Our Range of Paddle Sports
Our aim is to continue developing paddle sport opportunities for our Club Members both at and away from the Lee Valley White Water Centre. In particular, we are developing flatwater paddle sport activities at Rammey Island, and river trips to suit flatwater and white water enthusiasts.
The Lee Valley White Water Centre was a 2012 Olympic site and is acclaimed for its world class facilities – but the scope of the Club is wider than Olympic disciplines and wider than competitive sports. We wish to see participation of all standards within a wide range of paddle sports represented by our different sections.
The Club was started with eight sections with ambitions to develop: Freestyle, Marathon, Polo, Rafting, Recreational paddling, Slalom, Sprint, Wild Water. The activities that we are able to provide at any given time do however reflect the interests of our members, the availability of our volunteers to run the activities, and for some disciplines, the available access to water. We always seek to offer more paddling opportunities and to expand the paddling disciplines available with sea kayaking and paddle boarding being two paddle sports our members also engage in.
Lee Valley Paddlesports Club it is not just about white water. We have always had members participating in flatwater-based paddle sports, and since 2023 this has been a growing focus for the Club.
Email LVPCmembership@gmail.com to get involved.
So, whether your preference is for flatwater or white water activities, and whether you are an experienced paddler or want to try for the first time, and whether you are a recreational paddler or a regular paddle sports competitor, please get in contact and find out the availability of our next sessions that would be suitable for you.
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Recreational Paddling
We are absolutely delighted by the number of people, representing a range of age groups, that have got into paddle sports, tried new paddle sports’ disciplines or increased their participation in paddle sports through their membership of LVPC. We may be the resident Club at an Olympic venue, but our sport is about having fun. Our ongoing plan is for recreational paddling to evolve with the interests of our members, both on flatwater and white water, at our home venues and further afield on trips.
Freestyle
Come and join Lee Valley Paddlesports Club to try Freestyle for the first time, or to perfect your technique. Our multi-times inter-club championship winning freestylers look forward to you joining them whatever your current standard.
Rafting
With fantastic white water available at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, we very quickly became big on competitive rafting. We have developed raft crews from Under 19s to Masters with crews for men, women and mixed teams. Our raft crews have delivered many world championship medals for Great Britain, and we are rightly proud of their successes.
Slalom
We are the resident club at the 2012 Olympic venue where Team GB took Gold and Silver medals. We aim to be number one – the top slalom club in the country, against very tough worthy competition. In 2017 we became the national club champions for the first time and our Club Members have successfully graced national and international competitions.
Canoeing
With two LVPC liveried canoes, we are excited to be able to offer members a whole new way to see the water! Get in touch for more details on how to get on the water with our canoes!
Sprint
Flatwater sprint is all about straight-line speed and power! Sprint events are over distances of 200m, 500m and 1000m in 1-person, 2-person or 4-person boats, usually in the summer months, though we train year-round.
We undertake sprint training on the River Lee Navigation (canal) just outside the White Water Centre.
Marathon
Flatwater marathon races take place every week, all the year round, in 1-person or 2-person craft. Distances vary with age and ability but are usually (for adults): 4 miles (6.5km); 8 miles (13km); or, 12 miles (20km). However, there are also annual ultra-marathon events including the Devizes to Westminster (“DW”) or Thames Ultra races which are 125 miles (200km)!
For children under 12 years of age, races are 2 miles.
We train for marathon distances on the canal just outside the White Water Centre.
Touring & Sea
When the opportunities are available, our members like to travel further afield – mostly as peer paddle trips, but also, when we can, coached or led by our Club Members who are qualified to oversee such trips.
