Resources & Guidance / #ShePaddles Cymru Summer Celebration
#ShePaddles is an initiative that aims to get more women and girls into paddlesport, and to keep them progressing to where they want to be - whether that's paddling with family, volunteering as a coach at a local club, becoming an instructor or competing at a national level, it was initially started by British Canoeing in 2020 and we have made our own here in Wales!
We love to see females getting together and enjoying themselves on the water so much, that we have created a series of events through the year which provide the perfect environment to thrive.
The Summer Celebration brings all best bits of each event into one jam packed weekend of incredible people, festivities and fun.
Keep reading to find out more and check in frequently as more will be added as we get closer to the event! Take a look at our video from another #ShePaddles Cymru Festival below to see what kind of activities and fun we have in store!
#ShePaddles Cymru Summer Celebration will be being held at Llandysul paddlers in Carmarthenshire. This is a fantastic location with everything on site, except the sea, but what it may lack it certainly makes up for in a whole host of other fantastic features, which we can't wait to tell you all about... just keep reading.
Address:
Llandysul Paddlers Canoe Centre
Pont Tyweli
Llandysul
Carmarthenshire
SA44 4AA
Check out their website:
http://www.llandysul-paddlers.org.uk/
Canoe Wales is excited to welcome you to our second ever Summer Celebration Festival for #ShePaddles Cymru, which will be full to the gunnels with fantastic activities for you to get involved with. Take a look below at our line up for the event. More exciting features are joining the line up each week so check back for more info as the weeks run up to the event.
We can not wait to welcome you, so feel free to join us from 4pm at Llandysul Paddlers Canoe Club where you can check in, set up your tent or find your room and chlll...
Once you're all sorted you can make the most of some chill time before the celebration really gets going with lake access between 5pm and 7pm to meet fellow female paddlers just as psyched as you.
There will be plenty of time for you to check out your surroundings and discover the Bar in the Marquee where we will gather for briefing prior to the main activities of the weekend.
Later in the day you can join us for the 'Paddler's Pub Quiz' in the Marquee from around 8pm, by then many other participants will have checked in and be around to join the fun.
Each morning you can enjoy a delicious breakfast roll and hot drink supplied in the marque to get your day off to a good start.
Morning Water Sessions from 9.30am - 12.00 noon
You can choose from any of the below options:
White Water Confidence Building
This session is a fun trip down the awesome Teifi rapids with our experienced guides to keep you safe while you glide through the white water with ease. During this session, you will be working on how to break into eddies with more confidence.
NEW for 2024: White Water Arcing
Arcs are incredibly fun inflatable tubes. Your guide for the session will take you through some epic rapids, and surfing waves and get you trying to do some impressive ‘tricks’ on the way down. Our arks are effectively a rubber ring that you can ride out the rapids in. Our guides will ensure you are fully kitted up and ready for an epic adventure riding the arks down the river.
River Swimming
Through the rapids, jumping off the river banks into deep pools, and challenging games that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. With so much swimming in the freshwater, you'll be glad of our on-site heated changing room once you've finished.
White Water Hotdogging
You will be in the comfort of an inflatable, two-man, or single kayak and going down the same rapids as the white water kayak session, where you can navigate obstacles and rapids under the expert supervision of our instructors.
Kayak, Canoe, and SUP Rescue
Come and learn new ways to rescue or practice, it's really good fun. This will take place on the lake and there will be plenty of crafts to practice rescues with. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get hints and tips. Be prepared to get very wet!!!
NEW for 2024: SUP Yoga
Do you fancy some calm in all the excitement of the weekend? Then this is the workshop for you. Yoga on a paddleboard to calm the body and mind. Enjoy this session with Leanne Bird one of our longest-serving volunteers.
Intro to Freestyle - New for 2024
We are incredibly lucky to have GB Freestyle join us for the weekend to help you take your kayaking to the next level. This will be a beginner-level session on flat water to teach the basics of some freestyle moves. This session is being led by Sara a very experienced paddler from GB Freestyle
NEW for 2024: Intro to Canoe Polo
For this, you can stay in your boat or there will be some to borrow. You will be taught how to throw and catch the ball (not as easy as it sounds on the water!). This will be a fun taster of canoe polo. These skills will come in very handy for the Saturday afternoon fun slalom which this year will have some targets to hit with polo balls. This session is being run by one of our fabulous ShePaddles Cymru Ambassadors.
Intro to Slalom - Ever fancied having a go?
Slalom paddling is so much fun at whatever level you are and it’s also a great way to get fit whilst on the water. Learn the difference between the poles, and have a go at going through the gates in order. We even have a member of the Welsh Slalom Team on hand to give you handy hints and tips.
Lunchtime will be between 12 pm - 2 pm
You need to supply your own lunch but there is a fab supermarket within a short walk from the center that sells sandwiches and the best cakes!
Afternoon Sessions from 2pm - 4pm
These are the same options as the morning session if you'd like to pick something new?
Late afternoon Session 4.30pm - 6pm
Friendly Kayak Competition
We will end the Saturday on the water with a fun flat water Kayak competition where you will join forces with fellow paddlers and compete in a series of small matches in different positions. It will be a great opportunity to test your skills and there will be lots of prizes to be won.
Saturday evening from 6pm
Bar
The bar onsite will be open all evening selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This will be situated in the marque onsite. This is an additional cost.
Dinner
A delicious Hog Roast and buffet-style meals will be available including many sumptuous vegetarian and vegan options.
Gin, Rum and Cheese Tasting
To get your taste buds watering you will be given a little talk about the background of Da Mhile and how it all began followed by a generous tasting session of the 4 main gins, which are are organic and locally made including: Botanical, Seaweed, Oak, and Sloe. As well as a delicious homemade Rum. There will also be a tasting of a few pieces of cheese from Caws Teifi Cheese.
Da Mhile will remain onsite after the tasting if you would like to purchase any products.
Children are welcome at the tasting sessions too, although we can't serve them alcohol they can come along to taste the cheese!
Entertainment till late
In the marquee with the bar, will be our *soon to be released* entertainment. For now we're keeping it under wraps - but you're going to love it! This will be a great chance to let your hair down and party the night away. Children are also welcome to dance their socks off too!
Each morning you can enjoy a delicious breakfast roll and hot drink supplied in the marque to get your day off to a good start. Once your belly is full you can get ready for an entire day of fun!
Rolling workshop - AM only in a swimming pool
Do you really want to crack rolling? Well, now is your chance! With a 2-hour session in the heated swimming pool, a stone's throw from the center; really nail your technique under the watchful eye of our experienced instructors. This session is just for the morning which is great for anyone wanting to leave at lunchtime
Full Day sessions
Choose from one of the amazing full day sessions. This is a chance to immerse yourself in any area of paddlesport you fancy, whether you've done it before or would like to do something different, just take your pick:
White water journey
This session is similar to the White Water Saturday half-day session but is aimed at the slightly more competent white water paddler. You’ll undertake a longer trip including more rapids guaranteed to meet your need for adventure with bags of adrenaline-pumping features! These trips can be undertaken in a White Water Kayak, Sit on top, or Inflatable Kayak. During this trip, your guide will ensure you are led safely through all the rapids in a fun (but still controlled) way, leaving you wanting just a little bit more…
Flat water journey
These trips are perfect for families or a group of friends looking for a day out on the river. Suitable for all ages and abilities, this day of fun can be tailored to your individual requirements, whether that is a relaxing trip floating down looking at the flora and fauna of the beautiful Lower Teifi Gorge, or playing games that may end up with some of the group in the water! Your expert guide will ensure that you are fully equipped and comfortable in a craft of your choice, having already chosen from the large selection we have to offer. Whatever the occasion, we guarantee you will leave smiling!
Sea kayak journey
A coastal journey in a sea kayak seeing all the nature, wildlife, and beauty of the local area. There will be transport from the center included - just don't forget to bring your packed lunch in your sea kayak!
Coasteering - New for 2024
Why not ditch your kayak, canoe, or SUP and just enjoy being at the coast and in the sea? Come with us and explore one of the most extreme environments in the world. Coasteering is a thrilling mixture of traversing, jumping, swimming, and scrambling along sea cliffs to get your adrenaline fix. During these trips, our guides will provide fascinating information regarding the flora and fauna that live and survive through gigantic sea storms, boiling hot sun, and everything and anything that Mother Nature puts its way. This blood-pumping session is suitable for all abilities, so there’s nothing stopping you from plunging into this adventure!
New for 2024: Beginner SUP coastal journey
This is going to be a gentle sea journey for those new to coastal SUP or SUP in general. It will start on the lake to practice the skills you need
New for 2024: Freestyle progression
For anyone who got the bug on the flat water session will now have the chance to try their moves on some moving water. This will give you a chance to see how your kayak reacts and show your kayak who’s the boss!!!
Camping at Llandysul
Camping will be on site by the beautiful Teifi River a short distance from the toilets and heated showers. There is very limited electric hook up which can be requested but not guaranteed. You will need to bring all your own camping equipment.
Llandysul Bunkhouse
The bunkhouse is onsite. It has bunkstyle rooms, this means you may not know the people you are staying with but please feel free to email lydia.wilford@canoewales.com to request who you share a room with and we will try our best to accommodate this. There are shared toilets and hot showers. The bunkhouse has a drying room, kitchen, large sitting area and TV.
We want you to be fully equipt to have the best time while you're with us so take a look at the list below and make sure you have everything you need:
We will happily provide any of the following, but feel free to bring your own if you need to:
● Wetsuits
● Bouyancy Aids
● Helments
● Kayaks or other craft including SUPs & Hotdogs
● Paddles
● Spraydecks
Personal Items:
- Lunch for Saturday and Sunday
- Cash for the Bar and if you fancy some more Cheese, Gin or Rum
- Glad rags for Saturday night's party
- Toiletries
- Tent (if not staying in bunkhouse)
- Sleeping Kit (if not staying in the bunkhouse)
- Personal Paddling Kit
- Camera (Preferably waterproof if you want to catch the action on the water)
- Phone (If you want to tell everyone at home how much fun you're having)
We hope you have an incredible time at the event and if you would like to do more paddling with any of the #ShePaddles Cymru support crew or get involved with your local female paddlers, just remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay updated with everything that's happening, to make sure you don't miss out!
You can check for other #ShePaddles Cymru events open for booking here.
To be the first to hear about forthcoming events and developments with any of our events by joining our #ShePaddles Cymru Facebook Group.
To find out more about #ShePaddles Cymru, get in touch with our Development Officer Lydia Wilford:
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