Edge Progressive Paddling

Edge Paddling is run by it's membership with a Committee elected annually.

The Current Committee is:

Committee Chair
Steph Aldridge
To manage & provide leadership to the club committee ensuring the club runs effectively for the membership.
Paddling Discipline: BC Level 2 coach, BC 3 Star White Water & 3 Star Open Canoe

Vice Chair/Club Secretary
Anthony O’ Sullivan
Role supports the Chair & is responsible for ensuring meetings are effectively organised and recorded. In addition he manages the club membership & relationship with British Canoeing.
Paddling Discipline: BC Level 2 coach, BC 3 Star White Water & 3 Star Open Canoe

Equipment Officer
Petra Stockelmayerova
Responsible for kit procurement, asset management & the ongoing maintenance of boats & kit.

Finance
Sophie Elloy
Is responsible for keeping accurate books, recording all collections & disbursement of funds that enable production off a full financial report whenever requested.
Paddling Discipline: BC 2 Star

Pool Sessions & White Water Development
Loic Salles
This role owns white water paddler development, management of club trips & relationship management with Isleworth Leisure Centre.
Paddling Discipline: BC 3 Star White Water

Club Paddles Organiser
Aoife Harrington
This role co-ordinates Wednesday evening paddles throughout the summer months, managing attendees & ensuring adequate coaches are available for that evening’s activity.
Paddling Discipline: BC Level 1 coach & BC 2 Star

Training Officer
Simon Gladman

Role is responsible for managing the clubs paddle-sport development strategy including FSRT, First Aid, arranging site specific awareness training (TSK), & maintaining training records.
Paddling Discipline (Simon): BC Level 1 coach, BC 2 Star, BC 3 Star White Water

Meetups
Trevor McMurray
This role co-ordinates weekend Meetup paddles, managing attendees & ensuring adequate coaches are available for attendees.
Paddling Discipline: BC 2 Star

Webmaster
Paul Firby
Maintain and update as appropriate a website on which relevant Club information can be readily available to members and non-members.
Paddling Discipline: BC Level 1 coach, BC 2 Star & BC 3 Star White Water

£96 per annum.

Edge Club Members benefits:

• Wednesday evening weekly club paddles on the Thames between April & September.
• Pool sessions at reduced cost between September & May.
• Discounted British Canoeing 1 Star & 2 Star training & assessments.
• Discounted Foundation Safety & Rescue Training (FSRT).
• Edge Independent level paddlers can organise “mates” paddles
• Discounted rate on Edge weekend Meetup paddles
• Club weekend paddles on the Thames or Canal.
• White water kayaking program throughout the winter months.
• Sea kayaking program throughout the summer months.
• Canoe & kayak touring trips.

Please see the website calendar for events timings, with further details on the club Facebook page.

For more information on membership contact the club secretary membership@edgepaddling.com

Members of Edge have to be over 18, however, we do arrange events that under 18's (accompanied by a member) can take part in.

For example, under 18's are welcome to our pool sessions and are allowed on some canal sessions at the discretion of the coach.  Check via the Facebook group if a particular session/coach will allow an accompanied under 18.

Kit advice

On most occasions the club can provide the following equipment to club members:
• Buoyancy Aids (keeps you floating if you capsize)
• Canoes/Kayaks
• Paddles
• Spray Decks (limited numbers, best to buy your own)
• Splash Cags (keeps the wind off you)
• Helmets

Essential Kit you must provide yourself:
• Neoprene shoes or old trainers
• Warm suitable tops -Ones that retain warmth when wet is best eg fleeces, thermals etc
• Shorts/trousers that you don’t mind getting wet
• Warm dry change of clothing

Optional Kit *
• Dry suit- Great for keeping your whole body warm and dry even if you swim (but fairly expensive). Great for white water/surf.
• Wetsuit- a cheaper option than a dry suit if you are not yet prepared to invest in a drysuit. Important to have either a wetsuit or a drysuit for white water/surf if you think you might swim!
• Dry Cag- Will keep your whole body totally dry so long as you stay in your boat and dont swim. Highly recommended item of kit for anyone who wants to progress. Although it doesnt come cheap it’s much more economical than a whole dry suit and makes a really big difference. Can be combined with thermal tops and/or wetsuit for added warmth.

* these items are not required for all activities but may well be essential for some activities and trips. We will let you know in advance if a certain activity or trip requires this extra equipment. If you wish to purchase any canoeing kit, Edge have negotiated club discounts with several canoe retailers – contact us for details.

Extra Trip Kit and Provisions:
• On overnight trips we may camp or stay in caravans etc. The club expects you to provide all your own camping and equipment (tents, sleeping bags etc). Again, we may well be able to help out and lend some kit to those who dont have their own on a best endeavour basis. We will let you know in advance if we are camping/caravaning so you have time to get hold of any kit you will need.
• Food is never provided as part of the trip costs unless stated otherwise.

Edge equipment can be requested for personal use for all Club members on proof of the following:

• Over 16 years of age
• British Canoeing 2 star qualification
• FRST qualification
• Site Specific Training (TSK), for the Thames (if travelling on the Thames)

We have the following kit available:

• Sea kayaks
• Touring Kayaks
• Touring Canoes
• White Water boats
• Polo Boats
• Surf Boats
• Play Boats
• Paddles various
• PFDs
• Helmets
• Cags & spray-decks various

All use of club equipment must ALWAYS be requested by filling in this form. Under no circumstances should our boats or other equipment be taken from the arch unless your equipment request has been processed and agreed in advance (you should receive an email confirmation confirming your request is successful).

Equipment is hired out on a trust-basis, you are liable for any damage or loss at the discretion of the Club Committee. Note that most paddlers start out begging and borrowing from others before building up stashes of kit – try that too!

*Note any borrowing of club equipment for personal use, is done so completely at your own risk.

• Ask a coach at the next club night to teach you something new.
• Sign up to a trip – ask a coach which ones would be good for you. Trips are fantastic for variety, showing what’s possible, and finding out what sort of canoeing you like
• Do a training course. Even if you don’t care for qualifications, the British Canoeing training programmes make sense and strengthen your abilities. The club can arrange these or point you in the direction of where to go.

Friends and family are most welcome on club nights. We can take anyone over 16 out, at £15 per session. Trips and courses are initial offered to members with any spaces remaining 3 weeks prior to the trip being offer to the general public

Independent paddlers are those that have reached a sufficient standard that they do not need coaches to accompany them when on the Thames and the Canal.  They can also loan/hire equipment from the club and arrange their own "Mates Paddles".

Independent paddlers have:

• 2 star award
• Completed a Foundation Safety and Rescue (FSRT) course
• If paddling on the Thames, at least one of the group must have attended the Thames Specific Knowledge (TSK) course.

Maybe 🙂  Seal sightings are becoming more common on the Thames near Kew Bridge.  So far this year (2018) we've seen 3, with one in April following our kayaks and being very inquisitive.