#ShePaddles Festival at Canolfan Tryweryn

6-8 June 2025

Tickets are available for our wonderful white water weekend for women!

What's on offer:

• Exposure to top tier coaching
• Many opportunities to build confidence
• A community of like-minded female paddlers
• Fun
• Challenge (by choice)
• A weekend in the phenomenal scenery and nature that abounds in and around the Afon Tryweryn
• Talks from engaging and inspirational women paddlers/coaches 

What your ticket includes: 

• CT facility fees* for Friday, Saturday & Sunday
• 2 coaching sessions on Saturday
• A guided paddle on Sunday
• 2 nights camping
• Bar and evening entertainments on Friday and Saturday evenings
• Dinner on Saturday evening

*Subject to a suitable water release 

What you need:

• As a minimum, you must have some experience of paddling grade 2 white water
• You need to bring your own paddling kit (including boat and paddle)
• 18+  
• Tickets are £160pp, with a reduced rate of £145pp for NGB members. 

Once you've booked, you'll be sent a form asking for further information, plus a coaching info and request form. This will ask for some details of your experience and which sessions you'd prefer. This way we hope to match everyone with the right sessions.

Saturday coaching options

White Water Rafting 

This is a great, fun session. If you're not yet paddling grade 3/3+, this could give you a taste of what you're yet to become addicted to! Alternatively, if a full day of coaching might be too much, this could be a chance to mix it up and reserve energy (it's still a blast and there's paddling to do but there are options for an easier ride and no carrying).

Is this for me? Suitable for all.

White Water Flow 

This session is aimed at those reasonably new to white water. We'll find the best spots for practising basic skills such as ferry gliding & breaking in and out. Gain confidence and experience whilst having fun!

Is this for me? Suitable for all.

Intro to White Water Safety 

This is an essential session for those fairly new to white water. We’ll look at planning and what to do when things don’t go to plan (including swimming in white water). This will help you to become a better team (or club) member and give you the information and skills to help keep yourself safe.

Is this for me? Suitable for all.

White Water Boost 

The section above the graveyard goes by a number of names: Upper Graveyard, Graveyard Lead in Rapid etc. It's a super rapid, there's so much to do on it - from just running it and getting that buzz, to starting to break it down by getting an eddy or 2, and then 8 or 9 (10+?!). This is a step up from the White Water Flow.

Is this for me? You need to be reasonably confident breaking in and out and have some confidence on grade 2.

Lower River Skills

This is a full day option. There are lots of rapids, so tons of opportunities for developing skills at different levels: practising basic skills, tackling longer rapids, surfing, eddy hopping, catching those midstream eddies, rock splatting and more.

Is this for me? You should be reasonably confident on grade 2 or a grade 2+/3 paddler wanting to really hone their skills.

Bossing Boat Rescues

Chance to practise the trickiest and most common rescue skill: boat chasing! From a female perspective, we’ll look at techniques for rescuing boats and paddles. Lots of practise of this valuable skill whilst also having fun! 

Is this for me? You need be totally happy on grade 2 and be familiar with some aspects of white water safety. If not, please see the Intro to White Water Safety option. 

Intro to Slalom 

Slalom is a great discipline and the skills can transform your white water paddling. Fancy giving it a go? No specialised equipment needed, just bring your usual white water boat and kit.

Is this for me? Suitable for grade 2+ to 3+ paddlers.

Intro to river play 

Based in the grade 2 environment (on the Upper river) but stretching your comfort zone by working on surfing and playing. 

Is this for me? You should be happy on grade 2 but not as confident playing.

Leadership

This will be a full day on the Lower looking at river leadership. Great for those thinking about White Water Leader (whether pre training or assessment) or just for anyone who wants to be a more pro-active team member. 

Is this for me? You need to be confident on the grade 2(3) environment.

Patrol the Ski Slope 

Ah, the ski slope: so steep, so intimidating, yet so exhilarating! So, don't you want to master it? This is one of my favourite rapids - it gives you such a buzz!

Is this for me? Suitable for those with a bit of grade 3 experience. 

Miss Davies: a bridge of 2 lines

Some go down the left, some go down the right. Maybe you'd like to improve the one, or try the other. Maybe there are other lines?! It's got a lovely lead in rapid too. Lots to work on!

Is this for me? Suitable for those with grade 3 experience. 

Reading the River 

Choosing lines and anticipating outcomes before you turn into the flow! Another great session for understanding and taming the river. 

Is it for me?  You should have some experience on grade 3.

Taking the Ghosts Out of the Graveyard

For many the Graveyard is one of the scariest features here. Let us help you to tame it! You'll look at breaking it down and making the most of the eddies.

Is this for me? You should be fairly confident on grade 3.

Style and Smile 

This session is aimed at those who have paddled the upper previously and want to improve. So more a general Upper T tune up!
Polish your skills and find the smoothest lines to refine your style.

Is this for me? You should be fairly confident on grade 3.

Play the River 

You're running the Upper T happily, but want to play more and really get the most out of the river?

Is this for me? You should be a confident grade 3 paddler with a roll that works most of the time in this environment. 

Freestyling 

We’ll help you throw your boat around! Playboats can be borrowed for this session.

Is this for me?  You should be confident surfing and rolling in this environment. 

Sunday options 

Sunday tends to be a little less formal with a focus on river running and tuning the skills practised on Saturday. Groupings will be based more on confidence and the below isn’t set in stone but will greatly help with getting the right coaches and leaders in place. 

Upper river (different levels based on confidence / speed!)

Lower river (including leadership skills)

Intro to freestyle – based at Bala Mill (play boats available to borrow if you wish)

Walk and talk on the nature of the Tryweryn, with the option of a short time on the water (this may be rafting, depending on numbers and coach availability). 

2 bank - based sessions

Videos of previous #ShePaddles festivals