Coaching programmes, personal development and even time to play

I thought November was a busy month and then along came December.  Although I cannot complain, all the work has been really enjoyable.  Working alongside some really good coaches and deliverers, team teaching and designing new methods of delivery for the BCU/UKCC Level 1 & 2 Coach programmes.

There has also been good water levels in the Southwest to run Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue and BCU 5 Star Inland courses and the sea has been fruity too.

What spare time there has been, it has been taken up with xmas shopping, endurance training and reading some really thought provoking research papers linked to coaching.

Sea, white water and coaching programmes

November has been a month of diverse delivery, from running BCU/UKCC Coach Education programmes, attending my Level 5 Sea training in Anglesey and providing BCU Inland 5 star training courses combined with Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue programmes.

Although busy and driving all over the UK, this diversity and level of delivery I really enjoy.

Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue Programmes

Over the past few weeks, the diary has been busy running BCU/UKCC Level 2 assessments, some sea kayak paddle training and mentoring aspriant Level 5 coaches. It is so nice to see and be involved in the development of these talented coaches.

This last week I have been delivering a variety of white water safety & rescue courses. Although we are experiencing low water levels at the moment, there are still some great locations to run these BCU WWSR and AWWSR courses. Its really nice to see paddlers taking a positive approach to their paddling and attending these courses to either learn new skills or brush up on existing experience.

Sea Kayaking at Pembrokeshire

With strong winds, and a prominant swell from the west we headed up to Pembrokeshire for some sea kayaking along the beautiful coastline and playing on the Bitches. 

Sea Kayaking, coaching and playing

Since returning from the French Alps time has flown past and life again has been busy.  Over the past three weeks I have found myself either sea kayaking, coaching or playing.

I have been invloved with some quality assurance for Canoe England on the coach education programmes, delivered a UKCC Level 2 programme with Darren Joy (Fluid Skills) and carried out staff training days for Duchy College Staff ready for their new intake this year.

This week, in between some technical advisors visits, myself and very good friend Nick Arding have been in our sea boats most the time, night paddling around the southcoast, being thrown around like rag dolls at Start Point in springs and coaching along the way.

Fontainebleau and the French Alps

Had a great two weeks with my daughter and friends climbing at Font and then moved down to the Alps for the second week were I ran several development programmes for a canoe club.  The weather throughout the two weeks was very good considering the confused climate in France this year.


In Font we climbed at Bas Cuvier, L'Elephant, and 95.2, the climbing was fantastic and amazing how strong you became after a few days.  The swimming pool in the evenings although cold was a welcoming sight.

In the Alps whilst I delivered the development programmes on white water including WWSR, BCU 4 Star Inland Training, personal coaching and advanced skills, my daughter, Jo and Mandi enjoyed the via ferrata, some kayaking and walked up to Glacier Blanc.

North Wales - Boat Trial

This week was spent in Anglesey putting the new Rockpool sea kayak to test. Travelling up with good friend Dave Adams, we put the Rockpool GT through its paces, paddling in strong tidal flows, tight rock hopping and journeying.  For a 5.43m boat I was amazed by its manoeuvrability, it had exceptional cruising speed and it surfed well.  An order has now been placed I just need to decide the colour. This also gave Mike Webb and his team at Rockpool the time to fix my Alaw Bach as it recently took a few knocks, as always the workmanship was 1st class.

Performance Coaching

The last few weeks have been busy ones, either delivering coach education programmes, sea kayaking at Salcombe with friends in rather big conditions and getting some time to do some training, getting use to wing blades again.

I was asked to provide a performance coaching workshop for the Warehouse Climbing Centre. The climbing staff attended this programme where we investigated the coaching process, uses and concepts of performer profiling, observation and analysis, use of demonstrations and the power of feedback.


All coaches showed great skill in this area, applying the concepts well in the indoor climbing environment.

Soca - Slovenia

Over the past seven days we have been in Slovenia, running our annual trip, guiding and coaching on the Soca.  Throughout the week we paddled many sections ranging from the mellow class two sections to the more challenging class 4 section from Otona.  The weather was kind to us, with sun on all days and water levels perfect for the boating we wanted to do. 
Many thanks must go out to the clients, Buck, Chris, Jack, Richy, Dave & Chris for making the trip fun, continually entertaining and great to see your paddling inmprove throughout the week.

Next years trips:

Pyrenees - 24th - 31st March 2012

Slovenia - 6th - 13th June 2012

The Isle of Wight & Swanage

With very good friends, Nick & Phillipa Arding, we spent four days circumnavigating the Isle of Wight. Leaving the mainland from Keyhaven we made our way across to the Needles and paddled anticlockwise around the island, wild camping along the way. Tidal races, strong winds and moderate to rough sea states made challenging conditions. A great paddle that I would recommend to anyone.

Returning to the mainland via the sporty Hurst tidal race, we made our way to Swanage to climb the demanding vertical sea cliffs at Subliminal and Cattle Troughs. Weather was kind to us enabling us to complete some great routes.

Sea Stacks & the Jurassic Coast

The last three days were spent on the South coast sea kayaking around sea stacks, playing in tidal races and rock hopping around some wonderful coastline. Although the wind was strong, and sea states moderate, the conditions were challenging but managable.

Sea kayaking in North Wales

Just returned from North Wales sea kayaking around the wonderful coastline of Anglesey. Playing and surfing in Penrhyn Mawr, crossing to the magical Skerries on the northwest of the mainland and exploring the caves around the North and South stacks. A great few days with Olly Sanders and friends.

Coaching & Guiding in the Pyrenees

I had the great pleasure in returning to the Pyrenees to coach and guide a fantastic bunch of guys from South Cerney OEC. Throughout the week we based ourselves in the Ariege region, water levels were perfect and we paddled the Arac, Salat and Garbet rivers providing class 2-4 water. Visiting St Girons market was a must, joining in with the hussle of local traders offering food delights from the region.

Over the week personal skills were developed and also BCU 4 Star training was completed by the team. I want to say a big thank you to everyone in making such a good and memorable trip.

Spain - climbing

Spent the last week climbing in Spain, completing some classic routes in the area. Highlight of the week was climbing the Penon de Flach in Calpe, a great route, eight pitches complemented by fantasic weather. Certainly would recommend the Costa Blanca as a venue for winter rock, I have been going for the last five years and still find exciting new places to climb.

Psychological approaches to coaching climbing

I have had the pleasure of spending last week up in Gloucester, delivering a course to climbing coaches from the Warehouse. I was asked to put a programme together which looked at the psychological approaches we as coaches can employ to build confidence, tackle fears, coping strategies both before and on the route and the language we use as coaches.

The programme consisted of mental researshal techniques, visualisation, anxiety control, coping strategies, relaxation methods and selective attention.

WWSR, Skills courses and sea paddling

Last week/weekend we were blessed with good water levels and I was able to get out and run a white water safety and rescue course and a skills coaching day on the River Erme. Once the weather changed again to beautiful sunshine we ran a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach Course for a local outdoor education centre, and climbed a few routes.

Friday, me and very good friend Nick Arding managed to catch up and get out in our sea boats. In moderate to rough conditions with a steady force five wind we made our way from Looe to Polperro, the return was harder work but we found some really good rock hopping around the island.

A busy start to the New Year

January and February have been full on months for me, working a variety of exciting new programmes and catching up on the courses postponed in November & December due to insufficent water levels. I have had the pleasure of running more BCU/UKCC Coach Education courses in the Southwest and Gloscester, training & assessing 4 & 5 star inland awards, delivering white water safety & rescue courses for colleges and clubs and finally assessing and mentoring aspriant level 5 coaches and providers for running there own 4 star courses.

I has been nice seeing new faces coming into the sport and being able to deliver such awards and good coaches going for the level 5 coach certificate.

Trips for 2011

Just like to tell you of the trips ICG have on offer this year, as usual our programmes are designed to compliment the individual, take into account you are on holiday and as usual fantastic accommodation, food and venues.

If any of these trips catch your eye and you want to know more, then get in touch and I will send you our fact sheets.

Isle of Skye - Sea Kayaking 16th - 21st May 2011 £650

Slovenia - White Water Kayaking 1st - 8th June 2011 £650

Isles of Scilly - Sea Kayaking 10th - 17th September 2011 £400