St Austell Canoe Club

Information for New Members

We paddle from Porthpean Beach in the spring/summer season (May to September) and hold training sessions in a heated indoor pool during the winter months.
Porthpean club nights take place on Thursday evenings. Arrive at 6.30pm (or before), to get on the water for 7pm.
You can park for free in the club field, or pay in the public car park just across the road. We are located in the field opposite Porthpean Sailing Club. As you walk out of the public car park, turn right, along the road a short way, then turn left, up a gravelled track.
In addition to our weekly club nights, there is a Programme of paddle trips organised throughout the year.

Adults - On your first visit, you must bring with you a completed Medical Form
Under 18's - On your first visit, you must bring with you a completed Parental Consent Form
You need to be wearing clothing that you would be happy to swim in, i.e. that can get soaking wet. No cotton, because it holds water and makes people cold fast. No jeans, fleece material is good, a wetsuit is ideal.
You will need either, a pair of old trainers, beach shoes, or wetsuit boots.
To help prevent wind chill it is best to wear a cagoule over your other clothing. Cags can be borrowed from the Club on the night. Don’t be tempted to act macho and go out in a pair of shorts and a T shirt. It can get pretty cold out of Porthpean, particularly as the sessions are in the evening. Although you may not get hypothermia at this time of year, you will get cold, which will spoil your enjoyment.
If you decide you want to continue paddling, then for longer term purchases, the best thing is to look at the sort of kit other people have when they come to the Club. People love to discuss kit!

Note that St Austell Canoe Club operates out of a shed in a field. Unfortunately, we don’t have any indoor changing facilities or toilets.
If you have any medical conditions that may affect your ability to paddle, please let one of the coaches know on the night.
The Club is affiliated to the national kayaking body “British Canoeing" (BC), and our coaches follow the BC codes of practice. In order to develop your kayaking skills, our coaches are qualified to train and assess you for the BC proficiency awards, up to 3 star level. At the club, we generally specialise in sea kayaking and surf kayaking, but a number of our members are also proficient at whitewater river kayaking.
If you want to see full details of club policies, these are available on the Downloads page.
Keep an eye on this website for news and events. We also have a Facebook Page.