Slalom Starts

Get Involved and Help us Grow

The Sharks are committed to helping to grow Slalom Canoeing and playing our part in this great community. We are joining the Slalom Starts Programme, which aims to bring more people into the discipline.

New Paddlers this Year2

  1. Jannik Petersmann – Lee Valley February/March 2026 A Returning Paddler, now racing Veterans.
  2. Sam Press – The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 A Junior Paddler trying Slalom

Division 4 paddlers this year

  1. Abbey McDonald – Langham Farm May 2026 A new Junior Paddler, recently started canoeing at Thamesmead.
  2. Giles Brunning – Langham Farm May 2026 An experienced Paddler trying out Slalom
  3. Mohammed Bouhassane – Langham Farm May 2026 A Junior paddler trying out Slalom, from our Harlesden Primary School Partnership.
  4. Harley Rai– The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 A new paddler, through our Three Bridges Partnership Scheme
  5. Rosalind Sawyer-Edward – The Sharks at Shepperton Monday 2026 A new Junior Paddler, recently started canoeing at Thamesmead.
  6. Charlotte Cemble – The Sharks at Shepperton Monday 2026 A Junior paddler trying out Slalom, from our St. Mary’s School Partnership.
  7. David Edwards – The Sharks at Shepperton Monday 2026 An experienced Paddler trying out Slalom
  8. Jonathan Cemble – The Sharks at Shepperton Monday 2026 A Junior paddler trying out Slalom, from our St. Mary’s School Partnership.
  9. Ian Marsh – Langham Farm May 2026 An experienced paddler giving slalom a go.
  10. Zak Ahmed – Langham Farm May 2026 A new Junior Paddler, recently started canoeing at Thamesmead.
  11. Saalih Said – The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 A young paddler giving slalom a try.
  12. Abdurrahman Syed – The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 Another family member getting involved.
  13. Maximilian Arbuzov – The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 A youngster trying slalom.
  14.  Abdullah Syed – The Sharks at Shepperton Sunday 2026 The youngest of the three brothers paddling slalom
  15. Ezikiel Maqbool – A Junior paddler trying out Slalom, from our St. Mary’s School Partnership.

Our slalom programme has traditionally been based at the weir at Coppermill Lock, oppose the Coy Carp in Harefield. However, in 2026, we will also be starting slalom sessions at Southmere Lake in Thamesmead.

We have set ourselves a target of getting 26 paddlers ranked in Division 3 and above, we currently have 13, so we want to double this number, we think this is feasible and realistic as we had 17 paddlers race at Division 4 last year, check our final rankings in 2025.

Slalom Starts is run by the Slalom Discipline of Paddle UK. Our lead Slalom coach is Rick Moore, who is leading our Slalom Starts Programme as well as running our slalom sessions, we also have other experienced coaches who are involved in slalom; including Aaron Nolan, and Grant Underwood, and several paddlers with experience to help along new paddlers. However, we always need more and can help you get qualifications, and we do pay!

By being part of the Slalom Start Programme, we will have support from Paddle UK to deliver sessions aimed at recruiting new members, and part of this will involve helping us to get more slalom discipline specific trained staff.

Do you want to be part of this paddling revolution? If the answer is yes, then email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk for more information, you can also call or text on 07951 770241.

Our plan is to launch our programme after Easter, when the weather starts warming and canoeing and kayaking are more attractive to people just starting their paddling adventure.

What do we need?

  • New Paddlers, if you are an existing paddler bring a friend or two, if you are new to the sport come along and join us and if you can bring a friend that would be a bonus.
  • Existing paddlers and members to give slalom ago! If you have been paddling with us at other sites or in other disciplines, come and try something different.
  • Ex-paddles who want to get back into the sport.
  • Help, yes if we are to grow the sport and the club we need more people involved to support us, there are many roles and functions for people to get involved with.
    • We need more teachers and coaches, and we do pay.
    • We need people to help us organise sessions, this may be as a volunteer, but could lead to paid employment.
    • We need somebody to manage our membership, again this may need to start out as a volunteer, but could lead to payed employment.
    • Help with logistics when we go to events

Make History Happen!

Get in touch now, it will be fun and who knows where it may take you, call/text 07951 770241, email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk.

  • Pictures by Peak Uk
  • Pictures by Grant Underwood

Published 14th January 2026