Flatwater/Touring
Some call flatwater paddling ‘bushwalking on water’, others regard it as a means for getting away from it all. Whatever way you view it, it is a means of getting to and seeing beautiful places and rivers, which very few get to enjoy, and have the pleasure of camping and cooking by the river with a fantastic group of fellow kayakers.
Flat and moving water is the ideal place to start your kayaking journey and develop your skills, regardless of whether you just want to stick to these disciplines or are looking to progress into kayaking serious whitewater kayaking.
Skills and experience needed?
The Club in October 2020 adopted a new ‘flatwater competency framework’ – which can be found in full here.
It is intended to:
– be used as a guide, encouraging all members to continually upskill.
– be very achievable and focused on self-assessment (rather than formal assessments/qualifications)
– provide some clarity for people organising and participating in activities about what to expect.
It is relatively new and we’re sure to continue refining. Don’t hesitate to have a chat with our friendly committee with any feedback, ideas etc.
To help new and novice kayakers on their paddling journey the Club holds regular training and skills development days and has a number of Australian Canoeing qualified flatwater instructors who work with new paddlers. Then there are the tips and advice experienced members can give to newer members and the personal experience one builds up by coming on Club trips and weekends away.
Flat and moving water trips are regularly held in and around Sydney as well as on rivers and lakes all over the state. Recently we have run day and weekend flat and moving (Grade 1-2) water trips and multi-day safaris on the Shoalhaven and Manning Rivers, Sydney Harbour/Parramatta River, Pittwater, The Hawkesbury and Broken Bay, Nepean Gorge, Williams, Upper Manning, Barnard, Colo and Georges Rivers, Lake Macquarie and on rivers in the Nymboida region. And then there are the mid-week paddles from the Clubhouse during daylight saving.
Sample Trips
Club Novices Training at Swallow Rock – Training
A training session for both beginner and novice paddles and those who wished to brush up on their skills. Two Club instructors ran the group through paddle strokes, boat control, wet exits and rescues. When finished the instructors, who had managed to stay dry, were unceremoniously dumped into the water by their students. Afterwards all enjoyed a BBQ on the beach.
Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers – Flatwater
The Colo has been described as one of the last pristine bush areas close to Sydney and a group of seven kayakers explored it in perfect weather from Lower Portland up to the Putty Road Bridge on Saturday, camping at Skeleton Rock on Saturday night. Come Sunday we paddled the Hawkesbury from Lower Portland to Sackville. Two great days off paddling, camping and fun only an hour from Sydney!