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Eager to sharpen your paddling skills in some of Cornwall’s most beautiful spots? This intensive training will boost your competency across three types of craft – kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) – and prepare you for the nationally-recognised assessment. Suitable for all levels of experience. We aim to get you to the next level!
Would you like to find out a bit more about us or one of our courses?
10th June – 20th June 18th November – 28th November
About this courseWe created our Paddlesports Leader Development Course so you can hone your paddling and leadership skills – and go on to lead group trips if you choose. The eight-day, intensive programme prepares you for the British Canoeing Paddlesport Leader Award assessment (a UK and internationally recognised award) that will enable you to lead groups of paddlers safely and set you up for a job in the outdoor industry.
If instructing or leading group trips isn’t for you, you can skip the exam, and simply enjoy watching your paddling and leadership prowess grow.
Included:
If you’ve never tried Paddlesports before that’s not a problem. We’ve got plenty of time to perfect your skills, and if you don’t think you’re quite ready for your assessment our team will come up with a Pathway Development Plan to get you there. And we’ll continue to support you along your journey even after the course has finished.
If you think you may benefit from a few extra sessions before or during the course, please check out our paddlesports lessons and get in touch, we will discuss how this works. Please bear this in mind for any other technical skill that you think could need improvement.
If you’re already a seasoned paddler, your skills will soar under the guidance of our expert team. We’ll help you brush up on everything from technical skills to group management and even public speaking. You’ll also learn about route navigation and equipment management – storage, transport and handling of kit are vital skills that will soon become second nature.
You may also be upskilling in a different type of craft to what you’re used to – our multi-discipline training focuses on kayaks (both sit-on-top and closed-cockpit versions), canoes and SUPs.
ItineraryThe course is spread over eight days. In your downtime, you can borrow our equipment and practise your paddling or add extra shadowing hours. Here’s a rundown of what happens day-to-day. NB – the itinerary below is dependent on conditions and other variables, so should be used only as a guide.
DAY 1
Meet and greet, welcome to the centre and course introduction – both on the water and in the classroom. Kayaking around the Newquay coastline – introduction and skills development on all craft.
DAY 2
SUP skills development, introduction to navigation and tidal planning. Safeguarding workshop in the evening.
DAY 3
Exploring more of the north coastline – skills development on different craft, introduction to water safety and rescue, and incident management. Try out kayak surfing and rock hopping (playing between the rocks when the swell hits).
DAY 4
Head to the south coast for more exploration. Incident management, water safety and rescue. Continuing to develop technical skills. Focusing on soft skills, such as group management and public speaking, and leading groups on the water.
DAY 5
Travel back to the south coast to continue developing technical skills – paddling techniques, incident management, water safety and rescue, navigation and trip planning. Development of soft skills.
DAY 6
Today, we’ll prepare for your exam. Honing your navigation and tidal planning skills to run trips. More exploring and working on both hard and soft skills.
DAY 7
Mock exams. Organising your route for your exam and fine-tuning skills – group management, water safety and rescue, and incident management. Prep for your exam and do any last-minute checks for the trip you will lead on your assessment.
DAY 8
Your assessment involves a day on the water leading a group of real clients – and giving them a great day out! Expect a few ‘incidents’ along the way to test your leadership, dynamic decision-making and first aid skills…
Calling all paddlersIf you like the idea of being surrounded by water, good people and good times, then it’s probable that life as a Paddlesports leader is for you.
This course is suitable for seasoned paddlers, in one or all crafts and it’s great for total beginners too.
You don’t need to be proficient in any paddle sports; we have excellent instructors who can teach you from the ground up.
As you can imagine you will be learning lots of technical skills from our team. Plus you’ll be mastering a few different crafts, so there is a lot to learn if you’re starting from scratch. To achieve the final Paddlesport Leader qualification you need paddling experience, something that can be a challenge to achieve in two weeks. However, we have proved this to be achievable for many of our students who were first-time paddlers when they signed up to the course.
It’s not a problem if you’ve never SUP’ed Kayaked or Canoed before. We’ve got plenty of time to perfect your skills, and if you don’t think you’re quite ready for your assessment our team will come up with a pathway development plan to get you there. And we’ll continue to support you along your journey.
Our team is happy to advise on how to up your experience and start your journey as a paddler!
If you think you may benefit from a few extra sessions before or during the course, please check out our surf lessons and get in touch, we will discuss how this works. Please bear this in mind for any other technical skill that you think could need improvement.
In terms of personal skills, you’ll need :
PREREQUISITES
Go intensiveWe’ve been delivering training courses since 2001. Here are some of the reasons why our intensive Paddlesports Leader Development Course takes away the headache of doing it on your own!
The assessment is a three-on-one whammy! By doing this one assessment, you’ll be qualified to lead trips in three different types of craft.
This is a development course that will take you from zero to hero to be able to pass the assessment. Afterwards, our pathway plan will help you do exactly what you want to do with this award.
You’ll also gain valuable industry experience. You’ll be working in and with Newquay Activity Centre, an active, working outdoor centre.
Post-course, we’ll offer you a pathway plan to help develop your next step in the industry. Whether that’s simply going off and doing something personal or working abroad, we have experience throughout the centre to help you on the exact path you want to take.
We’ll teach you soft skills and hard skills – plus extra things that are not on the syllabus but that will be an essential part of your job while you’re working in paddlesports. For instance, we’ll make sure you know how to lift and handle your craft, and how to attach them to your trailer or roof rack. You’ll get all this and more in addition to what’s on the British Canoeing syllabus.
Our HeadquartersOur purpose-designed building is ideally located within walking distance to Towan Beach, Fistral Beach, Newquay Bay as well as the bustling town centre itself.
Our state of the art HQ, with toilets, heated changing rooms, hot outdoor showers, lockers for valuables and storage for clothes and bags. Although we prefer to use the beach and ocean as our classroom, we do have a nearby training room for our theory work.
If you’ve surfed or kayaked before you’ll know how much kit and equipment there is, and it can be a daunting prospect having to pay for it all. So, for the duration of the course, we have all of the necessary equipment stocked in our centre for our students to use for free. At the beginning of the course you’ll get supplied with key kit to use for the duration of the course or until you get your own.
Once you sign up to the course you’ll be supplied with a kit list too and advice on where to get it. We’ve got some great and trusted suppliers so there’s even discounted rates for our students too!
Our knowledgeable team is always happy to offer advice on kit and equipment before, during and after the course!
During the course we’re keen to support you in upskilling yourself so we’ll allocate you use of our equipment during your spare time throughout the course. If you want to improve your surfing, kayaking, bodyboarding, SUPing etc during the evenings or weekends, our equipment is ready to be used.
This is an unusual privilege on a training course like this but we feel it will offer you an excellent opportunity to up-skill throughout the course. Please note this will need to be booked in with the centre for your required times.
Accommodation
Newquay has a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. At the top end, we recommend Oceanside Hotel. It’s perfectly placed near Fistral Beach and has 28 rooms with a cool coastal style, some with balconies overlooking the surf. Plus, our guests receive a 10% discount (chat with us about this option).
For something more budget-friendly, Smarties Surf Lodge is a great, affordable option. Expect a chilled-out vibe and a range of accommodation choices, from ensuite doubles to bunk rooms with shared bathrooms.
We also recommend Lazy Waves, a small B&B with ocean views and a brilliant location near Towan Beach and the town’s shops and cafes.
Prefer to stay in your van? There is a range of campsites and touring parks within a short drive of Newquay town centre, including Trethiggey Holiday Park.
Please note that accommodation is not included in the price of the course.
SPLIT THE COST OF YOUR COURSE INTO EASY PAYMENTS!
When booking one of our courses the are four easy options for payment:
1. PAY IN FULL – Pay the full amount in one, that’s it, you’re done!
2. 50/50 – Pay 50% deposit and the remaining 50% at an agreed date
3. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Pay an initial holding fee (of as little as £100 and we can then set up monthly payments to come out on the 1st of each month.
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you. To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a non-returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £100 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a confirmation email with booking details on. Full Payment must be received 12 weeks prior to the course start date.
Life after the coursePost-qualification, there is the potential to land a job as a paddlesports leader with Newquay Activity Centre or one of the other outdoor activity schools in Newquay. Or, of course, you could take your qualification anywhere in the UK as it is recognised nationally.
STAYING IN THE UK?
If you’re thinking of heading inland that doesn’t mean you need to stop paddling! The Paddlesports Leader qualification is perfect for working on boating lakes, lochs, and rivers. Plus, we’ll make sure you’re clear on other paddling quals you can work towards.
THINKING OF GOING FURTHER AFIELD?
This qualification is recognised internationally so why note take a working holiday abroad. Our Academy graduates are all over the world so we’re constantly getting new spots and contacts all over the globe!
You’re guaranteed to make new friends, create awesome memories and maybe even open your horizons with regards to your career plans. Travel is food for the soul; this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around every day!
When booking one of our courses there are three easy options for payment:
1. PAY IN FULL – Pay the full amount in one, that’s it, you’re done! ⠀⠀
2. 50/50 – Pay 50% deposit and the remaining 50% at an agreed date⠀⠀
3. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Pay an initial holding fee (of as little as £100 and we can then set up monthly payments to come out on the 1st of each month.
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you. To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a non-returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £100 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a confirmation email with booking details on. Full Payment must be received 12 weeks prior to the course start date
Due to this course being in high demand, we have very limited availability. However, we can hold your space for 24 hours without payment.
To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a none returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £100 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with friends for life.
No – this course is suitable both for seasoned paddlers and total beginners.
It’s not a problem if you’ve never paddled before. We’ve got plenty of time to perfect your skills, and if you don’t think you’re quite ready for your assessment our team will come up with a pathway development plan to get you there. And we’ll continue to support you along your journey.
Our team are happy to advise on how to up your experience and start your journey as a paddler!
No, it’s not essential.
You’ll get a guaranteed interview with Newquay Activity Centre at the end of the course, which could put you on the path to working in the paddlesports industry. Paddlesports are increasingly popular, and centres all over the country need qualified leaders. It’s also a lifestyle employment that takes a lot of beating! Another option is to set up your own operation – once you qualify, you just need the equipment and a place to operate trips from and you are good to go.
The fitter you are, the easier it will be. But this isn’t a triathlon! Paddlesports are open to everyone. Our coaching sessions are usually around two hours long, with lots of opportunities to rest throughout the course
Yes! We have all the crafts, buoyancy aids, helmets and safety kit for you to use throughout the course, plus an excellent range of wetsuits, wetsuit boots, gloves and hats
Most pupils stay in one of the following:
An Airbnb (there is a huge range of options in Newquay)
Surf Lodge Accommodation (we work closely with Smarties, Escape and Ocean Surf Lodge)
Hotel or Guesthouse (Check Booking.com for the options or drop us a line for recommendations)
Oceanside Hotel (our guests receive an exclusive discount, please chat with us about this option)
Their van (there is a great range of campsites and touring parks nearby)
Check out our Accommodation tab for more info.
Yes!
It varies, usually anywhere between £100-£250 per day.
You’ll need :
Patience and the ability to work well with others
Enthusiasm to learn and train
Sensitivity and understanding
Leadership skills
To be thorough and pay attention to detail
The ability to work on your own
Knowledge of the English language
To be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
The ability to retain important information
The ability to remain calm when faced with new situations
Cover for public liability will be in place whilst you partake in activities with Newquay Activity Centre and Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy (to a limit of £5 million). Personal accident cover is available, similar to travel insurance (injuries due to accidents etc), this is something participants can acquire themselves by looking online if they wish to purchase. Insurance is a topic covered during the course Q&A sessions so that everyone is clear on how this works in the outdoor industry.
There will generally be ratios of 1:8 (instructor to pupil) for all activity training. However, theory classes may have larger ratios. You’ll often be broken down into smaller groups and all learning will observe the correct social distancing guidelines.
You must be over 18 to join the course. If you are 65 or over, or under 18 we’d love to chat to you about the course before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on 01637 877722
If you can’t join the course, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation charges for the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy, courses and modules are payable as follows:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Find out more under our terms and conditions.
We understand that plans change. If you are looking to change courses please speak to one of our team. Depending on how close the course start day is this may incur an admin fee
Would you like to find out a bit more about us or one of our courses?
10th June – 20th June 18th November – 28th November
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Got any questions? Please contact us to discuss your booking (online chat, call or email!)