When paddlers think of inland clubs, sea kayaking might not be the first discipline that springs to mind. Yet Cambridge Canoe Club has recently demonstrated how targeted leadership training can ignite a thriving sea kayaking culture, culminating in their very first #ShePaddles Sea Kayaking Weekend in Northumberland. At Paddles Up Training, we love seeing how…
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We caught up with White Water paddler Alex Littlechild about their journey and experience in becoming a White Water Coach. Words by Alex What made you want to become a coach? How did you start your career in paddlesports? Initially the thing that drew me to coaching was living by the river and being able…
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“I have worked with young people with additional needs since November 2010. I started at Truro College and within the first couple of years, I realised that most of the activities that neuro-typical young people undertake whilst on holiday seemed to be deemed unsuitable for those who may be neuro-divergent, so families coming on holiday…
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Paddles Up Training has recently caught up with Brad about how their combined Paddle Safer and SUP Sheltered Water Personal Performance Awards. Here’s what they had to say! In a recent delivery of paddlesport awards, I combined two Paddle UK Awarding Body qualifications—the Paddle Safer Award and the SUP Sheltered Water Award—to create a comprehensive…
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Paddles Up Training would like to congratulate Jonathan for becoming a Performance Slalom Coach! We hear from Jonathan who talks us through his journey . I must admit my initial motivation to engage with the Performance Coach award was that I was told I had to! I have recently qualified to run the Slalom Coach…
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I started paddleboarding about five years ago, after buying a paddleboard when I was made redundant during Covid. I wanted to use my redundancy money for something fun. I had some lessons to get to know the basics of paddleboarding before I started practicing and going out on the water with friends. Joining clubs like…
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We catch up with Charlotte, who recently completed her White Water Leader assessment. Kayaking is one of those sports where you never stop learning – every river, no matter how many times you have run it, always has something different from the way you remembered originally. Whether it be a new line, a new hazard…
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When you have a passion for a paddlesport, you truly never know where it is going to take you. This year I was privileged to be chosen as a #ShePaddles Ambassador for Paddle UK. My mission was to show women considering trying out SUP that no matter your starting point – you CAN take part.…
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I have been white water kayaking since joining Durham University in 2021. Now in my 3rd year (studying mechanical engineering) I have been fortunate with the number of opportunities provided to me at Durham University Canoe Club the club. From integrating quickly into the club on social chill paddles, to chucking myself down rapids, trying…
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I had worked at centres and had done a lot of flat water canoeing and got my three star in 2008 at Symonds Yat. So, when I moved to Llangollen to work, the Dee provided the perfect playground. I booked onto my moderate canoe leader training and at this point I could not really afford…
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We meet five women from the Canal & River Trust who are empowering their communities get out on their local canals and enjoy the benefits of being out on the water. Jane, Sara, Vicki, Emma, and Hannah are on a mission to make paddling accessible to everyone. Each of them has embarked on a personal…
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Essex Freestyle Community was set up alongside Colchester Canoe Club, with the aim of getting more people involved with Freestyle and experience the lovely warm community. We were struggling to get involved, as unless you know someone who does Freestyle or where to go, we didn’t know where to start. Alongside the club’s lack of…
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I took the SUP Instructor qualification because I want to be able to introduce more people to the sport in a safe environment. I want to use my knowledge and skills to involve the disadvantaged groups in to the sport. As one of the admins of East of England Paddlesports, we promote safe and responsible…
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I have recently moved with my family from South East England to Cumbria in order to work as an Outdoor Instructor. I am currently a Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor and start work in April with an outdoor company in the Lake District. As part of my personal and professional development, I decided to…
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I help run a paddlesports group called East of England Paddlesports and I decided to take on the SUP Instructor qualification to aid in running the group and be able to provide lessons to spread the joy of SUP. As the only female admin, I wanted to be able to provide women only lessons as…
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The trajectory of a life can pivot on the most unlikely of invitations. To give a college roommate a lift home from the east to the west coast of the USA, after which I moved there. To drive a friend down that west coast to the world’s second longest peninsula and tag along on some…
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After identifying an ambition to further develop my coaching pathway, I commenced on the BCAB Performance Coach journey. After a number of sessions with my appointed mentor – Chris Brain, I decided to book a place on the next Community of Learning event. I had identified, through discussion and reading, insight into what I thought…
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Hosted at Grafham Water Centre, Huntingdon, the weekend brought together 11 coaches with varied experiences for a thought provoking, discussion led weekend. A great weekend had by all. The Community of Learning event topics are driven by the areas that the group suggest, their areas of interests and their aspirations. The topics aim to stimulate…
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Meet Daniela and Arthur, who recently became Sea Kayak Leaders (non-tidal) in Malta. Daniela (Lella) grew up in a small urban village on a tiny Mediterranean island, called Malta, where she was born and raised. She is also the only Maltese woman holding a Sea Kayak Leader in the entire country! Arthur (Turu) is an American-born…
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Paddles Up Training would like to congratulate Dan for becoming a Performance SUP Sheltered Water Coach! Dan talks us through his paddling journey and why he decided to become a Performance Coach. Born in Hong Kong and having spent my teenage years on the Isle of Man, I have had the opportunity to engage in…
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In March 2022, the first BCAB Performance Coach Community of Learning Event outside of the UK took place in Stonington Connecticut, USA with 14 candidates and 3 facilitators. The weekend was intense but enjoyable, with multiple learning opportunities for candidates and facilitators alike. The Community of Learning events provide opportunities to explore ‘Performance Coaching’ and…
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The Wild Water Racing Coach Award launched in January 2018 and supports you to coach Wild Water Racing. We hear from Jamie, who recently become the first person to qualify as a NEW Wild Water Racing Coach, and Hannah, who ran the first Wild Water Racing Coach Assessment. Hear from Jamie, the first NEW Wild…
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Rugby Canoe Club is an affiliated Paddle UK club based in the Midlands. The club turned 50 years old in 2020. Their coaching team was recently strengthened with the addition of two new Paddlesport Instructors. Billy (18) and Máiréad (17) became the club’s youngest ever Instructors after undertaking their FSRT and 2 day Paddlesport Instructor…
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The Polo Coach Award launched in January 2018 and supports you to coach Polo. We hear from Lesley, who recently ran the first Polo Coach Assessment and Neil, who recently become the first person to qualify as a NEW Polo Coach. Hear from Lesley, who ran the Polo Coach Assessment Neil came with a background in…
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My first “taste” of stand up paddleboarding was back in 2018 when I had a 45 minute taster on a Groupon deal for £7! I managed to stand up but soon fell off when a boat passed by, in St Ives Harbour. I always had an itch to get back on a board but living…
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I started kayaking about 9 years ago when my kids first started at Falcon Boat Club. I sat in the car park for the first 2 months, until one of the coaches asked why I didn’t give it a try, so I did! I continued on and off for about a year and a half,…
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I started paddleboarding over in Australia and just found it naturally came to me. I got my board last summer and used it mostly on the sea and few lakes. As I’m a Paddlesport Instructor and Paddlesport Leader, I wanted to improve my knowledge and experience so that’s why I took the SUP Inland Open…
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I completed my Level 2 Coach Award in 2017 and used this to help out at my local club. Due to a combination of Covid and work pressures, I had not done much coaching during the last few years. In May this year I left my job in the Civil Service to spend the summer…
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I’ve been paddling for over 40 years in kayak and canoe, and coaching for 30, but my experience on a SUP was virtually non-existent when I went for my Paddlesport Instructor Tutor Orientation. Understandably, this was an area that I had to become proficient in to become a Provider. So I got on the water with…
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Paddles Up Training would like to congratulate Kostas for becoming the first Performance SUP Open Water Coach! Kostas takes us through his journey through coaching and why he decided to become a Performance Coach. I have been coaching and working as an outdoor educator for almost a decade now. I began my journey like the…
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