There are four member types – you need to determine which you will be before completing the form. More detailed descriptions are given further down the page. Everyone, even a single taster session, is a ‘member’ (allowing collection of required medical data, emergency contact via Spond).
- Taster session – for those who want to try paddling before they commit to an intro course
- Intro course – for those with no or limited paddling experience, who want to rapidly upskill, and become a member of the club – if you are unsure, this is you
- Direct entry – for those with significant existing experience i.e. qualifications, who wish to become a member of the club within the current paddling year.
- Day member – for occasional use – only for those with significant experience, or previous members. You can do day member up to 3 times a season, before you must decide whether to commit to full membership, or continue paying the day rate for any paddles for the remainder of the year. See ‘What is a Day Member?’ FAQ for details.
Fees for each are available on our fees page (subject to review each year).
Once decided, fill in the membership form! Ensure you sign up at least a week before the first event you intent to attend, and closely monitor your emails, or you may miss out!
Once you have completed the membership form and this has been reviewed, you will receive an email requesting payment with instructions. Once payment is made, you will be added the right groups in Spond by a volunteer and then be able to book onto relevant sessions. This last step is manual, so give us 24hrs before you email (please!).
Taster Session – last few places for September 2026
Our taster sessions are held outside our clubhouse in Salisbury with our qualified coaches. They are designed for people with little to no experience in paddlesports. We look to introduce you to some basic concepts, in a fun, friendly, and supportive atmosphere. From there we will be able to assess your paddling ability, and signpost you to what you should do next. Our Taster Session closely mirrors the syllabus of the Paddle UK Start Award
The next taster sessions are: May, June, July, Sept 2026. Tasters are the first Wednesday of those months, 6pm sharp, until around 8pm, at Salisbury Canoe Club.
Intro Course
Our Introductory Course is a programme designed to take you from ‘zero’ to ‘hero’. Run over three consecutive weeks (one evening a week) with our qualified coaches outside our clubhouse in Salisbury. We introduce the core concepts of kayaking, and develop them into techniques that will allow you to join us on our regular Tuesday evening members sessions. Our Introductory Course closely mirrors the syllabus of the Paddle UK Discover Award
This is the normal route into the club, so that we all have the same baseline skill level.
This includes full membership and kit for the rest of the paddling year. On succesfull completion of the course, you’ll be able to join on regular club nights, and weekend trips. Skills development continues from this point included in your annual fee.
The next intro courses are: May, June, July, Sept 2026. Intro courses are the second, third and fourth Wednesday of those months, 6pm sharp, until around 8pm, at Salisbury Canoe Club. All three sessions are required to complete the course, and become a full member of the club.
Direct Entry
The only exceptions from doing the intro course are generally those with significant river experience or qualifications. If this is you, then please detail in the “previous experience” box when signing up, and our coaches may decide you can skip the course. Skipping the course is very much the exception, not the norm.
