Climbing & Paddling Week

Had a fantastic week climbing and paddling with good friend Nick Arding. Making the most of the weather and tidal conditions, we came up with a cunning plan! Our first day we found ourselves at the Dewerstone climbing some classic routes such as Vala, Central Groove, Scimitar and Leviathan. The next day we left early to travel to Wales in search for Tusker Rock and paddled from Porthcawl towards Brigend, this was a great trip which had some strong tidal movements, overfalls and hidden (submerged islands).


Our next trip we had the pleasure of being accompained by Richard LB. We decided to paddle around Portland, planning is a must for this journey due to the confused and rapid tidal movements, a trip we would highly recommend, it is full of great rock hopping, caves, strong tidal movements and a look out for the seacat wake is a must.

Sea Kayak Coaching & Guiding

Having returned from Slovenia, I found myself back into my sea kayak, I spent 2 days coaching and guiding a client on the sea. Our first day found us looking at sea kayak handling, in the tidal flow of the Brunel Bridge at Saltash, going at the time the flow was at its quickest and with additonal wind influence it allowed us to have some fun and discovered what these craft can really do. Our next day was a complete contrast, paddling from Hope Cove to Burgh Island and returning, a great venue to consolidate handling skills amongst the rocks and use of skegs on the crossing of the bays.

Slovenia White Water Kayaking

This week was spent on the Soca river in Slovenia. With six clients and two coaches, myself and Gavin spent the five days guiding and coaching in the fabulous valley, the Soca offers some outstanding sections of river for developing confidence and brushing up on skills and making them more modern and dynamic. In luxury accommodation, based in Zaga, great food and wonderful weather, well for the first three days, what a perfect recipe for an outstanding trip.

Over the first three days we paddled all the class 2 and 3 sections of the river and enjoyed approximatley 50 cumecs each day, the rain then made its way to us from Italy and provided us with flood paddling conditions of 100+ cumecs.

A big thank you to all clients, making this trip enjoyable and fun.

Already from requests, we have dates planned for next year, 1st week in June 2011.

BCU/UKCC Level 2 Training & Coaching the Mind module

Over the last week I have been busy delivering BCU courses for Totnes Kayak Academy. The week comprised of the first four days delivering the level 2 coach award, which examines coaching and learning styles and complementing them within our coaching, the relationship between demonstrations and verbal instruction, memory management and learning curves from practice structures.

The last day was the CPD module 'Coaching the Mind' over the 3 hours we discussed, had practical input and examined the uses and purposes of mental skills training, concentration, use of visualisation, re-enactment, and control of arousal levels.

Good courses to deliver especially with such passionate coaches wanting to improve and understand about the importance of good delivery.

Week Off

A week off and spent time with my daughter, horse riding, cycling and having some quality time. Managed to get down to Cornwall and enjoy the fabulous weather riding the Camel Trail and walking along some fantastic coastline.

Sea Kayaking & BCU Coach Award in Bude

A busy few weeks delivering a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach award for Adventure International in Bude preparing their staff to be ready for the up and coming season. A BCU 3 Star Sea Training for returning staff which was held at Mountbatten in Plymouth and paddled down to Wembury. Then the first half on a Level 1 for Haven Banks staff and some more sea paddling at Teignmouth looking at rescue techniques in a tidal flow environment.

BCU Awards

Spent the last week delivering BCU qualifications for Totnes Kayak Academy on the River Dart in Totnes. Over the week we delivered a FSRT (SafetyCourse) for kayakers wanting to become coaches, looking at rescues in various craft. During the rest of the week I ran a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach for a really nice group of local coaches and a kayaker all the way from Greece on how to coach and look after a group of kayakers on sheltered water. In the evening we ran a CPD module 'Fitness in Paddlesport' looking at a balanced healthy diet, eating habits and appropriate training programmes.