Zero degree paddle for me is ideal for kids. I am right handed but as a teenager I played both Golf and cricket either handed, I couldnt see any difference. I often use both hands at work with a hammer or lead dresser, I paddle right handed but often roll left handed, with kayaking shoulder injuries...

If chances are she will swim if she goes over I would get her a boat she is likely to stay upright in and enjoy it more, there are plenty of cheap small Burns or similar creekers available for a couple hundred quid. She will be more comfy too and feel more stable.

My lad paddled the Canyon a few years ago and hes a solid grade 5 paddler, he went on his own so he didnt have to look out for anyone, weve been back twice since but hes said the section is just not worth paddling, you need to constantly scouting and totally on your game. If you want a challenge go ...

Glad you enjoyed the trip. Official access in Buckfastleigh is from the Salmon's Leap Cafe where we have an arrangement with the owner. Peter this is not ideal to access this section of river as Buckfastleigh Weir has dangerous underwater metal and is very difficult to portage as land around has be...

We took a Ripper to Slovenia recently and quite a few of us tried it at various times, it seemed to get good reports from most but a couple saying they didnt like it. I'm undecided myself as the pricetag is quite a lot, it took me a while to get used to it as the water grabs the stern but after a wh...

Paddled this on Easter Monday along with the West Dart, levels a bit low for both but the East is actually a much better continuous paddle and if it wasnt for the Hexworthy section I would head for the East Dart over the West every time. A small pruning party has made it more accessible in medium le...

It would be worth getting in touch with the "Youth Freestyle" they do a fair few events a year at HPP, Hurley etc, my lad and some of his mates used to go, I know many of them have now kayaked worldwide since becoming adults so sure they could put you in touch with some suitable paddlers for an adve...

I'm guessing they are still around the £300 mark? They dont last long, in our experience 1 year before it deteriorates. I believe if you do some research and willing to spend £450+ you will get a much better drysuit that will last for years. My Typhoon is about 6 years old and used regularly. I'm th...

Done both my 4 and 5 star assessments. For my 4 star I went to S Wales and paddled 2 rivers I'd never paddled before and found it very comfortable as you really take charge of your leading and very cautious as I had no idea what was coming up. My 5 star was on 1 river I'd paddled a few times but sti...

Nothing personal but I see you live in Crawley, some 200 miles from a real WW river, we live 20 minutes from the Dart and all the kids I know quickly learn and get confident with paddling every week. I expect kids you know to be totally different from kids down here. Paddling is going to attract di...

Nothing personal but I see you live in Crawley, some 200 miles from a real WW river, we live 20 minutes from the Dart and all the kids I know quickly learn and get confident with paddling every week. I expect kids you know to be totally different from kids down here.

Having watched my lad go through from novice to seasoned paddler and watched all his mates go through the same the most popular biat they all paddled is the Dagger G For,ce, yes they all paddled cheap creek boats at various times but in the earlier years they got more fun out of this boat than any o...

I went to Treweryn with our club last weekend and was very impressed with the staff there, on previous trips its been pretty clear that paddlers were tolerated and most of effort went towards rafts. The attitude has turned around and with shuttles every 30 minutes, friendly faces and shuttles outsid...

I would recomend he stay at college for another year, hes used to the environment and will mature another year. The best way forward would to also do some of the awards privately or better still get involved with a club set up and coach with them, generally they will help you achieve the the coachin...

Say it in my head all the time I spend upside down, lol " f****** Roll!!!!"

I have the riverholic hand paddles and have had some good fun with them, you cannot get near the same purchase as normal paddles but for grade 3 they are good fun, you learn to use the boat and body rather than paddle power. I often stick them in the back of boat instead of splits. I have used them ...

Just got back from Slovenia today, levels were a lot lower than this time last year, I had space to take my LL Braap as well as the creeker and ditched the creek boat after day 1 in favour of the Braap, there was plenty of surf opportunitys on small fun waves, lots of tailsquirt areas, rock splats, ...

I have a friend who has a Dam X yet recently hes prefered using his sons old Typhoon for breathability reasons. I have had a Typhoon for 3/4 years and feel its a fine mid range drysuit. I do think however my next suit will be an IR as I'm impressed with a drycag my son has, its literally the dryest ...

Does anyone need anything more than a Nano on most British rivers?* *Actually being serious Maybe not a Nano but I've often thought in comparison to foreign rivers we dont need some of the huge creek boats on offer for most of our paddling, I have 9R for higher water but havent needed to use it in ...

I think carrying splits is a no brainer if you're with an intermediate group, along with a 1st Aid kit. If I'm paddling with mates I'll always check within the group whos got them before we set off and as long as weve got a set between us I'm happy. Sometimes I'll carry hand paddles instead as they ...

Personally its been a blessing in disguise for me as my shoulder injury of 2 years looks to have finally gone, one paddle a month seems to have been the norm on Dartmoor all winter for good levels, Xmas was a dissappointing time though and no paddling at all. Only managed to have 2 club trips this s...

I'm struggling with same dilemna this year, we went last year and apparently it was high, I paddled a creeker whilst my son paddled an RPM, he done quite a few solo trip of the grade 3/4 Otana section but did use my creek boat for the Syphon Canyon though. My RPM would have been fine. If your paddli...

You could get in touch with these guys, they've been researching India for a few years and just about to start their own business guiding with their own battlebus travelling around the countries rivers.

https://www.allindiaoverland.com

The video below shows how important it is to have instant access to your throwline, wherever you stow it,without quick reactions the outcome could easily have been different as the Upper Dart was in spate with 2 river wide stoppers just downstream at this level. I personally carry a Weasal but just ...

My biggest regret coaching-wise is that I'd had someone 'proper' to tell me how to paddle in a straight line right from the start. Spent far too long going in circles etc. After my comment at the start of this thread this is my view on first thing you should teach "forward paddling" Ive been with c...

We have a young paddler in our club that had his Dynamo from about 6 and started to outgrow it by aged 12/13 his parents bought a Veloc which he has mastered pretty well, hes 14 now and hes paddled the Erme and the Upper at good levels with his dad. Kids grow fast and I imagine if the girl in questi...

How to get out if you capsize and what to do once your out.

however I can not use due to the blade flutter I get using them. What size blade is on your VE's? Flutter is not an issue I have heard of before with them. But if you are that powerful that you are getting flutter, then maybe you needed the large blade size with them? They are some of the stiffest ...

VE's are an aquired taste, I had some, hated them, sold them to a friend, seen him a few weeks ago and asked how he liked them, he hated them too. I know someone who had the aircore carbon paddle, last time I saw him he had a Werner but didnt speak to ask why. I personally have a foam core Stikine I...

I think the green and red indicators are a good idea and have been thought out for when the rivers in paddleable condition I'm not convinced this is the logic used. I suspect the WUF pick levels above which the anglers won't fish. I rarely paddle in S Wales so I wouldnt know about specific rivers o...