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