End of Year Report from the Chair, AGM 2024

LVPC Chair’s Report to AGM September 2024 Jonathan Males, Chair Let me start by saying thank you to our club committee and our members who have volunteered for bank safety over the past twelve months. Without your contributions the club would cease to function. A special thank you to Pam Phillips, who continues to be the beating heart of the club. Thanks also to Sunny Rhodes who steps down as Welfare Officer, with Irina Medunyak taking over this important role. We carried out a member survey in January 2024 and this has guided the committee in decisions and planning. As reminder, here’s what you said: 6. Cost and Membership Stability. The cost of living is impacting us all, and several members were concerned about possible price rises. Yet some also said they would be willing to pay more, because the club represents great value to them. Recreational paddling beyond the whitewater centre has taken off this year, thanks to the efforts of Peter and Helen Nash and our collaboration with Whoosh Explore. There are plenty of hidden paddling gems in the east and south-east and I recommend these trips for a relaxing and sociable day out. The club supported the …

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Dealing with incidents during Club Night

Updated guidance for all Club members and volunteers to be aware of:- Whitewater kayaking and rafting are assumed risk activities, and from time-to-time accidents and injuries will occur. Here’s what to do if you or someone else needs first aid: lvpcsafety@gmail.com and  coachinglvpc@gmail.com and Inform the Club Rep for the night.  We need to report incidents both for our own learning and to inform LVWWC. Thank you. ___________

Kayak Cross on Club Night Wednesday 19th June

Don’t forget that we will be running an Entry Level Kayak Cross event on Wednesday 19th on the Legacy. It will run between 19:30 and 21:30 for anyone who has limited experience wanting to try it out! Check out the details in this week’s Members’ Newsletter for further information. 

We Are Ten!

As the resident club at the Lee Valley Whitewater Centre, we celebrate our 10th anniversary this month, joining the small band of clubs around the world that have successfully created a thriving Olympic Legacy.  Created following the success of the 2012 London Games, we now have more than 400 members of all ages who take part in a wide range of paddlesports – recreational whitewater, race rafting, freestyle, flatwater racing as well as slalom and the new Olympic discipline of Kayakcross.  We are one of the largest and most diverse paddlesport clubs in the UK. We’re proud that we offer a welcoming community experience at Lee Valley and the atmosphere on Wednesday evenings is buzzing, especially as we enter the summer months. As a Talent Club Partner with Paddle UK, we offer a route into the sport for youngsters keen to try slalom. We hope that some will go on to achieve competitive success and represent their country, but for us the most important outcome is that families enjoy their time in paddlesport. We have several events planned to celebrate our 10th birthday: 12 May, 10th Birthday Party paddle on the River Lee. Meet at 10 am at Hartham Leisure Centre, Hertford. A relaxed …

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New Slalom Course: May/June

New Slalom Skills course starting 8th May Chris Wood is offering a 4 week slalom skills course for club members. Ideal to fine-tune your boat control and confidence. 8, 15, 22 May and 5 June.  Bookable on WebCollect.

Freestyle Coaching Opportunities

Two courses begin this week with Mike Shaw,  freestyle coach Booking on webcollect now _______________ Legacy Freestyle Coaching  6.30-7.30 4 x weeks development course: 17th, 24th April, 1st,  8th May £120 (4 week period)  For Legacy assessed paddlers who have a roll (this doesn’t need to be 100% but helpful to have a reasonable roll). _______________ Olympic Freestyle Coaching  7.30-8.30  4 x weeks development course: 17th, 24th April, 1st,  8th May £120 (4 week period) –  For Olympic assessed paddlers who have a reasonable roll. _______________

Invitation from Mark Coleman – Adventure Tour

 TRIP NOW CONFIRMED!  Nepal – Departing UK w/c 28th Oct 2024 – Kayaking & Rafting Adventure Holiday Plenty of room for more, if interested, please drop Mark a line for details – (mark.coleman@ntlworld.com) – we are going out to the ‘Wild West’ of Nepal this year – Kathmandu, Bheri River, Bardia National Park, Karnali River – up to 3 weeks and shorter 2 week trip options.  This will be my first time on the Bheri – 5 days – 3 fabulous gorges to go through all G3 ish – never quite reaching a 4 apparently – then 2 nights, 1 day in the Bardia National Park – Tiger Hunting (with camaras!) – then the Mighty Karnali – 7 days – I did this back in 2017 for the first time and have been looking for an excuse to go back and run again. NB: Our Adventure Holidays are open to all – no experience required – just a sense of adventure – non-paddlers/rafters most welcome – raft supported trips so we can take everyone and anyone and kayakers and rafters of all abilities – kayak what you are happy to, raft what you are not – bring your non-paddling partner/family/friends to share …

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New Courses On Offer in April, May and June

Booking on webcollect now Legacy Coaching 2 x weeks with Will (£30 a session) (24th Apr / 1st May) + (22nd / 29th May) + (5th / 12th June) Will is training up to become a Stadium Leader and will be offering his skills for 2 x Legacy assessed paddlers who are looking to develop and gain skills to paddle the course with confidence. _______________ Legacy Bank Safety Training – with coach Jon 5th June – 6.30 – 8pm 24th July – 6.30 – 8pm No charge _______________ White Water Essentials (Introduction) with Stadium Safety Certificate with coach Pav 7.30 -8.30 pm 8th May / 15th May / 22nd May / 29th May / 5th June (bank safety) 12th June This course is a 6 week course for £150 which includes one week of bank safety training and stadium white water award certification. No pre-assessment required if you are (discover award – manoeuvre a boat around obstacles easily, able to do a capsize rescue with neoprene spray deck, can control the boat on edge). _______________ Legacy Freestyle Coaching with Mike Shaw 6.30-7.30 4 x weeks development course: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th June £120 (4 week period) Legacy assessed paddlers who …

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Spring Message from the Chair

Now that the evenings are getting lighter and we are seeing a welcome increase in activity on club nights, I thought it was a good time to give club members an update. Club nightWednesday evening at Lee Valley continues to be an important focus for the club. It’s great to see the variety of activities on the water, and big thanks to club members who volunteer on the reception desk, as coaches and to cover bank safety. It’s your support that allows ALL members to enjoy paddling on club nights. We want to keep sharing the load with bank safety, so please volunteer at least once every two months. Remember that you get a free paddle in return! And a general request – Club Members vary widely in ability and confidence on the water, so please be courteous to those who are less experienced. As it gets busier, please book and pay  online to avoid missing out on a paddling spot. We have upper limits for safety reasons and can’t exceed them. We anticipate maintaining two hours of Legacy and Olympic water till the end of May, and add a third hour of Olympic water in June. Whitewater course hire …

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Legacy Bank Safety Training

There are more Legacy Bank Safety training sessions planned, the next one  being on  17th April , 6.30 to 8pm. Following that, there will be further sessions on June 5th and July 24th. Please sign up on WebCollect if you have not yet attended a Bank Safety training session and would like to be on any of these courses. And as always, a big thank you to those who have been regularly stepping-up to keep us safe on the water each week. Many thanks.

New Courses for Club Members on WebCollect

There are a number of new courses for Club Members now bookable on WebCollect. We are offering slalom, freestyle, Legacy introduction and Legacy development white water courses  and, of course, bank safety training  sessions. In short, something for everyone ! Check on WebCollect and book something before the places are taken.