Axe Vale Canoe Club

If you are interested starting or improving your Paddlesport skills  (i.e. how to paddle a kayak, canoe or SUP), then we are running a series of introductory courses in 2026.

Beginner’s Courses

A 3-session Taster those wishing to start their Paddlesport learning. The aim of this three-week course is to introduce you to a fun new hobby paddling on the local river Axe and estuary. During this course you will progress towards achieving the Paddle UK Start and Paddle Safer Award. The Start & Safer Awards are a place to start your paddling journey. If you’re brand new to the sport and really want to learn the basics to get started, then this is the award for you. You’ll cover everything from getting in and out of the boat, what you need to wear and paddling forward.

Improver's Courses

The follow-on Improver’s course follows the PUK Paddle Discover Award. This course lasts 6 sessions (depending on your self-progression). Following this, if you decide you wish to continue paddling with us, you can join the club and attend further sessions through the summer.

General Information

The sessions are held on a Tuesday or Friday evening on the estuary in Seaton and qualified PUK coaches will run the courses with a mixture of craft (kayak, canoe and SUP).

Included in the course fee is Membership of the club, enabling you to carry on coming along during the summer sessions ending in early September; during these additional sessions we will do local paddles and help you gain more experience towards the Explore Award.

Note there is a separate Junior’s Course aimed at young people with a separate information leaflet. If you are 11 to 15 years old, you may prefer the Junior course which runs on Saturday Morning.

Any attendee with additional needs must contact Donna Vincent on 07866 531982 prior to booking on the course to check if the course and our provision is suitable for them as we paddle on complex water and this may not suit everyone.

Is this course suitable for you? We can provide cosed kayaks and canoes, if you wish to use a Sit-On or a SUP we assume you will bring yours with you. To do our course on our flowing/wavy waters you will need certain amount of flexibility/mobility (typically we would expect as a guide: an ability to kneel down for extended periods, the ability to rotate your torso 45 deg each way whist sitting down). Our courses are aimed at equipping you for group paddling on rivers and sea in a range of conditions, rather than solo sit-on paddling on calm water.

- Kayak - our kayaks are river/sea kayaks which you sit inside and you are given the skills to use the spraydecks to keep dry inside.If you choose ‘kayak’ you will be expected to perform a full capsize so you experience how to exit the kayak up-side-down and swim to shore safely, so you need to be happy to get your head wet. If you wish to use Sit-on kayak for the course then please bring your own along.

- Canoe - these are open canoes (Canadian canoes) which you paddle with two people initially then move on to paddling them alone. They are paddled with a single ended paddle. Again you will be expected to learn how to capsize safely but in this case you do not get your head wet as you fall out before that happens in an open canoe. As a generalisation, canoeing tends to be more comfortable as you can move around more, though it is advisable that you able to kneel within the canoe.

- SUP - We assume you will bring your SUP & paddle along. We will look at initial paddling techniques, balance and safety. Getting wet is almost inevitable with learning to SUP and how to climb back on again.

Venue:       Axe Vale Canoe Club, Axmouth Harbour, Seaton (EX12 4AA)

Beginner's Courses (£35 per course) (Taster Sessions)
                             May - Tuesdays 3 x sessions on 12th May 2026 to 26th May 2026
                             June - Fridays 3 x sessions on 12th June 2026 to 26th June 2026
                             July - Tuesdays 3 x sessions on 14th July 2026 to 28th July 2026
                             August - Fridays 3 x sessions on 14th August 2026 to 28th August 2026

Improver's Courses (£45 per course)
                             June - Tuesdays 6 x sessions on 2nd June 2026 to 7th July 2026
                             July - Fridays 6 x sessions on 3rd July 2026 to 7th August 2026
                             August - Tuesdays 6 x sessions on 4th August 2026 to 8th September 2026

Times:        Meet at 6:00 pm at the Club House, Seaton. We will be off the water by 9:00 pm

Please download and read the Information Leaflet (PDF) on the right --->

Booking Opens mid-March 2026 - please use the ‘AVCC on WebCollect’ on-line application process.

Click the ’Apply Here’ button, sign-up for WebCollect (or Sign-in if you have used it before),
and on the AVCC page, select the ‘Intro to Paddlesports Course (IP1 or IP2)’ as appropriate.

If you want to talk to someone first then please call Colin Schofield on 07889 842104.

Click here to read our Event/Course Data Processing Notice.

All participants must be able to swim 50 metres, although for assistance, buoyancy aids will be provided. Minimum Age is 11 years old. The club insurance covers third party liability but not personal accident.

You will need to bring along:
- two sets of clothes (one for canoeing and one to travel home). For canoeing bring suitable clothing and shoes – for
   example: thin fleece, thermal top (man-made fibre), tracksuit bottoms, lace-up shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
- a towel for a shower when you get off the water,
- for those who wear glasses, something to tie them on (so they do not get lost in the river).
We will provide all the other kit and equipment you need during the course.

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Here are copies of the British Canoeing Paddle Award leaflets:

DISCOVER - EXPLORE