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Paddlesport Instructor

 

 

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What our clients say...

"Thanks for all your input over the last couple of days. Lots for me to reflect on. I really appreciated how you guys delivered the course and hope our paths will cross again."

"Just wanted to drop you a few lines to say thank you for the experience. I've used a lot of providers for various training needs over the years and by far I rate your coaching above all of them. Really appreciated your directness and drive as it made the course intense but without losing any quality. I really enjoyed both courses and felt it was extremely good value for money."

"Course very well delivered and coached, good atmosphere throughout and good knowledge. Received lots of information with ample opportunity for communication. Very good equipment and variety. A high level of information delivered to a high standard. Very good instruction with good clear reviews on all aspects. Highly recommended."

"Fantastic course, really enjoyed it!! Plenty of information sent through before the course. Excellent equipment. Got more than I was expecting, learnt loads. Good technical content made everything clear. Excellent use of different angles to demonstrate - probably will be doing other courses in future, cheers guys."

"Excellent course - fantastic instructors with bags of enthusiasm for the sport. The depth of instruction was far greater than any course I have attended (even high grade courses). I leave this course with a firm foundation to progress and inspire new paddlers. Many thanks!"

"I just wanted to follow up with a thank you email for everything over the last four days. Both Ricky and I have learnt a lot and are extremely excited to introduce paddlesports to International School of Moscow. Further to our conversation, after discussion with the head I'm sure we will have more colleagues on to the course in the coming year."

"It's been one of the toughest courses I've ever done in terms of personal development - I really enjoyed myself and I've learnt a lot about coaching, skill delivery, canoeing and myself. Thank you very much!! Your time and patience with me has been very much appreciated."

"Very good course, learnt a lot, enjoyed myself and made new friends. Technical content was well structured and paced. Both instructors worked hard to meet the individual needs of the students, but without interfering with course progress. Thanks!"

"Excellent, a lot of information and a chance to try a lot of different boats and paddles. Very high quality equipment and a good range of different gear. I got a good level of teaching skills and a chance to improve my own paddling."

"Slick, no deadtime, informative, lots of practical. Covered all necessary information - all sent out in good time. Technical content was accessible, no jargon, challenging but achievable. Specific feedback given - suitable for me - appreciated."

"Really good course, as usual! Excellent pre-course information provided. All equipment is great! All instructors provided great information and technical knowledge. They catered well for my situation and needs."

Testimonials

Paddlesport Instructor

Wild River Course Calendar

 

British Canoeing Awarding Body

Paddlesport Instructor


This course is designed for people whose main focus is to deliver paddlesport taster/starter sessions and short journeys in very sheltered water environments.

This 2 day course helps to prepare candidates for their first paddlesport instructing role, ensuring they are ‘primed and ready’ to deliver taster sessions for people new to paddlesport.

Paddlesport Instructor

Personal Paddling and Rescue Competence

Candidates will choose to paddle one type* of stable craft for the personal paddling and rescue skills assessment.

*Kayak (closed or open cockpit), sit on top, open canoe, or stand up paddleboard.

The Paddlesport Instructor Course Guide and Assessment Guidance provide specific information about the required standard. Please note that this is an assessment course as there isn’t time for training during the course.

The Paddlesport Instructor course has been designed on the premise that the candidate has the required personal and rescue skills prior to course attendance. These components are assessed (but not trained) during the course.

It is not in the best interests of the candidate to attend the course without meeting these standards.

If a candidate does not complete an element required for certification by the end of the assessment course, there are two potential outcomes:

  1. In most circumstances the candidate would be required to repeat all aspects of assessment on a future course.
  2. Alternatively, the candidate can work with the same provider to conclude the assessment components; with the assessor providing further opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate competence in the specific element/s as required. If this option is chosen, it must be concluded within 2 months.

All our courses are delivered by coaches who are extremely active in the sport. We believe that in order to coach well we must work hard to stay at the forefront of the sport. This means that we can give you the most up to date paddling tips. We understand what we do and coach technical and tactical solutions that work in the environment they are supposed to.

Equipment

On our course you will have the opportunity to use some of our excellent fleet of boats, including a very up to date collection of Dagger river boats and well set up Royalex canoes.

Paddlesport Instructor

Venues

We run coaching courses at a variety of venues. We pick these venues very carefully to make sure they help to make your progression to Paddlesport Instructor as smooth as possible. These include Ullswater Yacht Club, Water Park Lakeland Adventure Centre, Coniston, Cumbria and the Tees Barrage International White Water Centre, Stockton on Tees.

If your club or workplace has a suitable venue to hold a Paddlesport Instructor course we would be happy to provide a course at your venue. Please contact us to discuss options.

Water Park Coniston

Tees Barrage International White Water Centre

Water Park ConistonDoe Park Water Activities Centre

Course Dates

6,7 April 2025
Course fee: £250
Venue: Coniston
(PSRC on 5 April, if required, costs an additional £110).

18,19 September 2025
Course fee: £250
Venue: Coniston
(PSRC on 17 September, if required, costs an additional £110).

Pre-requisites

It is recommended that candidates allow at least 1 week before their planned course for their registration to be processed and course materials sent out.

British Canoeing Membership

 

Resources

Kayak Leader Training Action Plan Action Plan

British Canoeing Level 1 Course GuidePaddlesport Instructor Course Documents

How to Register Video

British Canoeing Level 1 Course GuideRegistration Costs

British Canoeing Level 1 Course GuideLearner Development Pack

British Canoeing Environmental DefinitionsGetting on the Water Briefs

British Canoeing Environmental DefinitionsEnvironmental Definitions

Session PlannersWR Session Planner 

Course Dates
Paddlesport Instructor
Paddlesport Instructor
Paddlesport Instructor
Paddlesport Instructor

Preparing for a BCAB Paddlesport Instructor course
with Wild River

1.

Select a course and book

Select your preferred course dates from the Wild River Course Calendar and book your place.

Wild River will send you detailed information including the course number for registration, start time, directions to the venue and any other information you need.

Send a deposit of £50 or the full course fee to confirm your place. See Booking Information for details of how to pay.

2.

Become a Paddle UK Member

Join on-line, click here. Choose the 'on the water' option.

3.

Register with Paddle UK

Once you become a member you can register on-line via your membership portal.

  • Registration fee is £46.80.

For Paddle Scotland members please click here.

*Although the Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course is a pre-requisite for Paddlesport Instructor, if you have not already completed this course you should still register as soon as possible. In most cases the PSRC can be undertaken in connection with our Paddlesport Instructor course.

4.

On the first day of the course

Turn up on the first day of the course with:

Enjoy the course!

Apply for funding

If you are a member of a canoe club you may be entitled to some support from them or from Paddle UK. Contact the treasurer of your club or the Paddlesport Development Officer for your region.

Course Dates

 

 

Paddlesport courses in the Lake District