Our members engage in a variety of paddlesport disciplines, both competitively and just for fun.
Some participate for daily recreation – just to get out and paddle in the river for fitness and enjoyment of nature; others aim to challenge their physical and mental limits through learning new skills or competing individually or as part of teams.
We have boats and equipment designed for polo, slalom, whitewater, sea kayaking, playboating, racing, open canoes, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Some participate for daily recreation – just to get out and paddle in the river for fitness and enjoyment of nature; others aim to challenge their physical and mental limits through learning new skills or competing individually or as part of teams.
We have boats and equipment designed for polo, slalom, whitewater, sea kayaking, playboating, racing, open canoes, and stand-up paddleboarding.
CAnoe Slalom
Competitors race alone against the clock through rapids on a course marked out by poles (called slalom gates). The challenge is to pass through approximately twenty gates suspended above the water, avoiding a touch with any part of the boat, paddle, or body. The competitor must pass through the gates in the correct order and direction. Green and white striped poles must be passed in a downstream direction and red poles in an upstream direction.
The aim is to be ‘fast and clean’, that is, negotiate the course as quickly as possible without incurring any penalty points, Penalty seconds are added on to the overall time to produce a total score. The course designer’s job is to hang the gates in a sequence which forces the competitor to work out best possible route choices.
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
The aim is to be ‘fast and clean’, that is, negotiate the course as quickly as possible without incurring any penalty points, Penalty seconds are added on to the overall time to produce a total score. The course designer’s job is to hang the gates in a sequence which forces the competitor to work out best possible route choices.
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
CAnoe Polo
Canoe Polo is basically water polo, in canoes. Teams of five players pass the ball in order to move closer to the opponent’s goal, ultimately to achieve good shooting positions and score a goal! Participants speed the length of the pool, weaving through their opponent’s lines of defence and spinning in their craft to receive passes. It makes for a fast and thrilling event. Canoe Polo can be played indoors or outdoors and is a great spectator sport because all the action takes place in a confined area.
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
White WAter
Whitewater kayaking is the most practised discipline within the club and is suitable to all abilities, from new members right through to advanced paddlers. It involves learning to ‘read’ the river, various paddling techniques, rescues edging, bracing, breaking in and out of eddies and even rolling!
CAnoe Marathon
Marathon Racing takes place primarily on flat water with typical distances of 15 to 28 miles in major international events. Races in Ireland vary from approximately 6 kilometres upwards. A race course will generally include a number of portages where competitors must carry their kayak/canoe for a given distance before re-entering the water.
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
Stand up Paddle Boarding (SUP)
Stand Up Paddle boarding, or SUP, is a fun way to enjoy the water. It’s relatively easy to learn the basics quite quickly and then build on your skills. SUP can be as laid-back or as active as you want it to be. It’s a simple, rewarding way to connect with the river at your own pace.
Thanks to funding from Kildare Sports Partnership we added SUP boards to our fleet at at club in 2024.
Thanks to funding from Kildare Sports Partnership we added SUP boards to our fleet at at club in 2024.
Sea Kayaking
Sea kayaking is a form of paddling designed for exploring coastal waters, open seas, and large lakes. Using long, narrow kayaks built for stability and efficiency, paddlers can travel longer distances and navigate a variety of conditions—from calm bays to choppier waves. It’s a great way to experience marine wildlife, hidden coves, and remote shorelines, offering both adventure and solitude.
Freestyle
Freestyle kayaking is a form of white water kayaking probably best summed up as gymnastics on water. Participants use specially designed kayaks to perform a range of acrobatic tricks and manoeuvres, usually whilst surfing a fast-flowing river-wave. While many enjoy freestyle kayaking as a recreational sport, there is also a serious competition scene, with events at national, European and World Championship level.
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
Description source: Canoeing Ireland
Paddle Surf
Paddle Surf is the sport of surfing ocean waves with kayaks. It is similar in many ways to surf-board surfing, but in boats designed for use in surf zones, and with a paddle. A number of kayak designs are used, but all are aimed at better using the waves to propel the craft.