What we do

Our members participate in White Water River running, lake trips, surfing, play boating, Canadian canoeing, slalom, supporting long distance swims, and sea paddling.

We instruct from absolute beginners up to British Canoeing 3 star standard on the river and we can help arrange instruction for leadership awards and coach development. In the winter members practice and are taught to roll, and can practise other skills in a nice warm swimming pool.

Regular sessions

  • April to September: 2 hour sessions on the River Eden at the Sands Centre on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6.00pm to 8.00pm (meeting at the club at about 5.30pm)
  • October to March: normally a 2 hour session on the River Eden at the Sands Centre on Saturday morning, 10.00pm to 12 noon (meeting at the club at about 9.45am), occasional sessions on a Sunday, plus indoor sessions on a Thursday evening at Trinity Pool Leisure Centre, 8.15pm to 9.15pm (meeting at the pool at about 8.00pm), for which a small additional charge of £3.00 per session is made.

Outdoor winter sessions are subject to variation, depending upon river levels, demand, and the availability of coaches. The best place for members to find up-to-date information about imminent sessions is on the members' Facebook page (not open to non-members)

 

Coaching Programme

Level
Sessions

Beginners

  • 1 Star courses are run between April and September (summer season). At least 8 places available each month. Two 2 hour sessions per week for 4 weeks
    • Having completed the 1 Star course you move into the improvers groups 
  • Between October and March, rolling sessions take place in a local pool for existing members.

Courses are open to all over age 10 who can swim 50 metres in light clothing

Please see the section Getting Started for more information.

Improvers

  • 2 and 3 Star coaching follows on from beginners' sessions throughout the summer season on the river Eden at the Sands. Two 2 hour sessions per week.
  • October - March, normally a Saturday morning session on the river (not necessarily with formal coaching), and rolling sessions takes place in a local pool for existing members.
  • Club river trips tend to take place between October and March and are used to improve skills or just have fun.
  • Club lake trips are arranged from time to time on Ullswater and Derwent water, usually during the summer, sometimes ending with a barbecue on the lakeshore. These can be an opportunity to try out unfamiliar craft in safe and sheltered conditions - eg' an open boat or sea kayak
  • Surfing trips are arranged on an occasional basis when conditions look promising, usually on the north east coast

 

Recent club trips have included:

  • the Alps
  • the Treweryn in Wales
  • Scottish rivers, including the Esk, Etive, Orchy, Roy, Spean, Tay and Spey
  • Caldew, Eden, Gelt, Greta, Liddle, Lowther, Swale and the Lune
  • The Great Glen
  • Farne Islands, Skye, Raasay, Summer Isles, Colonsay
  • Ullswater, Derwent water and other Northern Lakes

Some of these trips are club events and some are arranged between members. To understand the difference between such events please follow link to a short article based on a letter sent to the parents and guardians of junior members in December 2011

http://www.carlislecanoeclub.org.uk/ccc_mainsite/articles/1323104141/what-club-trip

Please note that for members without transport,of their own, lifts can usually be arranged for club trips in exchange for a contribution towards the cost of fuel (not always required).