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OUR CHALLENGE AWARDS

A fun way to progress your paddling

The PaddlePlus Challenge Awards are aimed at our members who wish to progress in certain skill areas, with the reward of a badge and a certificate at the end of each challenge. They aim to add some extra challenges for your time at the club, while you can also work towards your British Canoeing Start, Explore and Discover awards.


There is a small (£1) fee for each badge & certificate.

Our Challenge Awards: Staff
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I GOT WET CHALLENGE

  • Splash your instructor (extra points for effective technique!)

  • Get splashed back

  • Balancing activity: Stand up in your boat, touch your nose on the end of your boat, walk along a line of boats and back. CANOE: Head shoulders knees and jump, stand on gunwales or seat.

  • Capsize in a controlled manner 

  • Jump in from the bank

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EVERY CRAFT CHALLENGE

Display basic skills in 6 of the following craft: Forwards, backwards, turn, sideways, stop. ​This can be done over a number of weeks.

  • Single Kayak

  • Duo Kayak

  • Wavehopper/ Lightening racing boat

  • Playboat or Slalom boat

  • Canoe/ Katakanu

  • Paddleboard

  • Coracle

  • Bell boat

  • Sit-on-top

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SAFE INDEPENDENT PADDLER CHALLENGE

  • Collect and organise own equipment, including getting boat to the water (teamwork, buddy checks, selecting the right paddle)

  • Help others

  • Get in/out of your craft in a controlled manner

  • How to raise the alarm.

  • Show river traffic awareness 

  • Be responsible for putting away your equipment at the end of the session 

  • Swim across from the bank to the other side and hitch a ride back – throwline or tow holding on to instructor’s boat

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TRIP CHALLENGE

Complete a trip of more than 3 miles

  • Demonstrate your ability to organise your own kit 

  • Teamwork, supporting others

  • Knowing who’s in your group and their ability

  • Show understanding of other river users 

  • Environmental (respecting nature, ‘leave only footprints, take only memories’)

  • Know what a safe group looks like, line of sight and use of river signals 

  • Submit a trip report (see our Blog for inspiration)

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VOLUNTEER CHALLENGE

Perform aprox 5 hours of any of the following:

  • Showing new members around

  • Prep the refreshments on a club night

  • Tidying/vacuuming the club room

  • Putting equipment away

  • Litter picking

  • Helping at an event eg. Duck race

  • Supporting leaders

  • Helping to organise a trip

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WEIR CHALLENGE

  1. Cover basic weir safety

  2. Run through river signals (go/ stop/ directions)

  3. Demonstrate river signals

  4. Set up and paddle confidently at the weir, slide down

  5. Finish upright!

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SPRAYDECK CHALLENGE

This is prerequisite for anyone wanting to wear a spray deck, this must be demonstrated in the river, not pool. 

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  • Explain the benefits of wearing a spray deck

  • Demonstrate release of your deck on the bank with eyes closed 

  • Capsize and get out without spray deck

  • Capsize with spray deck - using three taps before exiting to show control

  • Demonstrate this until your leader is confident you've nailed it!


Practice safe exits regularly. Test to be done with a neoprene deck not a nylon.  

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KAYAK ROLL CHALLENGE

Pre-requisite: Spraydeck Challenge

Perform 3 successful rolls, one at speed.

  • Practice would include: Hip flicks and T-rescues with both hands and one hand.

  • Practice at stand still, with speed, setting up from scratch, both sides.

Any club instructor, coach or leader can help you work towards a Challenge Award, and you don’t have to do it all in one go!

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Sometimes it may not be possible to focus on certain awards due to group numbers, but if you ask your leader at the beginning of a session, or better still the week before, they will do their best to make sure you get some time to be coached / assessed.

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