Doggy Paddle

  • paddleboarding

  • 2 hrs

  • Up to 5 people
  • pin

    Richmond, GB

  • ticket-price
    From
    £69.00
    / adult
  • ticket-price
    From
    £50.00
    / child
  • Description

    Our Doggy Paddle session is a chance to enjoy the river with your best friend.

    You will be paddling from Richmond on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Thames, either upstream towards Eel Pie Island and Teddington, or downstream towards Isleworth, Kew Gardens and Chiswick.

    We paddle at half tide, so there are no fast currents or tides, and have the option to launch from a "beach" so everyone can get on their boards safely. Children over 10 welcome, as long as they are accompanied on the water by a parent/legal guardian.

    All equipment is provided - board, paddle and buoyancy aid, but please bring your own dog lifejacket as we don't have those. We use big stable boards for this session, so you should stay dry, but please bring a change of clothes just in case.


    Cancellation and Bad Weather

    Book with confidence - we offer a 100% money back guarantee in the event that the session cannot run due to Covid-19 restrictions. Please see our Cancellation Policy for details on cancelling or rescheduling your session for other reasons.


    We don't cancel sessions due to rain - in fact it's lovely on the river in the rain! However, very occasionally, due to extreme weather (high winds, lightning or poor visibility), we may need to cancel your paddleboard session. On these occasions we will contact you and attempt to reschedule your lesson, and if this is not an option, we will offer you a credit voucher or full refund. If you don't hear from us, the session is going ahead!


    Requirements

    Please do not attend the session if you, or anyone you have been in contact with, are showing any symptoms of Covid-19.

    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.

    We will also need to know of any recent injuries prior to the session.

    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.



    What to bring

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

    We have a safe 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), with old sandals, flip flops or trainers that you don't mind getting wet. We usually paddle bare foot, but you are welcome to wear trainers or water shoes.

    In colder weather (November - March), wearing a wetsuit would be advisable. We have wetsuits available if requested in advance, or bring your own. 

    If it’s sunny please bring an old baseball hat and sun cream.

    Also, please bring extra thermal layers, a towel and a change of clothes just in case you take a little dip during the lesson.

    You may also want to bring a small dry bag for spare waterproof/warm clothing, money and any medications you may need, and your phone in a waterproof pouch. 

    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 for humans, but unfortunately we don't have them for dogs, so please bring your own. 



    Itinerary

    Your session will start with a safety briefing and some land-based training on the riverbank near Richmond Bridge. This typically takes 15-20 minutes depending on group size.

    We will then head out onto the river, either upstream towards Eel Pie Island and Teddington or downstream towards Richmond Lock. We will return to our launching place at the end of the session.


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


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