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.
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
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
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
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)
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
WEIR CHALLENGE
Cover basic weir safety
Run through river signals (go/ stop/ directions)
Demonstrate river signals
Set up and paddle confidently at the weir, slide down
Finish upright!
SPRAYDECK CHALLENGE
This is prerequisite for anyone wanting to wear a spray deck, this must be demonstrated in the river, not pool.
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.
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!
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.