Young kayakers are ready to roll!

YOUNG Navigators have hailed their new found paddling skills.

The pool kayaking sessions run by Upper Dearne Valley Navigators – an alternative organisation to the Scouts – aimed to teach beginners the basic skills and more experienced paddlers had the target of learning to roll.

Leader Ewan Scott said the training had been a real success.

He said: “We are delighted to be able to say that all our beginners have gained a range of basic skills and are ready to move on to outdoors sessions in the coming months, whilst our experienced paddlers have started rolling their kayaks.

“There is a huge ability barrier to break through to learn to roll. Being upside down is very disorienting, people truly lose the ability to determine right from left and up from down.

“The US Navy ran experiments after WWII and discovered that they lost more planes and pilots due to planes being inverted and pilots becoming disoriented than they actually did to enemy fire.

“So, for young people to master the disorienting kayak roll is a fantastic achievement.

“New-start paddlers, aged from eight to 10, all felt confident in taking their paddling out on to outdoor waters and were keen to do more paddling and build their skills.”

Evan Beaumont, one of the Navigators, said: “I didn’t think that I would be able to roll the kayak without help, but by the end of the session I was able to capsize and get myself back upright without assistance.”

Fiona Scott, one of the Navigators’ coaches said: “These pool sessions introduce beginners to the basic skills and get them past the capsize drill that is a big barrier for many young paddlers.

“The more experienced paddlers get to develop their skills to a level that boosts their confidence on the rivers that we introduce them to over the summer.”

Navigators run outdoor kayaking sessions throughout the summer from April to October, and pool sessions will resume in late October. Membership is open to anyone between the age of 10 and 18 (younger applicants can be accommodated if they have the will and the ability).

Those joining to take part in kayaking can also take participate in any other Navigators’ activities throughout the year.

People can contact the Navigators through Facebook, or via their website at www.upperdearnevalleynavigators.org.uk