Tampereen Vihuri ry is one of the most versatile paddling clubs in Finland, where almost all types of paddling are practiced, such as touring & expedition kayaking on inland waters, river routes and at the sea, sprint and marathon kayaking, slalom & kayak cross and canoe polo. For eight years, Vihuri has also organised applied paddling for members of the Pirkanmaan neuroyhdistys (Pirkanmaa Neurosociety) and for people with special needs.
Activities range from 8-year-olds to seniors, with a variety of skill levels and varying intensities, all year round. There are currently around 500 members with a very even gender distribution (50%-50%).
Vihuri has athletes competing in all under-18, adult, and Special Olympics competition categories. Vihuri’s Netta Malinen competes at the top international level and has her sights set on next summer’s Olympic Games.
The Vihuri paddling club, turning in a few years 80, has had a clubhouse at Rauhaniemi on the shore of Lake Näsijärvi since the 1950’s. The facilities will be extended, and building the new extension section will hopefully start later this year. Vihuri also has activities at the lake of Kaukajärvi, where juniors and racing paddlers train. And just an hour’s paddle from the clubhouse, Vihuri owns an island named Haukisaari with a sauna.
The paddling club is also expanding its activities to the town of Lempäälä, at the Herralankoski rapids. Vihuri will start slalom & kayak cross activities and regular junior training already during this season.
Getting involved in Vihuri’s activities is possible through paddling schools for children and young people as well as the basic Paddler 1 courses for adults. Starting paddling is suitable for people of all ages! If you have already paddled before, you can join the club by demonstrating your paddling skills.
Everyone in our club wears appropriate safety vests on paddling trips, and the coldness of the water should be taken seriously, even during the warm and sunny days in May or autumn.
During the summer, weekly paddling trips and paddling training sessions are organised for all members of Vihuri. Members can use shared equipment or keep their own kayaks at the clubhouse. Paddling trips are organised both nearby and further out, even as far as the Norwegian coast.
For a few years now, Pispalan uittotunneli (an old log driving tunnel) has been closed due to the construction work of the new Näsisaari neighbourhood. When the tunnel will be reopened, we will be able to paddle again from the clubhouse to Lake Pyhäjärvi, and even as far as to the city of Hämeenlinna, first transporting our kayaks through the tunnel.
You can also paddle during the winter: either on weekend swimming pool shifts at the Tampereen Uintikeskus (Tampere Swimming Centre) or as off-water training with the kayak ergometers equipment at Varalan Urheiluopisto (Varala Sports Centre). Juniors keep up their physical shape in winter by skiing on the Kauppi cross-country skiing trails, and the club also has gym sessions for its members. International-level paddlers spend part of the year training at camps abroad.
You are welcome to visit Vihuri either at our clubhouse in Rauhaniemi or in the training sessions for our enthusiastic junior paddlers in Kaukajärvi.
Sivua on päivitetty viimeksi 29.6.2024.
