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Michaelmas Week 1

ouckc

Hello!

 

Thanks to everyone who came to our come and try it sessions yesterday. We had a fantastic turnout and it was great to see so many people getting stuck in. If you missed it, not to worry, there’s another come and try it session next Sunday (see below). We also have a website (www.ouckc.co.uk) with all sorts of useful information and a Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/ouckc). We’re a friendly club that welcome anyone that’s keen to kayak, regardless of previous experience. If you still have questions after reading this email, feel free to get in touch! This week, we have the following:

 

  1. Ice cream social and then Pub crawl, Thursday (13th October) 7.00pm G&D’s on St.Aldate’s street
  2. Come and Try It sessions at Port Meadow on Sunday (16th October)
  3. Freshers’ Trip Sign up
  4. Marathon
  5. Membership
  6. More experienced kayakers

 

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  1. Ice cream social and then Pub crawl, Thursday (13th) 7.00pm G&D’s on St.Aldate’s street

As promised, a fun evening of getting to know other boating enthusiasts and meeting the amazing committee of this club. We’re a very friendly bunch and this promises to be a busy and fun evening. Meet at the G&D’s on St.Aldate’s Street (near Christchurch) at 7.00pm on Thursday 13th October to satisfy all your ice cream needs. We will then head off to various pubs for a fun evening of drinking and chatting, and potentially clubbing afterwards if people are keen. Come in droves-this is going to be great!

  1. 2. Come and Try It sessions at Port Meadow on Sunday

Same as last week, a bit of coaching and some fun and games.

  • When: 11am, 1pm, 3pm (16th Oct). If you’re keen for canoe polo, come along at 11am where Chris, polo captain, will be leading a group covering the basics.
  • Where: The Shed on Port Meadow. Directions can be found through this GoogleMap (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zXRsCUnbRcI0.k_Lc5n5h9s1I)
  • How: turn up a bit before the session to nab the shiniest kit as it will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
  • What to bring: you need to bring some enthusiasm and a complete change of clothes (a towel is also very useful). For on the river, synthetic sportswear or thermal type stuff is best. Make sure you have old trainers, wetsuit boots or something similar to wear on your feet that you don’t mind getting wet. OUCKC will provide a waterproof(ish) jacket (called a cag), and all the actual kayaking equipment. If you do not bring the above then you will not be allowed out on the water. Bringing a bit of cash to get something in the pub (see below) after the session is recommended
  • Afterwards: we’ll head to the pub (Jude the Obscure on Walton St) for a hot chocolate/pint/chips where you can get to know us a bit better. If you’re at one of the earlier sessions, feel free to pop back to join us in the pub at 5/5.30pm. We’ll have membership forms and committee members on hand to answer any of your questions.

*Can’t make it this time? Not to worry, just come along next week (or anytime for that matter). New people are always welcome, but we do ask you to attend a minimum of 2 sessions before signing up for trips.

 

  1. Freshers’ Trip Sign Up – OPENS SUNDAY

The first trip of term will be happening at the end of 3rd week (leaving 28th Oct evening, returning 30th Oct evening). The cost of the trip is approximately £50 and this will cover transport, food, and bunkhouse accommodation. We’ll be heading to South Wales which has rivers to suit even those that have only just started kayaking; all we ask if for you to have attended a minimum of 2 sessions before the trip and have done a spraydeck test. Sign up will open at 6pm on Sunday (after the sessions) in Jude the Obscure, where we’ll be ready to answer questions, sign people up, and take payments (cash or cheque).

Here are a couple videos from previous trips for procrastinating purposes: https://vimeo.com/31728427 and https://vimeo.com/53890834 (not all of which were filmed on the bits of rivers we send beginners down so don’t panic when you see the waterfall!

Any questions, ask our lovely trip secs, Cormac and Kerry.

 

  1. Marathon session – Falcon Canoe Club at 7am on Friday

These are aimed at people who want to cover distances in long pointy boats. The sessions are based at Falcon Canoe Club by Donnington Bridge and therefore cost £2 to cover Falcon equipment. If you are pretty comfortable in an ordinary kayak and interested in going along, get in touch with our marathon rep, Thomas who can answer any questions and sign you up for a session.

  1. Membership

Membership fees are £35 per year for Oxford University students, and £50 for everyone else. This covers the costs of buying and maintaining all the equipment and sessions the club offers, safety stuff like insurance, and storage of your own kit if you have any. Trips and tournaments are paid for separately. We also offer termly memberships which are £20 for OU-students, and £25 for everyone else. To join the club, fill in a membership form (attached) and pidge with a cheque to Jonathon Witty at St Catz College. Alternatively, bring everything along to a session to hand to Jon. Membership (new or renewal) must be paid before the first trip (end of 3rdweek).

  1. More experienced paddlers

If you are a more experienced paddler and would like some more adventurous/technical events to stretch your limits, fear not! Check out the term card:

-On the 22nd/23rd October, the BCU Student Safety Seminar is taking place at Plas y Brenin in North Wales. This is a fantastically informative course which will be great for your personal development. (See website for more details- http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses-bcu-student-safety-seminar.php ). For anyone with previous paddling experience who is willing to help out at Sunday sessions and invest in the club, we are willing to subsidize the cost of the course for you, meaning it will only cost you about £40 (travel, accommodation) for a weekend trip. If you are interested in a place, turn up to the pub crawl or Sunday session and have a chat with one of the committee members.

-The intermediate white water trip will be on more challenging white water and suitable for paddlers with a bit more experience.

-There will also be a First Aid course later on in the term, again subsidized if you get involved with club activities.

Hope to see you all at the pub crawl or out on the water.

Serin

OUCKC President

Hi, I’m ouckc

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