Outdoor Training Sessions
The club meets every Monday and Wednesday evening and Saturday mornings during the racing season for outdoor water-based training sessions.
The racing season runs from Monday 27th March 2017 to Wednesday 13th September 2017.
Water-based training sessions are as follows:
| Day | Location | Start time | End-time | Group Ability |
| Mon | Linlithgow Canal Basin | 5.30pm | 8.00pm | For Fishes and Sharks groups |
| Wed | Linlithgow Canal Basin | 6.15pm | 7.30pm | For Shark group only |
| Sat | Linlithgow Canal Basin * | 9.00am | 11.00am | For Shark group only |
* Linlithgow Canal Basin unless advised otherwise.
Once a member has become proficient, they may choose to add in a Wednesday session or come on a Wednesday instead.
Most sessions will take place at the canal basin, however on occasion the sessions may take place on Linlithgow Loch, meeting at Lowport Centre. Following each session on the water there will be a follow up session on land – running or exercises. We aim to be finished by 8pm and all members are expected to help to put the equipment away on the storage racks before leaving. Most members are usually ready to be picked up/leave by 8pm.
Saturday training is by invitation only – dependent on times achieved in races and attendance at competitions. Leading on from these training sessions, we have a pathway to inclusion in the various regional and national training squads.
Equipment – What to Bring
Paddlers should come equipped for paddling with the following:
- Old trainers/wet shoes/wetsuit boots for use on the water (not too thick a sole if possible)
- Old T-shirt and thin warm jumper (fleece etc)(two jumpers if it’s cold)
- Jogging trousers (or old shorts if it’s very warm)
- Cosy hat
- Cagoule if there is a cool wind
- Dry trousers & top for land based training exercises
- Trainers for land based training exercises
Remember to bring a complete change of clothing as the chances are that you will get wet. A change of clothes must be brought along as paddlers can become very cold, very quickly following a capsize – especially early in the season before the water has had a chance to warm up slightly. This is even more of a risk when siblings are attending the same session – one may capsize and become very cold whilst the other is still happily paddling round. We will all be running or doing exercises following the paddle and again wet clothes = cold unhappy child.
Members are encouraged to get their own Buoyancy Aid as soon as possible, these are relatively cheap to buy from shops such as Decathlon.
In the early stages, members are not expected to provide their own equipment (all the essentials being provided by the club). The club has a range of kayaks consisting of Lightning Kayaks (for under 12s), a range of K1s & K2s (Single/Double boats) for all abilities from complete beginners to national champions and we have a large selection of paddles.
As members progress within the sport, the club encourages paddlers to start purchasing some of their own kit – starting with their own paddle rather than a boat!
Inclement Weather
All parents dropping off children MUST come to the Canal Basin with their child to check with the coaches if the session is on. Very occasionally the session may be cancelled or moved due to inclement weather or in the event of coaches being unable to attend, so please do not “Drop & Run”.
Adult training (Informal)
Informal training sessions also operate for adults with their own or club/hired equipment (although they need to be self sufficient in getting themselves, boat & equipment to the canal – there’s usually someone with a roof rack about to help).
These sessions usually take place on a Thursday evening meeting at 7pm at Linlithgow Canal Basin.
These sessions run throughout the year, including the dark winter nights (providing the canal is not frozen), and an email is circulated on a Wednesday/Thursday to see who will be paddling.
E-mail derekjmarshall22@gmail.com for more information or to be added to the mailing list.
We are hoping to introduce more sessions for adult learners as the season progresses – details will be available on our website as courses are confirmed.
