Whitewater

Maidstone Canoe Club has an active whitewater group and runs regular trips throughout the year. There's a wide range of experience within the Club, from newcomers who have recently completed a beginner course through to experienced boaters running serious whitewater. We aim to run fully-coached Introduction to Whitewater courses every year, starting on basic moving-water techniques at local weirs and moving on to weekend trips on easier rivers such at the Dee and the Exe. 

Regular trips typically run on grade 3 rivers such as the Dart Loop and Upper Tryweryn, and full descriptions of what experience is required listed on the calendar event page. On a typical trip, there will be a group with qualified river leaders often helping newer paddlers, another independent group running the river as a peer group, and perhaps more experienced boaters finding time to run harder rivers nearby. There's usually a trip to Slovenia in the Spring, and another trip to the Alps over the summer.

How do I get involved?

Once you've done your beginner course, get out paddling on flat water so you're confident in your basic strokes!  Come to the pool sessions to practice bracing and other skills.  Keep an eye on the calendar for the next Introduction to Whitewater course the Club is running - you might also consider doing a course at the excellent Lee Valley Whitewater Course, just around the M25. Join the whitewater mailing list - trips always appear on the website, but the mailing list is good for organising lifts, discussing rivers, etc. To join the mailing list, send a request via the contact us form.

The Club has some kit you can borrow, and coaches and other paddlers are usually generous with their spare gear when you're just starting out. Once you're ready to buy some of your own gear, take a look at this handy guide to avoid making expensive mistakes!