In message , Liz
writes
Hello

I'm new to newsgroups (so hopefully haven't made a pig's ear of it!)
and new to kayaking. What I'd like to know is as a 35 year old
beginner, are my chances of becoming a great paddler less now than if
I'd started as a child or does age not enter the equation? I know I'm
not old but I seem to be the eldest novice in my local club, lol.

Also, as a complete "Humbug" I was wondering if any instructors out
there would be willing to give me lessons over the Christmas break. I
live in Southampton, and am yearning to get out of the pool and onto a
river. I'm trying to boycott Xmas this year and can't think of a
better way to spend it : )

TIA

Liz.

which club are you with? there are several round Southampton - most will
have some suitable trip going on over Christmas at some point I would
have thought. Many clubs are happy to take 'drop ins' for these sort of
trips if you ask.

The main issue is having suitable kit to keep you warm .

If you haven't paddled outside the pool them you probably don't need
lessons - just a bit of time on the water to sort out going strait - not
as easy as it sounds on a windy river!

Richard

--
Dr Richard Seaby

PISCES Conservation Ltd
IRC House, The Square
Pennington, Lymington
Hants, SO41 8GN
Tel +44 (0)1590 676622/674000 Fax +44 (0)1590 675599
www.irchouse.demon.co.uk www.pisces-conservation.com
www.powerstationeffects.co.uk www.amazonian-fish.co.uk

Richard Seaby wrote in message ...


which club are you with? there are several round Southampton - most will
have some suitable trip going on over Christmas at some point I would
have thought. Many clubs are happy to take 'drop ins' for these sort of
trips if you ask.

The main issue is having suitable kit to keep you warm .

If you haven't paddled outside the pool them you probably don't need
lessons - just a bit of time on the water to sort out going strait - not
as easy as it sounds on a windy river!

Richard



Hello Richard

Good thinking! I'll ask the local clubs if there are any "humbugs" who
would rather paddle than sit in front of the TV watching Christmas
dross : )

I haven't formally joined a club yet but have had a couple of lessons
thanks to Salisbury CC and shall be checking out Ringwood CC tomorrow.
Do you paddle with a local club? Do they accept novices?

I think you may be right about just needing a bit of time on the water
to practice. The pool isn't big enough to get into the swing of it and
learn paddling in a straight line to any degree. The kit issue is a
bit of a problem...oh well, I'll just have to go shopping I suppose
: )

Liz.