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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where can I find Phoenix Canoe Club? The club is located in Woodfield Park, off Cool Oak Lane, West Hendon, NW9 7ND. Park in the car park by the road and walk down the path to the headquarters located next to the reservoir. See map on Contact Us page.

What are your opening hours? We are open from 1.00 to 4.00pm (or dusk in winter) on Sundays between 29th March and 1st November – please check the calender page to make sure we are open as there are sometimes special sailing races that prevent us from using the water or we may be away on a trip to a  river or surf.

How do I join the club? You can join the club by attending the Introductory Level 1 Kayak or Canoe course or already hold this award, BC Paddle Discover Award, BC One Star or higher. Course details and membership fees are available on the Download page

What is the cancellation policy for activity bookings? We reserve the right to retain your payment in full or in part, in the case of non-attendance or in the event of a cancellation with less than 14 days-notice. Activities can be affected by severe weather conditions.  If Phoenix Canoe Club or Outdoor Centre has to cancel your session due to the weather conditions or for any other reason, we will offer you a full refund or reschedule your booking.

Can I leave my bicycle at the club? You can padlock your bike up in the compound (at your own risk) and if we are going on a trip away, bikes can be left in the secure storage huts.

Parking You can park in the car park at the top of the playing fields. If the white barrier is open you can drive down to the club and park in the compound – please be aware of children (and adults) in the grounds.

Facilities for people with disabilities We do not currently have disabled access or toilets / changing rooms, but will accommodate you as best as we are able.  Talk to the duty coach to discuss your requirements. We are planning a new building with all the bells and whistles……and disabled access.

Can children come to the club? The club was formed following the closure of the Welsh Harp Youth Sailing Base in 2004. Children are always welcome (and can bring adults along as well). We have a minimum age restriction of 9 years and all paddlers must be able to swim 10m or be water confident wearing a buoyancy aid. We run Junior section activities every Sunday we are open including games, training, treasure hunts, races and river trips.

Can adults come to the club? We are a British Canoeing Senior Club with a Junior Section and cater for any ages. Over 60’s and full time adult students are able to get discounted membership. Canoeing is fun – adults can act as if their age is their shoe size!

Can parents come to the club? Parents are welcome to come along to watch the activities, however, better to join in! Courses are normally run in separate Junior and Senior groups as different age groups learn at different speeds, but we normally join up during a course for some fun and games and a chance to “family bond”

Will my child be safe at the club? The club is accredited with Sport England’s prestigious “Clubmark”. Clubmark accreditation is awarded to clubs that comply with minimum operating standards in four areas:

Check out our Policies and Guidelines on the Downloads Page

Do club members need to be able to swim?  All paddlers should be able to swim 10m wearing a buoyancy aid and be water confident. Non-swimmers may be accommodated subject to the agreement of the Duty Coach.

How old do I have to be to join the club?  We operate a minimum age of 9 years.

Can I bring a group of friends? Friends can come and watch at any time. On Taster sessions they can join in – but normally need to be booked in advance. We can also organise custom activities through the Outdoor Centre, get in touch!

Can I hire a boat? We don’t hire out boats to members of the public. Use of boats for club activities is included in your membership. Private use of club boats is subject to approval of the Chairman and should be used only on water within the paddlers ability levels.

Does the club provide private lessons? The Phoenix Outdoor Centre can provide private lessons at any time to suit you. Ask the Centre Organiser for details – phil@phoenixoutdoorcentre.co.uk

What sort of boats are available? We have a large range of kayaks. Our main fleet is the Dagger GT series in 4 sizes to suit everyone. We also have Liquid Logic Hoss’s & Lil’ Joe’s, Pyranha Sonic’s, Dagger Dynamo & Supersonics, Wavesport Project X’s, Valley Surf kayaks, Fox Slalom, Sit-on tops and Stand Up paddle boards, Pyranha Lightning K1 sprint racing boats and a load more. The club also has a fleet of open “Canadian” canoes, which are outfitted for use on rivers.

Can I store a boat at the club? We have very limited storage space and cannot guarantee space will be available. We charge £50 per year for boat storage – you need to ensure that your boat is covered by your own insurance policy.

How often does the club arrange trips? We run trips for all levels of ability throughout the year, concentrating on Introductory Level 1 Kayak or Canoe  & Intermediate Level 2 Kayak or Canoe trips in the summer months.  We also run White Water Award trips in the winter months. As a recreational canoeing club, trips are a very important part of the programme and we try to get away as often as possible. We also run regular trips to the Lee Valley White Water Centre throughout the year.

Do you play canoe polo? Our harbour is set up to be regulation polo pitch size and we often enjoy a game of Phoenix Polo. We do not have a polo team or take part in leagues, but with the right people on board, we could do more.

Do you take part in canoe slalom? We train and enter youth teams for Barnet, Brent and Haringey for the London Youth Games canoe slalom event each year. Apart from this, we do not enter leagues or take part in slalom, but with the right people on board, we could do more.

What training does the club offer to members? We run a progressive programme of training and activities following the BC Awards system. We offer Taster Sessions / Paddle Start, Introductory Level 1 Kayak or Canoe / Paddle Discover, Intermediate Level 2 Kayak or Canoe  / Paddle Explore and White Water Awards, plus Foundation Safety & Rescue Training, all backed up by river trips and surf training.

How experienced do I need to be to join the club? We can work with you whatever stage you are at – from beginner to expert. Everyone has to start somewhere – check out our Introductory Level 1 Kayak or Canoe / Paddle Discover Award courses or try the sport on a Starter session.

Can non-members visit the club? Yes, if you are at Introductory Level 1 Kayak or Canoe / Paddle Discover Award or One Star level or above, but are restricted to 3 visits under the insurance policy. Cost is £10 per session.

Do you need any coaches? We are always on the lookout for qualified coaches to help with the sessions we run. We can also help and support our members onto the coach training scheme – ask for more information.

 

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Phoenix Canoe Club Limited is a registered charity, no. 1148787 and a company limited by guarantee, registration no. 8002910.  Phoenix Canoe Club and Phoenix Outdoor Centre are trading names of Phoenix Canoe Club Limited.

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