Paddle UK Qualifications & Courses

We are extremely proud to say that as of season 2024 we can now offer Paddle UK Courses and Qualifications. They are all white water based and we offer a range of qualifications from Leadership through to personal paddling skills.

British Canoeing has now renamed to Paddle UK, there was a strategic review and they decided to become more representative for all paddlers!!

This all happened when we met up with some of the core trainers and providers for Paddle UK in Slovenia during the Spring of 2023. It was apparent that there was a lack of providers and trainers outside of the UK and so we got in touch with the qualifications and coaching department to start our journey.

With the weather conditions and changing environment making kayaking more problematic in the UK, British Canoeing saw a great opportunity to partner with us to provide white water courses in Austria.

And why not?

Austria has the longest white water kayaking season in the Alps, our season starts in April and will go through until November plus guaranteed water levels for each course be it training or assessment make Austria and especially Base Arlberg the perfect place in Europe to run courses for British Canoeing.

With the use of informal learning, experience based learning and individualised programmes and choices are important to developing highly skilled leaders in a white water environment. Coupled with our extensive knowledge of kayaking and leading white water trips at the harder end white water you will have an abundance of knowledge and experience that can help you become a solid white water leader or guide.

There are 3 core courses that are required: Training, Safety and Rescue then finally Assessment.

They can be done separately or linked into a 6 day course, depending on your personal kayaking technique and experience.

Paddle UK Leadership Awards

Paddle UK Advanced White Water Leader

For those who are looking at leading groups of kayakers in Class 4 white water.

Be it for a club, organisation, personal performance or professionally, the British Canoeing Advanced White Water Kayak Leader will give you the confidence, knowledge and know how in leading a safe, successful and fun trip down the river.

Paddle UK Training courses are there to support you in your development of the required skills to become an Advanced White Water Kayak Leader.

We cover topics such as leadership skills, personal kayaking skills and safety and rescue.

To lead in an ever changing, water based environment poses a lot of questions for the leader such as:

Where to go
When to go
Water Levels
Group dynamics
What should I take

Each of these topics will need an answer to make a successful day on the river. However, Leaderships is not just about keeping people safe. There are a lot of outside factors such as individual or group goals. So to be able to do this a Leader must have good interpersonal skills, being able to communicate, show empathy and understand what is happening the group.

We help you to understand influences such as: the Situation and Environment, Yourself as the Leader and Group Members.

Working on your Leadership style, decision making and your behaviours we can start to explore how to make a safe, successful and fun trip down the river in your own style.

Throughout the time with us we will help you improve your kayaking technique so that you are paddling in a very dynamic and proactive manner.

In order to achieve the qualification you need to show competence in the following elements:

Participant focused leadership skills
Personal paddling skills
Rescue skills
Underpinning background knowledge, understanding and experience

To find out more about our Advanced White Water Kayak Leader courses just get in touch with us in the contact form below. We can run courses anywhere in the world, so you do not have to come to Austria even though it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world!!

Just click on the link to find out more about Paddle UK Advanced White Water Leader.

Paddle UK White Water Leader

For those who are looking at leading groups of kayakers in Class 2-3 white water.

Be it for a club, organisation, personal performance or professionally, the Paddle UK Advanced White Water Kayak Leader will give you the confidence, knowledge and know how in leading a safe, successful and fun trip down the river.

Paddle UK Training courses are there to support you in your development of the required skills to become a White Water Kayak Leader.

We cover topics such as leadership skills, personal kayaking skills and safety and rescue.

To lead in an ever changing, water based environment poses a lot of questions for the leader such as:

Where to go
When to go
Water Levels
Group dynamics

What should I take

Each of these topics will need an answer to make a successful day on the river. However, Leadership is not just about keeping people safe. There are a lot of outside factors such as individual or group goals. So to be able to do this a Leader must have good interpersonal skills, being able to communicate, show empathy and understand what is happening the group.

We help you to understand influences such as: the Situation and Environment, Yourself as the Leader and Group Members.

Working on your Leadership style, decision making and your behaviours we can start to explore how to make a safe, successful and fun trip down the river in your own style.

Throughout the time with us we will help you improve your kayaking technique so that you are paddling in a very dynamic and proactive manner.

In order to achieve the qualification you need to show competence in the following elements:

Participant focused leadership skills
Personal paddling skills
Rescue skills
Underpinning background knowledge, understanding and experience

To find out more about our White Water Kayak Leader courses just get in touch with us in the contact form below. We can run courses anywhere in the world, so you do not have to come to Austria even though it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world!!

Just click on the link to find out more about Paddle UK White Water Leader.

Personal Performance Awards

The Personal Performance Awards are designed for paddlers wanting to gain recognition of their learning and development in the craft and environment they choose, so for us that is White Water!

White Water Award - Class 2

This award is designed to develop your ability to apply appropriate decision making skills for a safe day out white water kayaking. The White Water Award endorses your skill, judgement and decision making to ensure a successful day on rivers of up to Class 2. You will be confident in planning and undertaking journeys on moving water with proficient skills to be in control throughout. The award should be seen as a sound basis for building the experience and knowledge associated with Class 2 kayaking.

Progressive White Water Award - Class 3-4

This award is designed to progress your ability in appropriate decision making and personal paddling skills on white water for a safe day out on Class 3-4 rivers.

Your Progressive White Water Award endorses your judgement, decision making and expertise and requires a good understanding of kayaking on Class 3-4 rivers. You should be confident planning and undertaking journeys on various styles of white water rivers, such as Alpine, Big Volume, Technical, Pool Drop or Continuous. Your confidence should be based upon both proficiency in skills and a broad appreciation of surroundings and environmental context. The award should be seen as sound basis for independently building the experience and expertise of competently kayaking Class 3-4 rivers.

Advanced White Water Award - Class 4-5

This award is designed to advance your white water skills and your ability to make appropriate decisions for safe days out kayaking on river of Class 4-5. As an Advanced White Water Kayaker you will have extensive experience and knowledge of white water rivers. Your experience will include kayaking on a wide variety of rivers be it Alpine, Big Volume, Technical, Pool Drop or Continuous at Class 4-5. The award should be seen as a sound basis for experience and expertise of competently kayaking on rapids, sections and features of Class 4 to Class 5.