Every year more and more people sample the delights of paddling through demo days, paddling courses and adventure trips, but once you’ve been bitten by the bug, where do you go from there? The answer’s a simple one, find the nearest paddling club to your area, go along, join up and you’ll never look back…

It’s fair to say that paddling clubs are at the very heart of canoeing and kayaking. Ask any top paddler, no matter what discipline, how they got started and you’ll find that a paddling club featured in there somewhere. Clubs throughout Connecticut offer a safe, friendly, fun way to get involved, learn the skills and meet new friends.

Much like paddlers themselves, paddling clubs come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and types. Most clubs, however, will offer you a whole heap of invaluable opportunities to help you in your paddling, boat storage, pool sessions, club equipment,  and organized paddling trips are just a few of the things that most paddling clubs can provide. Not to mention the social side of things. Just imagine a whole club load of like-minded people all as obsessed with all things paddling as you are?

The majority of clubs will ask you for an annual membership fee to cover costs, etc. There will usually be a set club night when you can all get together and get on the water, or maybe even just meet up to talk paddling. Pool sessions are also common and are usually run at local swimming pools like the YMCA. These can be invaluable for a beginner, as they provide a safe, and warm, environment to work on more advanced moves, such as support strokes and Eskimo rolling.

Clubs will usually have a committee, which will be voted on by the membership of the club at an annual general meeting. The committee will then deal with the day-to-day running of the club, such as membership fees, organizing pool sessions/paddling trips, training and coaching courses, etc. If the club is a large one the committee may well have members that deal with specific areas such as youth programs or training etc.

As well as somewhere to meet fellow paddlers to paddle with many paddling clubs will have club equipment that can be borrowed or rented. This is great if you’re just starting out as it means that you can continue to learn and progress while you slowly build up your own personal gear, without having to go out and break the bank in one go at your local outfitter.

Most paddling clubs will have members who have attained ACA (American Canoe Association ) Qualifications / Certifications and are more than willing to pass on their knowledge to new members. Most clubs will also run training programs using ACA courses and instructors. Clubs will often organize specific courses so members can learn and progress through their certifications.

Club trips are a brilliant way to get out and experience the rivers, lakes and coastline. Most paddlers enjoyed their first taste of ‘real’ paddling on a sponsored club trip. Paddling club trips are a whole bunch of fun and you’ll really appreciate the help, advice and knowledge of your fellow club members as you enjoy your time on the water.  

Some clubs specialize in a specific discipline. These tend to be based around competitive paddling such as marathon, sprint, slalom or canoe polo. Others can specialize in sea kayaking or whitewater kayaking. These can provide specialized coaching and a real focus on the discipline of choice. If you’re completely new to the sport you may find this sort of club a little restrictive, so why not join a general club first and try your hand at all types of paddling? Then if you find that you’re drawn to a specific type of paddling you can see if there’s a specialist club in your area. 

There’s so much more to being a member of a paddling club than just going paddling. By and large paddlers are a sociable bunch and they’ll be plenty of activity of the water. Christmas dinners, summer BBQs, video nights, some clubs even organize lectures and slideshows by well-known paddlers. You’ll also find that on top of official club trips many club members will get together and organize their own paddling trips, so you could find yourself off on a paddling adventure every weekend!

Because of their social side and because most clubs will cater for all abilities they are ideal for getting the whole family involved. Pool sessions can be particularly good for some great fun with the kids, or for introducing a loved one who may be a little hesitant at jumping straight onto the sea or river. Most clubs offer a specific family membership for this very reason.

There is a directory of local paddling on this website.

Connecticut Paddling Clubs

So that’s it, what are you waiting for? Get searching, get yourself along, get paddling and get in the Club!