Canoe Wales is the national governing body for paddle sport in Wales. We:

  • Manage the National White Water Centre which is located on the river Tryweryn in Bala, North Wales
  • Represent the interests of our club and individual members
  • Advocate on behalf of the interests of the sport in Wales
  • Provide coaching and development programmes from local to international level
  • Stage national and international competitions.

Choose a boat

There are different boats for different paddlers - and you'll make your choice depending on where you want to get afloat. When you start you’ll normally be looking at three different options:

Kayak

Choose the right kayak and you’ll have a boat that will last you a long time. Kayaks are the boats that you sit in and paddle with a two-bladed paddle. As you build up more skills, you’ve got the option of using a spraydeck, a nylon or neoprene seal you wear round your waist to keep water out of the boat – though it’s easy to release if you need to exit your boat.

Most kayaks are made from plastic, which is a durable choice which can resist rocks and scrapes for years. Fibreglass boats can be lighter or cheaper, but they tend to be more fragile too. One important thing with a kayak is that if you do swim from it, it will fill up with water and become very heavy if you don’t fill the empty space with inflatable airbags. It’s a good idea to buy airbags when you buy the boat.

You can choose between kayaks that are better suited to touring, whitewater or just splashing around, and the designs will change accordingly.

Sit-on-top

Sit-on-tops are the simplest way of taking to the water. There’s no need to worry about capsize drills because they’re so stable, and if you do capsize you just fall off. With a bit of practice you can soon climb back on board and carry on paddling.

The only downside to sit-on-tops is that they’re not always as versatile as kayaks. They don’t tend to be as well-suited to whitewater, and they’re a lot colder to paddle in the winter because your legs are out in the open. Other than that, they’re the easiest way to get afloat!

Canoe

Canoes are traditional boats that you kneel or sit in and paddle with a single blade. They’re very well suited to leisurely paddling along rivers or across lakes.

Canoes tend to paddle well in a straight line, making them smooth and efficient, and they’re big enough to make yourself comfortable in and carry a bit of gear, whether it’s a picnic or overnight camping gear.