Anglers 1hr Paddleboard Taster

Paddle Richmond are offering one hour taster paddleboard sessions at The Anglers.

You will receive a short safety briefing and then be taught how to launch your board and some basic paddle strokes before setting out on the river.

You will be paddling on a beautiful stretch of the Thames from the riverside garden of The Anglers pub, and will paddle downstream towards Eel Pie Island before returning to the pub - and most likely in the mood for a pint and some food!.

You will need to be able to swim and be confident in the water. A certain level of flexibility and ability to get up to standing from kneeling is required for learning to paddleboard.

Children over the age of 10 are welcome but they must be good swimmers, and each child MUST be accompanied by a separate parent/legal guardian.

Can I bring my dog?

No, these sessions are for humans only. If you'd like to paddleboard with your dog, book one of our Doggy Paddle sessions here: https://eola.co/w/477/activities/doggy-paddle

You do not need to be a proficient swimmer, but should be comfortable with falling into water while wearing a buoyancy aid.

A certain level of flexibility and ability to get up to standing from kneeling is required for learning to paddleboard.

Before taking part, please make Paddle Richmond staff aware of any significant medical condition/disability that may affect your ability to participate, or to understand instructions. If you have any doubts regarding fitness to participate, please contact Paddle Richmond to discuss your concerns in advance, or seek medical advice from a doctor.

We advise that you do not participate in paddleboarding if you are pregnant. If you do so, it is at your own risk.

You will need to shower / wash thoroughly after the session if you have fallen in or been splashed, and need to ensure that any open cuts are covered. Note that we do not have shower facilities at Richmond.

We do take people with physical and mental disabilities out on the water, however please contact us before booking as you may need a private session to ensure that we are able to provide the right level of support, and that you receive the coach's full attention.

Many thanks for your booking - we look forward to paddling with you!

Please arrive wearing the clothes you intend to paddle in as we have very limited space to get changed. 

We have a safe lockable storage space for your bags and valuables.

No specialist clothing is required, but no jeans or cotton please, as cotton gets very cold when wet. In warm weather, swimwear or ordinary quick drying gym gear will be fine (shorts/leggings/T-shirt/fleece). 

We usually paddle barefoot on these sessions, but you could wear water shoes, flip flops or old sandals / trainers if you'd prefer.

If it’s sunny please bring a hat and sun cream, and a bottle of water.

In colder weather (November - March), wearing a wetsuit is advisable. We have wetsuits available if requested in advance, or bring your own. Also, please bring extra layers, a towel and a change of clothes just in case you take a dip during the lesson.

You may also want to bring a small dry bag for spare waterproof/warm clothing, money, any medications you may need and your phone in a waterproof pouch. We have these for sale if you don't have one. If you are worried about losing sunglasses please use a sunglasses strap, or buy one from us for £5.

You will be using our paddleboard and paddle. Buoyancy aids are provided and are compulsory on all our sessions.

After we have kitted you out, we will provide a safety briefing and some land-based training on the riverbank at the bottom of The Anglers' beer garden. This typically takes 10-15 minutes depending on group size, and is part of the overall session time.

We will then head out onto the river, downstream towards Eel Pie Island and Richmond. We will return to our launch point at the end of the session.

*The distance actually covered will depend on wind and tide conditions on the day.

*You can expect to be paddling on the water for 40-45 minutes