Ashburton College teacher Anna Eade is on the lookout for any gear that could be loaned to the college’s new kayaking club. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayDo you have a dusty old kayak or paddle in the shed? Why not give the Ashburton College kayak club a bit of hand?

The newly-formed club received a warm welcome from students, with more than 50 signing up, but it has struck a bit of a problem.

“We only have access to four kayaks at the moment,” said organising teacher, Anna Eade.

“Until we are able to get more funding to purchase gear, we are relying on what we have … which is why we are asking people if they have any gear they can lend us.”

Due to the lack of equipment, only eight are able to attend the weekly pool sessions and only spend half of the session in a kayak.

Over the winter months, the students will be refining their skills in the sport of canoe polo.

“It is kind of like basketball in a kayak,” Eade said.

“There is a league in Christchurch that doesn’t have a pool they can use, and we have a pool we can use, but don’t have any gear, so the hope is that we can share things around and compete in the league.”

Once the summer months come around again, the students will be taking to the waters of local rivers to experience white water kayaking.

“The rivers in the local area are great for beginners,” Eade said.

The club is looking for paddles and boats.

Neoprene spray-skirts and lifejackets are important as well, but extra care has to be taken as the spray-skirts can expire and lifejackets can lose their buoyancy.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 March 2017