Check Your Membership
You can check your details and make changes at any time here:
You won’t need a password
What’s Going On at Viking?
Once you have joined Viking, you will be able to access our Members Only Facebook Group. This is where you can easily find out what is going on. The club and members post regularly into this group. Some of the Sections have their own Facebook pages too.
All club activities are on the Calendar.
You can add the calendar to your phone and it will automatically update.
Car Parking
To use the car park a valid sticker needs to be shown in the vehicle. Stickers can be obtained for £6. They are valid for the calendar year & are available from November. Email the chairperson to order a sticker or ask on club night.
There is an agreement between Viking and Star about the car park. Viking’s Wednesday club night and Star’s Thursday club night are protected and members will be asked to respect the car parking priorities of members of the other club on respective nights between 6-10.30 pm. Please return their courtesy by not parking in the clubhouse car park on Thursday evenings. Use the public car parks.
There is now 2 hours free parking in all Bedford town car parks on a Saturday. Ensure you get a ticket from the machine in these car parks.The council have agreed that Viking & Star Club members can park in the Prebend Street car park (car park information) at no charge after 6pm on weekdays & at all times at weekends.
You must display a valid VKC car park sticker or you will be fined. It’s a pay & display car park; other people pay per visit.
There is a height barrier at the entrance so watch out when you have boats on the roof. You can walk under the road bridge & launch onto the river from the bank opposite the clubhouse
Club Boats and Equipment
As part of your membership you are allowed and encouraged to use all try all the various types of kayaks and canoes that the club has.
The rear boathouse (door in the car park) is filled with a large number of general purpose kayaks. They vary in size from youth kayaks up to large kayaks with inbuilt skegs to help go in a straight line. Also, you will find a number of canoe polo boats. See the canoe polo section for more information about this sport and when canoe polo sessions take place.
The front boathouse (river side roller door) contains canoes, a 2 person kayak, sit on tops, canoe slalom kayaks and racing kayaks. A number of the racks in the front boathouse are private and you should always check that it is club equipment before taking it out on the river. This boathouse is also where the more delicate boats are stored and care should be taken in this boathouse.
If you wish to use club equipment away from the club you should always check with the equipment officer to ensure that it is free and what you are borrowing it for is allowed. Mail us here if you wish to borrow club equipment contact:
Club equipment is available for all but it is reserved for courses and is first come first served after that. It is therefore recommended that after a short period of time you start looking for your own equipment.
Boat House Keys
Keys to the boathouse can be issued to members based on criteria including: access to personal boats, access to club boats for coaches running courses, access to activity leaders.
Click here to email us with your request.
Clubhouse Key Fob
A key fob can be used to get into the changing room using the door at the top of the external stairs. The bar staff keep the key fobs and a list of current VKC members. If you are on the list they will give you a key fob in exchange for a £10 by BACS transfer. If you are not on the members list please contact membership@vikingkayak.co.uk
Club Committee and Officials
We have a number of Officials and Club Committee members. All the information can be found on the Club Officials page under the About Us on the top menu. Click here
Volunteering
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Viking Kayak Club. Becoming a member at Viking allows you to do more than just canoe and kayak. We want to encourage you as a member, be it current paddler, former member, parent or friend, to get involved in the Club’s development,
There are many ways for you to get involved whether it is helping out with competitions, coaching to taking on committee appointments, which usually change every second year, so members quickly obtain a wide experience of Club activities.
Some examples of roles which are available:
Coaching
Volunteer co-ordinator
Fundraising
Communications manager
Legal and Admin support
Stand-alone projects,
It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to know more people and add a notch to your CV. It is incredibly rewarding to help contribute to the success of the club. There are different time requirements for each role, from an hour per month, to more demanding positions requiring weekly commitment. We’ll make sure you only need to commit the time you can afford to give.
Click here to email the club secretary if you would like to help out
Bedford River Users Group
We belong to this group that meets to agree when major events take over the river. See the annual diary here
Club Clothing
Godfrey Sport
There’s an excellent range of kit from the cheaper items through to the more technical clothing. And you can even get any item individualised with your initials if you like!
So please, have a look at the page, get your order in and wear your new kit with pride!!
Club Documents
Rules and Polices
Committee Meeting Minutes
All Public Documents AGM, Accounts etc
Upcoming Viking Kayak Club Events:
Apr 26 Fri 
Our next #ShePaddles weekday daytime club night will take place on Friday, April 26th. Time to be decided based on majority requirement!
Comment on the Facebook Event to let us know you are coming.
General pool session 8:15pm till 9:15pm (AT THE POOL)
Boat collection from the boathouse 7:15-7:45
IMPORTANT- Our ability to transport kit to the pool is limited, if you need help transporting kit please arrange this in advance.
We can welcome Ad Hoc Paddlers. If you are not yet a club member please see below if you are looking for some fun in a warm and safe environment, and would like to try kayaking.
For all those who would like to attend, PLEASE get in touch to request a place. Numbers are limited.
❗️All pool users must wear a helmet.
💰 Paddler session fee
- VKC members – £6
- Non VKC members using own kit – £12.50
- Non VKC members using club kit – £19
Card or phone only. No cash. Payment at the pool on the night to the Viking representative (not Robinson pool reception).
🚗 There is a free car park at Robinson swimming pool, but you need to display a ticket from the parking machine to avoid a parking fine.
Hope to see you there 🙃🛶
☝️information for non-VKC members (Ad Hoc Paddlers). When you paddle with us, you become a temporary VKC member and can pay for up to six sessions, after which you would need to join VKC if you would like to continue paddling with us. Once you have a place confirmed please could you do the following before your first pool session:
❗️All non VKC members must submit our electronic ad hoc membership form (under membership, please select Ad Hoc paddling): https://membermojo.co.uk/vikingkayak
Apr 28 Sun Courses are situated on the River Great Ouse in Bedford on a 4.3 km circuit. Races to suit Elite, Intermediate, Novice and Lightning divisions.
Catch up with racing at Viking Racing on Facebook here
May 6 Mon Come and Try Kayaking or Canoeing. 
Monday 6th May 
10 am – 3pm 
No need to book, just turn up £5 for 30 minutes. May 15 Wed Former club member, Andy, is coming to the club to join us on a club night paddle, and then give a talk in the clubhouse about his expedition to Kyrgyzstan to paddle the Saryjaz River in 2023.
The Saryjaz runs from high up in Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan to the dried-up salt lake desert in China and is a river so remote it can only be compared to something in far out Alaska, the only difference is rescue is not coming for you.
Jun 1 Sat The Big Paddle Clean Up – SAVE THE DATE
10am – Meet at the club boathouse for grabbing kit and briefing
10:30am – On the water, Starting from the club
……. more details to follow once known 🙂
Jun 22 Sat Cardington Slalom Competition Div 2/3/4 @ Cardington Canoe Slalom Course Jun 22 – Jun 23 all-day national ranking slalom
Catch up with slalom at Viking on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/VKCSlalom
Subscribe to filtered calendar
Our next #ShePaddles weekday daytime club night will take place on Friday, April 26th. Time to be decided based on majority requirement!
Comment on the Facebook Event to let us know you are coming.
General pool session 8:15pm till 9:15pm (AT THE POOL)
Boat collection from the boathouse 7:15-7:45
IMPORTANT- Our ability to transport kit to the pool is limited, if you need help transporting kit please arrange this in advance.
We can welcome Ad Hoc Paddlers. If you are not yet a club member please see below if you are looking for some fun in a warm and safe environment, and would like to try kayaking.
For all those who would like to attend, PLEASE get in touch to request a place. Numbers are limited.
❗️All pool users must wear a helmet.
💰 Paddler session fee
- VKC members – £6
- Non VKC members using own kit – £12.50
- Non VKC members using club kit – £19
Card or phone only. No cash. Payment at the pool on the night to the Viking representative (not Robinson pool reception).
🚗 There is a free car park at Robinson swimming pool, but you need to display a ticket from the parking machine to avoid a parking fine.
Hope to see you there 🙃🛶
☝️information for non-VKC members (Ad Hoc Paddlers). When you paddle with us, you become a temporary VKC member and can pay for up to six sessions, after which you would need to join VKC if you would like to continue paddling with us. Once you have a place confirmed please could you do the following before your first pool session:
❗️All non VKC members must submit our electronic ad hoc membership form (under membership, please select Ad Hoc paddling): https://membermojo.co.uk/vikingkayak
Courses are situated on the River Great Ouse in Bedford on a 4.3 km circuit. Races to suit Elite, Intermediate, Novice and Lightning divisions.
Catch up with racing at Viking Racing on Facebook here
Monday 6th May 10 am – 3pm No need to book, just turn upFormer club member, Andy, is coming to the club to join us on a club night paddle, and then give a talk in the clubhouse about his expedition to Kyrgyzstan to paddle the Saryjaz River in 2023.
The Saryjaz runs from high up in Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan to the dried-up salt lake desert in China and is a river so remote it can only be compared to something in far out Alaska, the only difference is rescue is not coming for you.
The Big Paddle Clean Up – SAVE THE DATE
10am – Meet at the club boathouse for grabbing kit and briefing
10:30am – On the water, Starting from the club
……. more details to follow once known 🙂
national ranking slalom
Catch up with slalom at Viking on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/VKCSlalom