Mon 28 Apr 2025 Summer Training – Social Paddle, Polo Skills & Personal Coaching

Apologies for the short notice, but please ‘get tickets’ (or e-mail Steve with expressions of interest) ASAP, he’ll aim to decide on Wednesday evening what we can actually offer next Monday. Thanks!

For our first Monday evening outdoor foray on the river at Brecon Promenade after Easter we hope to offer:

• ‘social paddling’ – come along and join us for a gentle paddle, probably to the rapids and back;
• skills training for our polo squad (if enough of them want to come) – boat handling, fitness and ball skills (and maybe some game-play!); and
• personal coaching (very limited numbers, depending on coach availability, will run alongside the social paddle).

Details for subsequent weeks to follow in due course…

Venue

Brecon Promenade – meet by the Club’s store adjacent to the toilet block in the ‘upper’ car park (https://what3words.com/tigers.loitering.bandage) – NOT in the car park next to the river / boathouse (although some of us might end up operating from there).

Times

Meet at 6.30pm, ready in your paddling clothes. We want to have everyone kitted-up and getting on the water by 7pm, so late arrival has quite a disruptive effect!

We’ll aim to be getting off the water around 8.30pm, before it gets dark.

Parents or other adults must be available at the start and end of the session to help under-18s with kit and to carry boats; and throughout the session in case they need to get off the water early.

Facilities

There are no indoor changing facilities on site, so it’s a case of changing in the car park. Disabled (and maybe other) toilet/s should be open but cost 20p to get in.

Cost

• No cost for social paddle or polo skills if you bring your own boat & kit (although donations welcomed to help us cover costs).
• £5 to hire club kayak & kit for social paddle or polo skills (canoes & SUPs may also be available for some sessions at additional cost).
• £10 for personal coaching – to be confirmed once we know availability (same cost for own or hired kit).
• All existing Club members must also have up-to-date membership of both the Club and Paddle Cymru and have signed-up to our Club Code of Conduct – we’ll send separate reminders for those of you who need these! Any new members will need to join formally after their first three sessions.

Equipment and Clothing

Don’t forget a towel and complete change of clothes for the end of the session, in case you do fall in!!

We’ll provide boats, paddles, buoyancy aids, helmets and spray-decks for those who need them – but if you have your own, please bring them along

Although deliberate immersion isn’t always part of the plan (and even when it is, it’s usually towards the end of the session) there’s always a chance of accidental capsize, so kit should take account of this (and the general weather conditions).

At the very least, wear clothing layers of the type you might wear to go walking – ideally synthetic materials that stay warm and don’t get too heavy when wet. Most people wear swimwear underneath. And a waterproof jacket (to keep off the rain and wind, rather than keep you dry if you capsize!) – we do have a limited number of canoeing cagoules, but not enough of the right sizes for everyone.

Footwear that you don’t mind getting wet, not too large (chunky trainers don’t fit well in kayaks; neoprene wet-shoes are ideal; sandals or crocs no good as they fall off!).

If you want to be assured of staying warmer if you fall in, a wetsuit is the next step. Ones made specifically for paddling are called Long Johns (or Long Janes) and don’t have sleeves, for maximum mobility (worn with e.g. rash vest beneath and/or fleece above). But a standard surfing-type ‘full’ wetsuit is also fine as a starter. Again, we do have a very limited number of wetsuits, which you’re welcome to check-out on the first evening in case we have one that fits you…