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Canoeing and Kayaking in Wicklow
The modern interest in canoeing and kayaking as a recreation and sport was brought about by John Macgregor, who designed the Rob Roy in 1845; a canoe he based off sketchings of Inuit canoes and kayaks. Macgregor later formed the Canoe Club in 1866 with other canoe and kayak enthusiasts, and they brought about competitive canoeing with their first regatta in 1873. Kayaking became a part of the Olympics in 1936, with the introduction of four events, the single and pairs 1,000 meter and 10,000 meter race. Later, the white-water race and slalom events were added to the Olympics also.
At Avon Rí we have a number of different types of kayaks such as polo boats, sea kayaks and river running boats.
Courses :
We run a number of Irish Canoe Union Approved courses from level 1 to level 3 Certs
Level 1 is an introduction to kayaking and is a great place to start for the complete beginner
Level 2 builds on the techniques learned for level 1 and aims to make you a more confident kayaker. Some previous experience is required as this course is aimed at those who have already completed level 1 or similar.
Level 3 is run on moving water i.e. one of the many rivers within close reach from Avon Rí. During your time on the river you will be taught how to be safe on moving water and some more advanced techniques.
River Trips can run from one to two days. The type of river will depend on the water level and your skill level. Some of the rivers which we take groups to include The Barrow, The Boyne, The Liffey, and The Annamoe. We have also worked with a number of individuals and groups to prepare them for various races such as the Liffey Descent or triathlons and adventure race's
Sea kayaking trips are a great way to spend a few days doing something a little different. After an initial introduction to the boats and the equipment we will be using the group travels to the coast where they will explore the coast line, stop for lunch and hopefully spot some wildlife. These trips are mainly run on the East coast; however we can and have run trips on all coastal areas.
Pool kayaking Sessions run for one hour on a Saturday at 8.30am and on Sundays 6.30pm subject to numbers and limited availability. This has proven to be a very popular way of learning kayaking. Learn to roll and practice strokes in a warm, comfortable environment. The groups for these sessions are small so that each participant is given lots of coaching time with our instructors. Canoe polo runs on Tuesday evenings during the summer months. This is great fun and is a brilliant way to improve your kayaking skills. It can be quite competitive but new people are always welcome. We can provide you with all the equipment you need to get started.
Wednesday evening kayaking sessions are also run during the summer months and is a lovely way to get out on the lake after a hard day at work or school. Sit on top kayaks. These are the ideal way to try kayaking. On a calm day adults and children accompanied by adults may take these boats on the lake without an instructor. All necessary equipment is provided.
Kayaking costs :
Adults
- Per hour = €30
- Half Day = €70
- Full Day = €100
