paddle with two people initially then move on to paddling them alone. They are paddled with a single ended paddle. Again you will be expected to learn how to capsize safely but in this case you do not get your head wet as you fall out before that happens in an open canoe. As a generalisation, canoeing tends to be more comfortable as you can move around more, though it is advisable that you able to kneel within the canoe. Maximum number per session is up to 6 people

There is a tendency for the kayak option to be more popular but be assured that it does not matter at this stage which you learn as transferring the skills to the other type of craft is very straightforward. So please do not worry if you have to learn to canoe first but would prefer kayak as we can easily transfer you after the course.

Venue:       Axe Vale Canoe Club, Axmouth Harbour, Seaton (EX12 4AA)

Introductory Course IP1:    Tuesdays 13th, 20th May and 3rd June 2025 (START)
                                       KAYAK only            £30

Introductory Course IP2:    Wednesdays 14th, 21st May and 4th June 2025 (START)
                                       CANOE only            £30

Intermediate Course IP3:    Tuesdays 10th June to 15th July 2025 (DISCOVER)
                                        KAYAK only            £60          (follow on from IP1 or for paddlers with some experience)

Intermediate Course IP4:    Wednesdays 11th June to 16th July (DISCOVER)
                                        CANOE only           £60 (follow on from IP2 or for paddlers with some experience)

Times:        Meet at 6:00 pm at the Club House, Seaton. We will be off the water at 9:00 pm

Please download and read the Information Leaflet (PDF) on the right --->

Booking OPEN - please use the ‘AVCC on WebCollect’ on-line application process.

Click the ’Apply Here’ button, sign-up for WebCollect (or Sign-in if you have used it before),
and on the AVCC page, select the ‘Intro to Paddlesports Course (IP1 or IP2)’ as appropriate.

If you want to talk to someone first then please call Colin Schofield on 07889 842104.

Click here to read our Event/Course Data Processing Notice.

All participants must be able to swim 50 metres, although for assistance, buoyancy aids will be provided. Minimum Age is 11 years old. The club insurance covers third party liability but not personal accident.

You will need to bring along:
- two sets of clothes (one for canoeing and one to travel home). For canoeing bring suitable clothing and shoes – for
   example: thin fleece, thermal top (man-made fibre), tracksuit bottoms, lace-up shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
- a towel for a shower when you get off the water,
- for those who wear glasses, something to tie them on (so they do not get lost in the river).
We will provide all the other kit and equipment you need during the course.

On successful completion participants will gain a PUK Discover Paddle Award Certificate (included within the course cost). With the inclusive summer membership, you can continue to attend and progress your skills, as well as take part in a number of trips which will be planned for the weekends. If you progress to the PUK Explore Award, please note that there is an additional fee for the Explore certificate (£10) payable to Paddle UK.

There is  an Information Sheet for use during the course here:

Here are copies of the British Canoeing Paddle Award leaflets:

DISCOVER - EXPLORE