During this award, your instructor will work with you to develop your knowledge around equipment and environmental factors, as well as practical rescues, giving you confidence on the water.
What is the Paddle Safer Award?
This practical course gives you top tips and considerations to support you to paddle more safely. Over the two hours, you will learn how to choose appropriate equipment. You will also develop an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling, such as the environment.
During the session, you will develop your knowledge, experience and ability to plan your paddles and trips. It will highlight what to expect and look out for, based on the places you paddle.
You will practice a range of rescue techniques, and learn how to support each other and explore possible solutions to common mishaps.
Who is Paddle Safer for?
It is for anyone of any age who wants to develop their awareness and skills on the water. You don’t need any previous experience to take your Paddle Safer Award, just the desire for fun and learning! You can use any craft, including kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, sit on tops and inflatables.
Where and how can you do it?
We offer this award on the beautiful Silver Wing Lake, near Wraysbury (just off the M25, West of London)
What is covered in the Paddle Safer Award?
- Clothing and equipment information, it covers everything you need to know to physically get yourself on the water, covering all the types of equipment you’ll need, as well as any additional safety equipment you could consider.
- The paddling environment, you will discuss and observe the sheltered water environment, based on the places you usually paddle, as well as what to look out for with the changing weather forecast.
- Learn to plan your journey, with top tips around what to expect and look out for, considering your experience and ability.
- The fun bit, practicing your rescues, you’ll learn about how to stay safe and make the most out of your paddling session, providing practical solutions if you get into difficulty, how to support each other and call for help.
What’s the difference between the Paddle Safer and the SUP Safer?
The Paddle Safer is a 2-hour programme aimed at raising awareness of paddling safely. This course is great for those who paddle either kayak, canoe, sit on top, an inflatable or SUP to gain some awareness training, or for those who paddle in groups with different craft, for example, at a club or in a social group where there’s a mixed range of craft.
The SUP Safer course is a 4-hour programme and gives a more in-depth look into safety whilst stand up paddleboarding. This course is ideal for those who only use a SUP.