Open Canoe Coaching

We offer the very best performance and skill development coaching courses in open canoe - open water and white water, from beginner to advanced paddler. All courses are delivered by highly experienced advanced coaches, with extensive worldwide paddling experience.

Please see below our current course offerings. Get in touch with us if you require an alternative course option or a bespoke coaching course for individuals or groups.

Click here to register & arrange a course

Advanced Canoe
Development Week
(Open Water & White Water)
(5 days)

Course Aims:

This comprehensive 5 day programme of skills development will look at the full repetoire of personal paddling skills for more advanced environments, including: use of cast iron tactics and technical skills, along with good decision making principles. Alongside this, we will develop the traditional skills of lining, tracking, poling, sailing - as well as explore the key strategies for managing safety (individually and within a team), along with developing tried and tested rescue techniques in more advanced situations.

Who is this course for:

This is the ideal course for Grade 2 open canoeists, who can also paddle on open water in some wind, and looking to progress their skills to begin tackling Grade 3 white water and stronger winds with confidence, and are more reliable performance skilset.

About the venue:

North Wales offers wide variety of Grade 2/3 rivers along with open water venues and tidal estuaries for the intermediate to advanced open canoeist.

The week will play to the strengths of the forecasted wind, rainfall and water levels which are available, to utilise the very best venues and learning environments, supported by expert local knowledge. We shall also aim for a night paddle, which may include a camp out, depending on weather and group desires.

What's included:

The week can include a Britsh Canoeing Awarding Body personal performance award for those that are keen to gain certification.

Cost includes all coaching a guiding. You would need to source your own food and accommodation (recommendations available)

2025 Dates: 20th-24th October

Price: £600 per person

Based in: North Wales

Click here to register for this course

Scottish Canoe Rivers Tour

This 5 day trip aims to explore the very best open canoe rivers of the Scottish Highlands. Based in Strathspey, this week is designed for the intermediate open canoeist, and will aim to paddle and explore the superb Grade 2(3) rivers the area has to offer, including Tay, Spey, Royal Dee, Findhorn, Ness, Glass, Beauly, Spean, Oich, Lochy to name but a few.

Based centrally at our accommodation in Strathspey, this will allow us access to a whole host of excellent open canoe rivers to the north, west and south within a reasonable drive of around 60-90 minutes at most.

Skill development will also be baked into this guided week, with lots of opportunities to gain some performance coaching as we go along, to improve your paddling skills and confidence.

Click the link below to register your interest and request more detailed information for the trip, including all the finer details.

Who the trip is for

The trip is for open canoeists who are reasonably comfortable paddling Grade 2 white water.

Please get in touch if you are unsure about the level of this trip.

What's Included

Accommodation based in Strathspey (sharing room), arriving Sunday evening, checking out Friday morning.
All meals from Monday breakfast to Friday lunch - cooking as a group, overseen by Paddle International guides. (All dietary requirements catered for)
Expert Guiding from highly qualified and experienced open canoe guides.

Dates & Prices

2025 Dates: 17th-21st November

Price: £750 per person

Booking

Click here to Register for this trip

Welsh Canoe Classics

This 5 day trip aims to explore the very best open canoe venues that North and Mid Wales has to offer. This week is designed for the intermediate open canoeist, and will aim to paddle and explore the fantastic rivers, estuaries and lakes the area has to offer. Rivers can include multiple sections of the Dee - not to mention the Conwy, Mawddach, Vyrnwy and Seiont. The autumn colours of the Mawddach Estuary are something every open canoeist should experience and always a highlight of the week, along with paddling in the tidal waters of the Menai Straits. Plus the area has fantastic lakes to explore from Bala to Tegid.

Skill development will also be baked into the guided week, with lots of opportunities to gain some performance coaching as we go along, to improve your paddling skills and confidence.