Euros Kano: Kayaking on every water!
Euros Kano is an active kayak and canoe club located in Enschede. Euros Kano means
kayaking of almost every kind and lots of fun. We have a great variety of club
activities and enthusiastic kayak members.
Euros Kano has much to offer you:
- Kayaking... a very versatile sport
- Flatwater Racing: Competition kayaking and training
- Canoe Polo: teamsport on every level
- Whitewater kayaking
- Instructional programmes
- Training
- Touring: from day trips to complete holidays
- Interested? Try kayaking at Euros Kano!
- How do I become a member?
Kayaking... a very versatile sport
Euros Kano is a club where you can practice kayaking from a beginners level al the way up to competition level. You can choose to go kayaking just for pleasure or for fast pacing competition. Try a game of canoe polo, test yourself on a wild river or just enjoy a scenic tour for leisure. All is possible at Euros Kano.
For competition we have a wide variety of racing kayak types: K1, K2, K4 and C1. Canoe Polo is very popular among our members, we have adequate material for two teams. Whitewater kayaking has been a long tradition in our club. We have a complete set of whitewater kayaks, which we can use for kayaking in the surf of the North Sea or for our trips abroad such as in Slovenia. For touring we usally rely on our Canadian canoes accompanied by SK-type kayaks or whitewater kayaks.
Our blue Euros Kano minivan and trailer takes us and our kayaks everywhere.
Flatwater Racing: Competition kayaking and training
If speed is what you need, then, after initial training, you can try one of our racing kayaks. In our club we have a lot of experience in flatwater racing, so you'll be able to quickly advance your technique, condition and overall speed.
Several members participate in competition, but don't let the terms racing and competition scare you off, because you may also enjoy paddling with a group on the canal.
Besides one-person kayaks (K1) we have kayaks for 2 and 4 persons (K2 and K4). You can use these for general training or for pure speed. Especially a harmonious paddling K4 is a true sensation.
Canoe Polo: teamsport on every level
The game of canoe polo is often described as a combination of water polo,
basketball and kayaking. Canoe polo is also known as kayak polo. You play the
game in short manoeuvrable kayaks where two teams of five players compete against
each other. The aim is to score in a goal two meters above the water. You may
use your hands and paddle, but you're not allowed to kayak with the bal on your
spraydeck. A game of canoe polo lasts for two 10 minutes sessions.
As an added bonus you may tip another kayak over when he or she has the ball. This may happen to you as well! Then the kayak or eskimo roll will come in very handy: you'll right yourself in an instant and are ready to continue. Beginners can right themselves on another kayak of their team, but pretty soon you'll want to do the kayak roll yourself. Kayak rolling is part of our special instructional programmes.
We play canoe polo competition in Holland and sometimes abroad. Canoe polo is an excellent preparation for whitewater kayaking.
Whitewater kayaking
Do you like a challenge? Be sure to try whitewater kayaking. After learning the basics on the Twente canal, you can test your skills in the surf of the North Sea or in the Ardennes. Not yet satisfied? Join up for a vacation to Slovenia (the GoSlo experience) where you will be tested to your satisfaction in clear, but wild alpine rivers such as the Soca and the Koritnica. Beginners as well as experienced kayakers had a great time.
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Whitewater kayaking in Slovenia: part of the GoSlo experience |
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Instructional programmes
During the academic year we organise several introductions on general kayaking and canoe polo. We will teach you the basic techniques and after a few lessons you can try one of our more stable racing kayaks or, perhaps you'll find canoe polo more to your liking. We often end an introduction with a tour over the river Dinkel here in Twente.
For general kayaking beginners start in an SK-type kayak. Balance, paddle technique, cooperation and condition training are a few key items; these are also used for Flatwater Racing.
For canoe polo you start immediately in a competition kayak. Short sprinting, high and low support, ball control and teamwork are key items for canoe polo.
Special programmes such as kayak rolling or eskimo rolling (also very useful for canoe polo) and K2 training are also available. The announcement of our course on kayak rolling with additional video material is here.
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Learn here... |
...to do this! |
Training
For instruction and training we can rely on several coaches specialized on canoe polo, general kayak training and flatwater racing.
Kayaking: whenever you like!
Outside the standard training hours (below) members have access to our facilities at the Watersport Complex at the Twente canal. So, whenever you feel like it, you can take a kayak and paddle for relaxation, training and preparation. Phone up others to paddle together or team up for a tour or a day trip.
Summer Period
On Mondays training hours are from 18:00 to 19:30 at the Twente canal. (general kayak training).
On
Wednesdays training hours are from 20:00 to ca. 22:00 at the campus outdoor swimming pool
(canoe polo). The outdoor swimming pool is heated and is usually available from mid may until mid september.
When the outdoor swimming pool is closed, we go to the canal, daylight
permitting.
For extra canoe polo training sessions we also use the canal.
Winter Period
In winter we continue training. On Mondays training hours are from ca. 18:00 to 19:30 (times may vary according to availability). From around October until April we transfer our training activities to the indoor swimming pool at the university campus.
At the indoor swimming pool we paddle on a special board over the water with adapted paddles. These are ideal for keeping up your (kayak) condition during winter but also for improving your technique. We combine paddling with general exercises and swimming.
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Winter paddlers... |
...including doubles |
Touring: from day trips to complete holidays
Day trips
In the region near Enschede we regularly go on a day trip during the weekend. The river Dinkel or Berkel (just over the border in Germany) are some of our favourites. We have also visited the waters around the Twickel estate and had a great time during many interesting city kayaking trips.
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Paddling on the german river Berkel |
Rustic waters near the Twickel estate |
Club Weekends
Our club weekends bring us to places such as the Weerribben and the Biesbosch. Two wonderful Dutch nature reserves where we had a great time.
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The Weerribben, from beginning... |
...to end |
Vacations
If you want to combine a very affordable vacation, fun, leisure and some instruction you have a lot to choose from. For vacations up to a fortnight we have enjoyed the GoSlo experience: exhilarating whitewater kayaking for beginners and experienced kayakers in Slovenia. Sweden has been added to our most recent holiday destinations for the past two years.
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The GoSlo experience: whitewater kayaking in Slovenia |
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Sweden: Land of the 1000 lakes |
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Touring specials
There are several special touring events that we frequently visit. The kayak variety of the world famous Dutch Elfstedentocht is one of them. Due to its length we change K2 paddlers several times and we also have to kayak at night!
Another returning annual event is the Veluwe Rally. A non-competitive tour of 30, 50 or 100 kilometers down the river IJssel. We have participated with just about every kind of kayak or canoe, even with a specially crafted one (or two?):
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Euros Kano with two canoes in tandem at the Veluwe Rally |
Interested? Try kayaking at Euros Kano!
Visit us without further obligations! We'll gladly give you personal guidance
when you come by. You'll get a taste of the sport and meet our enthusiastic
members. When you come on a Monday then, after kayaking, you can join us
for an evening meal and kayak conversation at the bar of our club building the Sevende Camer.
After a few visits you can decide if you want to become a member
of Euros Kano.
We also have several programmes that you can join:
- introduction programme in September
- introduction programme in the spring
- kayak rolling
What to wear?
During summer a t-shirt and appropriate swimwear is usually fine. Depending on the temperature a thermo shirt is nice to wear. A centrifuge is at hand to dry wet clothes and a hot shower is nearby at our club building the Sevende Camer.
Contact the club management if you want to try kayaking at Euros Kano or you can apply for membership directly. See also our contact page.
How do I become a member of Euros Kano:
Euros Kano is associated with the University of Twente and is open for students (bachelor, masters and PhD) and employees of the University of Twente.
Students of Higher Education in Enschede (Saxion, AKI and ITC) are very welcome as well. They have been active members of Euros Kano for years.
For membership and group discounts please contact the club secretary or the club management. See also our contact page.