Club Calendar New Format

By dckc kayak club Comment Closed
If you visit the calendar page on the site you will see it has changed (and we hope improved). To have it automatically update to your google or other calendar use the subscribe button as the old google calendar is being discontinued. Events can be added by authorised users - so if you need authorised please contact Graham (if you can already post to the site you can also add events). This will let you post your event from our software with the same password that lets you use the new forums and access member only pages and documents. The software is easy to use, even for the older members! A wee overview is at http://support.time.ly/Creating-an-Event/ or why not watch the video For the more web savvy why not visit time.ly and see what else it can do. I plan to add the facebook event link when I get the facebook info to set it up!...
Read More

River Paddling

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
River Paddling There has not been a lot of active river paddling in the club over the last year. We want to turn this around as while there are enough club members with the appropriate skills to have an active river paddling programme, they just don’t seem to be aware of each other. In order to improve things the club is planning to establish two paddling groups. These will be the: 1. White Water Group, and 2. Beginners River Group. The White Water Group will be aimed at river paddlers who are competent to paddle on Grade 3 – 4 water. Rivers falling into this category include the Tay at Grandtully, Nith, Allan, Tummel, Orchy etc. The white water group is open to both kayak and canoe paddlers. The purpose of this group is to find a focus for those paddlers who want to paddle more advanced rivers and the plan is to improve the paddling abilities of members, provide the opportunity to work towards...
Read More

Coaching levels, and what they mean – BCU Level 1

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
The BCU Level 1 Coach For many coaches the BCU UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport is the first step on the coaching pathway. The qualification introduces the fundamentals of safe, ethical and effective coaching. Candidates are trained to coach basic skills to paddlers in any type of paddlesport craft in a flat-water environment. A range of coaching tips, tricks games and activities are built into the course, along with time spent developing technical and tactical understanding of these skills. The Level 1 Coach can plan, deliver, and review short coaching sessions; normally with the support of a more qualified coach. They can work with paddlers at any stage of development; receiving specific training to coach paddlers in their first year of activity and to run taster sessions. To complete the level 1 Coach you must: Decide if you wish to achieve the award as Bank Based or Boat Based Coach - Candidates who do not hold the required personal performance award...
Read More

Equipment Amnesty – Please Return Any Club Kit

By graham Comment Closed
During our annual inventory we discovered we are missing a few items - wetsuits especially but also a few other bits n' pieces. If you know you have a few things then please can you arrange to get them back to the store - hand them to someone you know who is coming along, contact a committee member to drop them off or even post them to "Graham Swanson, Woodland Herbs, 100 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6HB". We are happy just to get them back - no late fees, no blacklisting, just a thank you!   On a related note: if you have some spare kit: wetsuit, cag, spraydeck, etc that you had though about donating to the club then please feel free. If we can use it we will, or we may use it to help increase club funds for more kit, events etc....
Read More

Paddle Festival

By graham Comment Closed
Just a reminder the club paddle festival is at Loch Lomond (Balloch Park) this Sunday. Contact Shona (shonaoff70 AT hotmail.com) to find out you can help or you could simply come along and see what is going on or come for a paddle between 11am and 3pm. For more info we are Item 44 in the program...
Read More

Website Improvements

By dckc kayak club Comment Closed
The website has been going through some changes and to get the most from them you will need to be able to login. We aim to get usernames and passwords out to people when they do the membership 2013/14 and once you have it you will be able to:- - use the new improved club forums. - comment on articles and posts and some pages. - access some "club member only" information. Meanwhile the new "posts" page could be your best "home page" - New Posts Page as it has the recent posts which will become used more often, the middle section of the page now includes the calendar and any recent posts, replies and comments so you can keep up to date on chat. Also for "Posts" like this one we now have the option to include pictures (automatically reduced in size) - like this one of Bill last Saturday at the West Dumartonshire Club Sports Show. and even some slideshows like this one...
Read More

Club Clothing 2013

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Sandy will take orders for club clothing emblazoned with the above logo up until the end September 2013. Rather than putting an order form round as we have in the past please shop and order as follows: 1. Look up the online catalogue at http://www.superlogo.co.uk 2. choose the items of clothing and take a note of item/size/colour/cost 3. email Sandy on sandy.johnston@sky.com with these details before 30/09/13. 4. Sandy will collate the order together and arrange for the embroidery. 5. pay for the items when delivered to the club in late October/ early November Remember the costs quoted are a guide as they don't include VAT, delivery costs, plus the £1 donation to the club. Also the club logo is blue and green so the logo doesn't stand out on blue and green clothing, best colours are black, grey or lighter colours like white/yellow/stone/red, etc There is a wide range of clothing available for embroidery including outdoor clothing. Have a look at the catalogue and see............ Sandy...
Read More

DCKC Summer 2013 Newsletter Out Now

By graham Comment Closed
To download the most recent newsletter for July / August 2013  Click Here Shona has also added some info to the calendar about a great day out in September:- "The club's paddle festival is on Sunday 8th September 11am to 3pm at Balloch Castle Country Park (Loch Lomond). It's a fantastic day and it's free, so please don't miss it! Bring you friends & family. Take part in competitions & races, socialise with new & old members, eat & drink -bbq, coach or be coached in your paddling skills. It is part of the Great Outdoors Festival organised by West Dunbartonshire Council so there will be lots of other activities too. Shona still needs more helpers so please email shonaoff70'hotmail.com if you can assist in any way. Thanks Shona"...
Read More

Roddy McDowell is our next Guest Sea Kayaking Coach Tuesday 13 August

By graham Comment Closed
We have just confirmed that Roddy McDowell will be our guest coach at the club night on Tuesday 13th August. Roddy is an L5 Sea Kayak coach and the lead coach for www.kayakbute.co.uk  as well as a UK distributer for tiderace kayaks. One of the good things is that we let the guest coach bring his/her own style and view to the evening - so we can't let you know what is planned! P.S. It would be great if any sea kayakers planning to come along could make sure they arrive and are changed in good time.  ...
Read More

River Weekend

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
1st to 2nd June 2013 This is a river paddling weekend based at the SCA Grantully campsite on the River Tay. This is open to all and will include open canoeing as well as river kayaking. Different grades of trip are available, from those suitable for complete beginners to those for the more experienced amongst us. Club equipment can be borrowed but you will need your own camping equipment. Sandy just needs some notice if you are going along. You can either post on the forum or contact him on 07962 226280 but he needs to know if you are attending by Saturday 25/05/13....
Read More

River Coaching and River Weekend

By Sandy Johnston Comment Closed
Sandy has had to change some dates for the river trips/river coaching. In May these will be: Sunday 5 May 2013 Sunday 26 May 2013 Please contact him at least three days in advance if you wish to take part. Each day will normally be a river trip with the venue picked to suit those attending. Persons will be able to take part either in kayaks or canoes on these trips. Sandy is also running a river weekend  over Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 June 2013. This will be based at the SCA campsite at Grandtully on the River Tay. There should be various options available each day for anyone wishing to paddle, from fairly easy to exciting. If you are interested please contact Sandy by 21 May 2013 so that he can make arrangements and book space with the SCA - Scottish Canoe Association. Sandy can be contacted on sandy.johnston@sky.com or on 07962226280.  ...
Read More