AMADO VRIESWIJK NB20 JOINS POINT 7AMADO VRIESWIJK NB20 JOINS POINT 7The news is out!. Bonarian speed machine, Amado Vrieswijk the PWA vice world champion in slalom in 2023, has joined forces with sail brand Point-7. After the departure of Johan Soe, we were expecting some big news from Point 7 and Amado sounds like the perfect replacement for the brand.Point 7 made the following statement:WELCOME AMADOAmado Vrieswijk, the talented windsurfer from Bonaire, has joined thePoint-7 Black Team, which is known for its team spirit to have talents achieve their goals. This move is significant for Vrieswijk s career and Point-7 as together they can bring up their strongly their achievement in the windsurfing community.For Vrieswijk, this partnership could mean access to advanced technology and gear, helping him to excel in competitions and potentially secure more wins on the international stage. His previous achievements and dedication to the sport make him a valuable asset to Point-7.Most of the two cam sails have been designed till today with a cam over the boom and one below the boom. The reason was to try to have the sail to look as much as possible to a full race sail in terms of mast sleeve and profile. Their mast sleeve is often much smaller to have a lighter feeling in the hands, and the cams are not fully charged on the mast to have it easy to jibe in no wind or with a not perfect technique.AMADO VRIESWIJK NB-20Amado also had this to say:After 13 amazing years with my previous brand, I felt it was time for a new challenge and an opportunity to pursue my ultimate goal of winning the slalom title. Im excited to join Point Seven, a brand that shares my vision and commitment to excellence. Im grateful for their support and confident that together we can achieve great things in the years ahead. Im looking forward to this new chapter and to giving everything I have to do to reach new heights in my career.ANDREA CUCCHI ITA-1And straight from the boss Andrea CucchiAmado Vrieswijk has made a name for himself in multiple disciplines of the sport, showcasing his agility in freestyle, power in slalom, and impressive skills on the foil. This versatility is increasingly rare among professional windsurfers, making Amados achievements even more noteworthy.As he embarks on his new mission to secure a racing title, Amado is focused on honing his skills and pushing his limits. Weve provided him with the latest gear tailored to enhance his performance, supporting his ambition to excel in racing. With a carefully planned strategy and the right equipment, Amado is ready to take on the challenges ahead and continue chasing the right gusts in the windsurfing world.point-7.comThe post AMADO VRIESWIJK NB20 JOINS POINT 7 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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Autumn/Fall 2024 ISSUE 80 CONTENTSALSO AVAILABLE ON JOOMAG AS A DOWNLOADABLE PDF: https://joom.ag/nKSdPaddling the Channel for D-Day By Laurence HillCanoeing in Finnish Karelia By Scott DielPark Jam 2024 By Del ReadSpey packrafting By John R DeanWW SUP welcomes all By Devan CrawfordPaddle UK intro Eight-page featurePaddler Spotlight Share your storiesChristmas gifts for paddlers A guide for paddlersTrent Valley paddle trail A new paddle guideTree dimensional Canoeing By Marc OrnsteinInflatable kayaking down the Loire By Huw PendergastSea kayaking the Outer Hebrides & Shiants By Kirsty RobertsOpen canoeing Morar to Morar By Ollie SandemanThe Steel Bones challenge By Nikki McGennA chat with Nadia Weigh By Natasha SonesThe rivers of southern Lithuania By Sarah WebsterReviews:Yak Chinook dry trousersBy Sancha MyallKlean Kanteen 16oz Insulated Food CanisterBy Jo MoseleyPalm Gradient 3.0 bootBy Dale MearsYak Apollo CagBy Jessica AshleyHelly Hansen Essence Long Down rain jacketBy Hannah SteedsYak Dry Holdall 60LBy Helen NightingaleNRS Snooze Pad 3By Chris StubbsHelly Hansen Mens Dubliner PantsBy Peter TranterBiomate ICE tagBy Jo MoseleyVango Ultralight Heat Exchanger Cook Kit and Vango Atom StoveBy Chris StubbsHelly Hansen long-sleeve crew base layerBy Peter TranterCover: Louise RoylePhoto: Jim MillerAdditional thanks to: Jessica Ashley, Helen Nightingale, Jo Moseley, Sancha Myall, Hannah Steeds, Robert Carroll, The Paddle Group, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Tom Clare, David Rogers, Del Read, Jack Ledwith, Sam N Dean, Taylor Outdoors Tim Burris, Paul Meyer, Bruce Kemp, Barbara McFarlane, Mirco Goldhausen, Stuart Leslie, Geth Roberts, Clare Symes, David Harkness, Kerry Lewis, Dasha Surautsava and Pranas GataveckasThe International magazine for recreational paddlersDownload the full magazine in PDF format for free:

Photography: The Paddle Group, Royal Marines and the Royal NavyPaddling the Channel for D-DayIn June 1944, over 17,500 Royal Marines took part in Operation Neptune, more commonly known as the D-Day landings. They formed a crucial element of the largest amphibious invasion force in history.For the Royal Marines who remain the UKs specialist in amphibious operations 6 June 1944 and the subsequent campaign in Normandy remain one of the proudest chapters in the Corps 360-year history. More than 17,600 Royal Marines were assigned to D-Day, and one in 40 Marines more than 430 men made the ultimate sacrifice as the Allies sought to liberate north-western Europe from Nazi tyranny. Eighty years later, a smaller force of 19 serving and veteran Marines from the RMA Paddle Group embarked on an 87.5-nautical mile paddle across the English Channel to mark the anniversary and raise awareness of the vital work with veterans carried out by the RMA The Royal Marines Charity.The RMA Paddle Group is formed of veteran and serving Commandos from across the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force, including veterans rehabilitated by the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre, and on this expedition was joined by civilian Keith Breslauer, who is Vice Patron of the RMA The Royal Marines charity. The group was founded by veteran Marines and brothers Chris and Joe Maynard, along with Lee Waters, a former colour sergeant who is now ISKGA Advanced Guide and BC (PUK) Advanced Sea Leader.This is not the first feat of endurance undertaken by the Paddle Group, however, which was first formed 10 years ago to participate in The Royal Marines 1664 Challenge (marking the 350th anniversary of the corps) through a 120 nautical mile cross-Channel kayaking challenge this time from France to England. Multiple expeditions and training sessions have followed while in 2017, they recreated Operation Frankton the heroic Cockleshell Heroes raid on its 75th anniversary, involving an 85-mile paddle up the Gironde estuary in France followed by a 100-mile yomp (slow run) to Ruffec.Hasler Naval Service Recovery CentreLee, who was medically discharged from the Royal Marines having been badly wounded in Afghanistan and subsequently developed depression and combat-related PTSD, joined these expeditions as part of his rehabilitation through the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre, which serves as a dedicated facility for the rehabilitation and recovery of serving Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel who have been injured or become ill as a result of their service. Through this rehabilitation, Lee retrained to become an advanced sea kayaking guide, which the RMA funded.So when the 80th anniversary of D-Day came around, and potentially the last opportunity to commemorate a major anniversary of the landings with living veterans from WWII, Lee and Joe were certain that they wanted to mark the occasion. Lee comments, Wed done a small expedition for the 75th anniversary and were blown away by the amount of interest people were showing in us, and so we thought, why dont we get a group together and paddle across the Channel for the 80th? Our first expedition highlighted the small tasks that were actually mammoth that people were doing behind the scenes, and so we wanted to do this to draw attention to the unsung heroes and people who made it possible both today and 80 years ago.BootnecksLee continued, We couldnt have organised it without the Royal Marines network as something we were organising off our own backs, we had to call in a lot of favours! But this isnt new to us we all come from humble origins and have had to provide everything ourselves, so we made it work like Bootnecks (the traditional nickname for Royal Marines) make operations work. This old Bootneck network was crucial, whether that was in sourcing the military-spec suits for the paddle or our contacts at the Port of London Authority, who allowed us to paddle through London beforehand and under Tower Bridge.We really leant on this network and were helped out by old friends wed worked with for many years all of whom helped us without hesitation and made it work, no questions asked. This even extended to getting us a dedicated LCU (landing craft utility) from 47 Commando, which we later joined for their re-enactment of the D-Day landings on Gold Beach. This was key in our successful completion of the paddle without this LCU, we wouldnt have been able to put seven kayaks in the water.Having cobbled together the men, materials, and kayaks for the crossing, the group departed the Royal Marines Yomper at Eastney, Portsmouth, in two-man Klepper folding kayaks on 3 June. They aimed to cross the English Channel through the night and arrive in Port-en-Bessin on 4 June 2024. As the crow flies, there is 160km between those two points; in the end, the group paddled a route of over 200km due to winds and currents.These werent the only obstacles either. The group had to share their landing craft with a group of tourists in WWII paraphernalia and their amphibious DUKW, which had the unintended consequence of blocking the back of the craft, while the front couldnt be lowered as it hasnt been used in over a year. Nonetheless, the group managed to get their kayaks back in the water and keep the boat rotation going, even when they also had to tie a broken-down support boat to the back of the LCU!The expedition certainly embodied the oft-quoted maxim that no plan survives contact with the enemy, but every single time there was a problem, the veterans came up with a solution.As Joe said, While in no way comparable, meeting unexpected challenges was exactly as it happened on D-Day, where there were numerous problems on the beaches, some of which werent cleared as the Marines thought theyd be. But if anything, this was more important from a mental health and rehabilitation point of view for the guys involved. It was great to see some things go wrong and for them to push through it, and the impact on individuals whove been out of it for so long was huge.Lee added, You can plan as much as you want, but if theres anything above a force 5, its game over and this was looking very marginal when we set up. Force 5 in a Klepper is manageable as long as its not wind over tide, and luckily we had the tide with us. But we were constantly thinking about the what ifs and how we would get back on the LCU if needed. Were lucky with the blokes weve got, who are the sort of people who would take a wave in the face, keep that sense of purpose, and focus on the task at hand. For example, the bladder in one of our boats broke down, meaning they were paddling sideways, but the next morning, we fixed it and kept going. I always say that the sea is a really good healing environment. Placed back in that team environment where youre trusted and relied upon, these guys can adapt, overcome and carry on.The Royal Marines values of courage, determination, unselfishness, and cheerfulness in the face of adversity were still being practised 80 years after D-Day. This explains why, even though so much time has passed, the Normandy landings are still relevant today.Allied landing beachesFollowing this crossing, the Paddle Group conducted a littoral paddle of the Allied landing beaches, beginning with the US sectors (Utah and Omaha) on the 5 June and culminating with the British and Canadian sectors (Gold, Juno and Sword) on the 6 June, where the Paddle Group joined the re-enactment of the landings at Gold Beach with 47 Commando on the D-Day anniversary itself.The expedition aimed to increase awareness of both the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the RMAs vital work with veterans, as well as raise over 40,000 for the charity. With all funds raised through the expedition matched by Patron Capital, it is the latest in the long-running charitable partnership between the two organisations, which has seen Patron and Keith Breslauer raise approximately 5.3 million for the charity since 2010, helping more than 460 serving and retired service personnel directly.Keith Breslauer, who joined the veterans on the expedition, said, This re-enactment was not only a way to remember and honour the heroes of June 1944 who turned the tide on the Nazi occupation of Europe, but by including veterans rehabilitated by Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre, provided the opportunity for wounded, injured or sick servicemen on their rehabilitation journey to overcome an immense challenge. Having paddled alongside them for hour after hour, I was also honoured to share this experience with them as we pay tribute to past heroes and those who have served or continue to serve in our armed services. As Vice Patron of the RMA, I am immensely proud to continue to support the ex-servicemen and women who give so much for us.Hasler Naval Service Recovery CentreThe RMA, Keith and Patron have worked extensively with the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre to help war veterans preparing to re-enter civilian life through donations to fund specialist equipment, respite breaks for them and their families at Patron-owned hotels, and introductions to source relevant internship and career opportunities.Thanks to various sponsors, charitable donations and Patrons support, the RMA Paddle Group can now deliver six boats with the correct PPE to individuals for an expedition with zero cost. But its not been a straightforward route to get to this position. Joe explains, We got all these boats from begging, borrowing and stealing its taken five years to get here, but now were doing two expeditions a year with the correct kit and at no cost to the guys involved, which is so important. What we found on the first expedition that we ever did as the RMA Paddle Group, was the golden ingredient wed been looking for. When people leave the Marines or any branch of the armed forces, often after 20-plus years, youre thrown into civilian life with people who dont understand you.On our first expedition we took serving Marines with veterans and they were in tears by the end of the week because hed rediscovered what it meant to be a Marine and those values of resilience and cheerfulness in the face of adversity that hed forgotten. So now were helping people deal with PTSD or just fitting into society, and were calling it the green reset after our green berets. Whether someone has served two years or 20 years, no matter their rank, one common denominator links us all, and thats why weve got to help out as many as we can.Lee added, We were taken aback by the impact weve had, and it means we cant stop now. Weve had the wives of blokes on the expeditions ringing us up afterwards to say, Thank you for getting me my husband back, and that sort of reward is why weve ended up spending a lot of our own money fixing these hand-me-down boats that we started with, and why we ended up nicknaming what were doing, Fixing broken blokes in broken boats.So, whats next for the Paddle Group?Eventually, we want to fill the diary, says Joe. With an annual paddle to the Commando memorial in Scotland every October and then a D-Day beach paddle every year too. But its the historians who have got all the ideas! Were in touch with plenty of them, so we are looking at other folding boat operations worldwide from WW2. If anyone wants to sponsor us or any equipment providers, etc, want to get involved and make a huge difference to veterans, then we are all ears!Lee concluded, We never thought we would be at the stage of having to turn people down, but here we are! We just want to raise as much awareness as we can, meaning someone struggling might read about us and get involved. If we save one more life, then well achieve our aim.

By Scott DielScott DielBioScotts stories have appeared in outdoor journals like Grays Sporting Journal,Sports Afield,Outside, andThe Mission (South Africa). He is the author of a half-dozen libretti for contemporary operas staged in London and New York. On occasion, hes committed journalism thats appeared in places like The Guardianand praised byThe Economist.A canoeist in Finnish KareliaCanoeists are mostly harmless. Its kayakers you have to look out for.Jussi arrived at our camp in a solo carbon kayak, the perfect watercraft for those who like to move fast and alone. We knew his name because it was emblazoned on his hull in the fashion typically reserved for fighter aircraft and monster trucks. He dragged his boat to shore and addressed us, Do you snore?After receiving an answer in the negative, he stormed from tent platform to tent platform the ground too rocky to pitch a tent otherwise inspecting each site, returning to declare, I know you. You were at Vaajasalo. You dont snore.Once in a lifetime, you may encounter a talkative Finn. This one talked so much that he was likely in danger of losing his citizenship.I did 20 kilometres today. How many did you do?Im not sure. Eight?I did 20 just in the morning.Impressive. What did he want from us? Speed and distance werent our goals. We were after tranquillity. Our canoe was laden with folding chairs, steaks, and enough wine for a garden party. With Jussi, it felt like we had met the Donald Trump of watersports: The crowds at the put-in were huuuge.I did 80 kilometres in a day once.Forty-some years ago, I did 80 in a week in Boy Scouts. I even had the commemorative patch stitched on my life jacket. But I didnt think Jussi would be impressed. My girlfriend, Tina, and I remained silent. Eventually, even the most loquacious Finns will get the hint.Jussi pitched his tent on a platform near us and unpacked his Primus. He made a meal of scallions, potatoes, garlic, and boiled eggs. Wed already eaten, so we sat in our lounge chairs, drank wine, and gazed out over the lakes glass-like surface. After his soup, Jussi came and sat next to us.Theres nothing like a Karelian sunset! he declared and then released a fart lasting several seconds. I looked at Tina. She looked at me. Jussi looked at the sunset.Russians and GermansThe damned Russians took over 35,000 square kilometres from us. Jussi released another fart. This one travelled out over the still water, echoed off the bluffs and returned to us. And then they come to Kolovesi, and we have to put instructions in the toilets for them. This was true. Every toilet in Kolovesi had an illustration with Russian-language text explaining that toilet rings were not for standing on.Now its the Germans, he ranted, releasing three staccato farts. Theyre everywhere. I bet you saw some on the water today. This was true, as well. Wed seen a German at the Kirkkoranta put-in who had canoed a week in his handmade cedar-strip canoe. This kind of canoeist, the one who builds his own boat, exists on a higher plane of humanity and, is worthy of adulation. I bet you saw that family! I wondered what Jussi had against families. It was true a German-speaking family had commandeered almost the entire Laajakaarre campground, including the public areas, leaving only one tent platform. Tina and I stopped to look but decided not to stay. Wed not come looking for a Swiss Family Robinson experience.Where are you from? Jussi asked. I was tempted to answer Germany or Russia, but he probably wouldnt have batted an eye. After all, this was a man with demonstrably few social reservations. Tina and I no longer looked at each other when he farted. In our campsite, it had suddenly become no more unusual than coughing.The US, I answered.Youve come a long way.Indeed. It was a lot farther than 20 kilometres. If this was a competition, then I was winning this part.Well, Jussi said, Im going to turn in. Im getting up early. He stood and went to the waters edge, where he arched his back dramatically with his hands on his hips.Do you think hes going to urinate into the lake? Tina whispered. Instead, Jussi bent down, quickly washed his dishes, and returned silently to his tent.The cave paintings at UkonvuoriWe were on the water the next day before Jussi was out of bed. Tina and I were bound for the cave paintings at Ukonvuori, a 5,000-year-old pictograph from the early Pit-Comb Ware culture. Wed only been able to find a poor-quality, downloadable map of Kolovesi National Park, so we werent sure exactly how far away it was. But the weather was nice, and many day trippers were in the park. After an hour of paddling, we could see they were all converging on Ukonvuori.Just like Jussi predicted, the place was full of Germans. We could hear them before we saw them. We secured our canoe to a tree and headed up the cliff face, where we encountered a young German pair on the way down.Were they spectacular?Im not sure we saw them, the girl answered. You have to use your imagination. Tina and I hiked the rest of the way up and stood on an observation platform, squinting.Do you see them?Im not sure, she answered. It kind of looks like someone rubbed berry juice on that rock.Of course, the cave paintings were unremarkable. Any human creation would pale before the nature of Karelia, the cliffs of granite and gneiss, the forests of pine and birch, the water that is clean enough to drink. Were the cave paintings perhaps proof that the people of 3,000 years ago were every bit as desperate to make their presence known as modern man? Perhaps their juvenile delinquents tagged quartz mines, while ours tag concrete bridges. The insatiable human desire to say I was here.Perhaps we, as humans, had not really evolved. Here we were, paddlers, the most evolved of all 21st-century humankind, dividing ourselves into nation-states when we are all, in fact, members of an elite tribe. (Kayakers a lesser tribe, of course.)Kalevi the SUP riderIf canoeists are the highest form of paddler and kayakers the next, then SUP riders occupy a position that is even beneath the inflatable pool raft. Kalevi was a SUP rider, and he arrived in Lapinniemi with his gear in black garbage bags lashed fore and aft. Hed strapped three long sticks on his gunwales if SUPs can have them.Having such a low opinion of SUP riders a hipster hobby if there ever was one he caught me off guard. Anyone willing to paddle ten kilometres in (or rather on) one of the slowest watercraft ever invented could not, at heart, be a bad person. Tina and I had passed him earlier in the day near Kirkkoranta, where he was chugging along like the Little Engine That Could, heading toward some unknown destination. Which turned out to be our camp.I knew his name not because it was painted in large print on his board for all to see but because it was written discreetly on his paddle, which I noticed when he asked my assistance in lifting his laden board from the water. He thanked me for my help and then went about unpacking the 50-gallon bags strapped to his board. He pitched his tent and looked for the firepit without inquiring about our sleeping habits. It was nowhere to be found.I think they removed it from this campsite, I offered. Theres a sign on the woodshed about a lack of resources. I offered him the use of my camping stove and gas, explaining that any man wholl paddle a fully loaded SUP ten kilometres to this campsite is a friend of mine.Kalevi scratched his beard. For me, the wood fire was the most important part of the experience. I may have to go elsewhere. The three wood sticks lashed to his board formed a tripod for cooking.Where elsewhere? I asked. He named a campsite at least eight kilometres away.Kalevi pondered his situation only a few minutes before he struck his tent. It took him a good half hour to refill his garbage bags and lash them to his board. It was already eight in the evening. The sun would set long before he arrived at camp.Uncompromising individualsBut in that half hour, my faith in humanity was restored. While my opinion of SUP riders did not change, I was pleased to know that some, like Kalevi, are out there, uncompromising individuals who will go to any lengths for the experience they seek. I knew that Kalevi would never make a cave painting. He was far too self-assured to require it.Tina and I brought our chairs to the waters edge as Kalevi shoved off, wishing him luck. As he exited the bay with the sun behind him, he raised his paddle in salute. We raised our arms in reply. A breeze rustled the pines in camp, and I took note that, fittingly, the wind would be at Kalevis back.

Words: Del ReadPhotos: Del ReadDel Readhttps://delkayaks.co.uk @del_likes_kayakingtom clare @tomclaremediaHaving fun on the water at Jam Park 2024For UK and Irish paddlers, October brings an exciting couple of weeks as the Park Jam events series runs. Pyranha Kayaks and Palm Equipment organise park Jam to bring people together for fun on the water. The Park Jam tour aims to inspire the next generation of paddlers across the UK. Its a chance for kids to paddle with and be inspired by the Palm and Pyranha teams and hear from them about their latest adventures.Three weeks of fun on the waterOver three weeks, team paddlers from Pyranha and Palm tour white water courses across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Paddlers are encouraged to come and join them for some fun on the water, with the opportunity to then hear from and meet those paddlers afterwards.I was involved with some of the Park Jam dates in 2023 and was thrilled to get involved again in 2024. Life has been a little busy lately, but I managed to join for four out of nine of the dates and had a great time during those events. I am sure there will be blog posts from team paddlers in the coming weeks to share a more official account, but here is mine if you want to read it!Northampton ActiveThe first day I joined was event two of the Park Jam series at Northampton Active (the Nene). Park Jam had kicked off with a bang at Lee Valley in London the night before. My husband Tom was a photographer for the weekend, so Id already seen lots of photos that morning of all the happy paddlers!We arrived at midday and grabbed lunch from the cafe, allowing us to chat with a couple of the staff members. Ive only been to the Nene a couple of times, but the staff there are just always the most lovely people! Tom and I had both been involved in running one of the Youth Freestyle League events there a couple of months ago, so there were lots of familiar faces.Once wed finished lunch, we headed out to get ready, and the rest of the team began to arrive. Banners were put up, and paddlers were geared up. It was a beautifully sunny and warm day, so many people had even opted for shorts!Little Luke Bermingham came over for a chat as I was finishing getting ready. At 13 years old, Luke is the youngest team member involved in the park jam. He and his two brothers recently joined the Pyranha team, and you only need to spend a little time with Luke to see why!Luke is an absolute ball of enthusiasm, incredibly determined in his kayaking, and, above all, he is super friendly and encouraging to everyone he meets. It was great to see him leading the fun on the water. Luke is certainly a paddler, and I think youll see more of him in the future. He was also, like me, paddling a small Ozone, so obviously, he has good taste too!If youve never paddled at the Nene before, it is a cool little course! Its set out in a loop, so when you get to the bottom, its not that far to get back up to the top, so that you can get plenty of laps in! I proceeded to have a lovely couple of hours paddling and talking with people. So many cool things were happening, and it was great to see people having fun! I loved seeing how inventive everyone was.Shout out to a kid named Hamish, who was nailing his stern stalls at every opportunity, and to the Nene staff for their various shenanigans, including the use of canoes, duo kayaks, and SUPs! Seven-year-old Theo making his way down the course in both a duo and then his own kayak was pretty cool! A big well done to everyone who went for a surf in the pour-over or tried some fun moves! It was very impressive to see so much creativity!I met a lovely couple, Patrick and Anja, with whom I spent much time. Patrick had a bright yellow Firecracker, the same colour scheme as my Ozone, which started our conversation. Anja joined me for a couple of laps of fun in the sun. Anja had been a little nervous beforehand, but she smashed her laps and was getting stuck in with surfing and all sorts by the end! I really enjoyed our paddle together, so thanks for that, Anja!Once off the water, everyone changed and headed upstairs for the talks. Each event swaps around which team paddlers are giving the talks. This event featured a talk by Andy Chips Kettlewell and Oli Cooper about their trip to Iceland. Sal Montgomery gave a more general talk about lessons learned and her adventures. Adrian Mattern gave a talk about his journey to where he is now. Each talk was very different, and I thought they all spoke well. Its not always easy to talk in front of a crowd, but they smashed it!Adrian showed a SEND video at the start of his talk to show their groups adventures. There were, of course, lots of clips of Bren, who sadly passed away in May this year. Both Adrian and Andy mentioned Bren in their talks, and numerous paddlers mentioned his name many times over the day. Many paddlers who attended the Park Jam event had also participated the year before and had met Bren then.Whenever his name came up, there was always a feeling of sadness, but there was also a feeling that his legacy was being honoured. So many paddlers were brought together to share a good time on the water. Bren might not have been with us at Park Jam this year but he was very much there with us in spirit.After the talks, there was an opportunity for people to meet any of the Team Paddlers that they wanted to, get posters signed and collect prizes for being spotted by one of the Team for having a great time on the water! Its a lovely way to end the day, and a huge thank you to the Nene staff for accommodating this and getting everyone sorted. Once the last poster had been signed and the banners taken back down, we headed to the pub for some dinner. It was nice to get a chance to catch up with friends after a fantastic but busy day.Thanks, Northampton Active, for a great day!Holme PierrepontDay four of the Park Jam was held at my local white water course, Holme Pierrepont (HPP), here in Nottingham. Most of the paddlers had been to Cardiff, but I had not been with them, so it was nice to see everyone again and hear about the Cardiff event. By complete coincidence, I had been at HPP all day already as I had been there with students from my school, helping the PE department assess them kayaking for their CNAT sports qualification. I have always loved it when the different areas of my life come together this way.Once one set of teenagers had left me, the next set arrived as the Palm Groms (Jools, Charlotte, Ask, Cam, and honorary Grom Ewan) parked up. Palm Grows is a programme set up by Palm to help develop and mentor young kayakers. In my opinion, it is one of the most wholesome things a brand has done for a long time. The current Groms are all lovely, and it was great to hear about their adventures down on the Dart over the last couple of days.The rest of the team arrived just in time for the 18:00 event start. We only had a little daylight left, but luckily, HPP has floodlights allowing for evening paddling. There was a good turn, and seeing so many of the local kids showing us their moves was fantastic. There was a lot of party surfing and fun times. When I told them to do something cool for the camera!, I shouted out to Ted and Henry, who went for a party surf and paddle swap. Another youngster, James, also stood out as enthusiastic, giving everything a go. I decided to give him a shout-out later on for one of the spot prizes and, through that, found out that he was Olis cousin!Once everyone had had a good time on the water, it was time for the talks. There isnt a function room at HPPs white water course, but manager Matt did an excellent job setting up an outdoor screening area! Heidi, Huw and Adrian all gave a talk, which was again followed by some spot prizes and a chance for people to meet and greet with the team. I love seeing how excited everyone (kids and adults) was to get their posters signed and photos taken. Its such a wholesome atmosphere!The pub dinner afterwards was very appreciated, as everyone was pretty hungry by this point. We reflected on what a great community there is here in Nottingham. It really is special, and I was pleased that the team got to see that. Thank you, HPP, for a lovely evening!Mile End MillWe headed to Llangollen in North Wales and arrived in beautiful sunshine! We didnt arrive with enough time to join the morning Dee lap, but we did arrive with enough time for a hot drink and a catch-up with some friends, which was lovely. Banners went up, and it was time to paddle!I met a lovely little group in the carpark, including 13-year-old Dylan and his dad, Nigel. Dylan hadnt paddled in a while but was keen to get back into it today. We started with a couple of laps from the top of the mile end mill to the bottom as a warm-up before moving onto some ferry gliding practice and then some surfing! Dylan was absolutely smashing out his surfs by the end of the session!We bumped into lots of other happy paddlers on the water, including another Dylan and some keen slalom teenagers whod also come for Park Jam Lara, Rose and Alex were nailing their surfs on bottom wave. There was a University group that was lovely too Surrey, I think they said! (If any of those University students are reading this, please add a comment to correct me if Ive misremembered!) It was nice to bump into lots of friendly faces on the water of locals and those whod come from further afield.On my final walk back up to the top, I stopped and watched some impressive seal launches off the big rock. Kayakers were launching themselves off the rock into the river below in various ways, making for great entertainment.After the river came the talks with Aaron Kendall, who was going first. Aaron works locally as a raft guide and has been one of the driving forces behind Dee Valley Clean Up, which organises river cleans on the Dee. He spoke about this and about how others can get involved in helping to clean up their rivers.Next, Charlotte and Cam discussed how they got involved with Palm Groms and their experiences so far. Finally, Adrian showed us his latest film, documenting the SEND trip to Gabon. This short film will be released in a couple of weeks, so I wont go into details here. But I will say that when it comes out, go watch it if you can.Poster signing and photos followed before dinner out. Thank you to the team at Mile End Mill for a fantastic Park Jam!Tees BarrageWe drove up to Tees Barrage early on Sunday morning, ready to set up banners and get on the water for 10.30. Quite a few of the team hadnt paddled at the Barrage before and so were intrigued by the layout of the course it is an interesting one for sure! I once saw a seal there many years ago (its tidal), and when I told Charlotte about it, she was very excited that she might see one too! Spoiler neither of us saw a seal that day, but Tom did, and we were very jealous!As I was helping to set up, a man approached me to say hello and to say that his son Patrick was here for the Park Jam. Patrick is a keen young paddler who attended the GB freestyle academy camp over the Summer, which I helped to run. It was great to see him again and how enthusiastic he was for the day ahead! It was still quite chilly when we got on, and Patrick went for a warm-up swim before getting in his boat! I did not join him in the water but instead stayed snug in my kayak!As soon as we paddled down, Patrick was off! Its only been a few months since I saw him in a kayak, but wow, had he improved! Patricks dad informed me that he had a real kayaking bug at the moment and just wanted to get out on the water as much as possible. His hard work really showed, and it was great to see how much progress he had made since we last saw each other. Many of the team commented throughout the day about his great attitude and determination. Huw beat us to it when it came to nominating people for the spot prizes later on, but I know many of us would have put his name forward otherwise. Well done, Patrick!I paddled down my first lap to remind myself of the course I havent paddled much at Tees Barrage and couldnt quite remember the features. Depending on the tides, I had vague memories of the bottom hole being quite changeable. Sometimes, there is nothing there, and other times, the hole is quite sticky. As I dropped down and immediately got back looped in my Ozone, I decided it was quite sticky today! A couple of rolls in the holes later, I caught my tail, and it spat me out. I rolled up to see 2 of the locals smiling at me Im sure they see quite a few beat downs in that feature! It delighted me when I heard that quite a few of the team had had a similar experience on at least one of their laps. I love a bit of carnage-based fun!I spent more time at the top of the course on my next laps and had so many lovely chats with people.A cool dad and son duo called Dan and James were enjoying their paddle. It was nice to bump into another father and son, Scott and George, who are Midlands locals. George was smashing his paddle, and Palm Groms paddler, Charlotte, was having a great time on the water paddling with him. Shout out to Durham University, who were there rocking some really cool playboats and having a great time. Also, it was great to see Connor Proud, a local legend, showing us his best moves, as usual. We see Connor a lot at HPP, where he comes to train regularly in freestyle, but its lovely to see him on his home run!As the session went on, the carnage ramped up! The younger of the team paddlers started to get creative with their fun. Little Dan brought out his inflatable Orca, and for the first time in my life, I called out to a paddler on the wave, Watch out for the incoming Orca!. Ewan Murray and Oli Cooper started a group of paddlers launching themselves off the concrete wall in various forms. What was really impressive is both Ewan and Oli had a spectacular faceplant off that wall (which I imagine hurt quite a lot) but went straight back up to go for it again! Some might say that shows real strength and determination. Others might say a high level of stupidity. Im not sure what the final answer is, but all I can say is that it was very impressive!When the paddle had come to an end, everyone changed and headed over for the talks. Ewan and Dan started us off by talking about their Summer paddling trip to Norway. Huw and Chips shared their expedition paddle in Kyrgyzstan, which sounded like quite an adventure! The final talk was, of course, from Adrian, who spoke about his adventures. While I have seen Adrian talk at every Park Jam event, it is always an incredible experience. He is a great public speaker and has so many brilliant adventures to share.Once the talks and spot prizes were over, there was the opportunity for poster signing and photos. Northampton Active gets everyone who attends the Park Jam to sign a poster for them each year to put on the wall. I thought this was a great idea, and so did the same! Its a nice memento to pop up on the wall at home. We had our last group meal together, and Tom and I left for home. There are three more days of Park Jam one up in Scotland and two in Ireland, but this was the last date we could attend, so it was time to say goodbye.Thanks for having us, Tees Barrage!Final thoughtsPark Jam this year was always going to be different. Bren has always been a huge part of Park Jam, so his not being there this year would always mean that it felt very different. Yet Park Jam 2024 was still incredibly special in its own way. Throughout the four events I attended, the vibes were always fun, and there were so many happy paddlers who were being brought together on the water. Memories and friends were made throughout the event; whilst Brens name often came up, people generally shared nice memories of him or previous Park Jams. He was such a driving force behind the Park Jam series (it used to be called Brens Park Jam until he asked it to be changed) that it was nice to honour him by continuing to have the best time ever at these events.All of the team paddlers who joined to help run the event made it such a welcoming atmosphere and so inclusive. I think this might be the highest number of team paddlers ever involved. Some paddlers could attend one or two events whilst others are attending every single one. The constant enthusiasm and good energy from everyone were amazing.I saw so many wonderful interactions between team paddlers with each other and paddlers attending the events over the last two weeks. One of the Tees paddlers said, Adrian Mattern just came over to me and said, Hi, Im Adrian can you believe it! The interaction stoked this paddler. People across the events have just been so nice, and it makes such a difference. It really has been a couple of weeks of good vibes and happy memories. Shout out to all the great Palm and Pyranha paddlers who were involved this year and helped to make that happen.There have been some bumps along the way, but the events have gone so smoothly, which is massive thanks to the people behind the scenes. Special shout-outs to Mat from Pyranha and Janice/Chips from Palm, who were the driving forces behind making these events happen. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, and that isnt always known. Thank you, guys, for your incredible hard work in making this happen.Thanks for letting me be involved, everyone!

Words & photos: John R Dean and Sam N DeanPackrafters: John R Dean and Sam N DeanPerformance coaches take on packraftingPackrafting is not new, as you will see from the short early history below, but it has become more popular mainly due to its portability and ease of transport. We tested out packrafts on the River Spey in Grade 2 water to assess their merits in a moderate water environment.The strength of packrafting is its lightweight, portable nature, making it easy to transport and, in our case, the ease of re-running the same fun rapids again and again. Packrafts are very easy to inflate, with no need for an electric pump or even a hand-held pump if you do not want as they can be inflated using a supplied inflation bag.This low-tech approach to inflating a packraft is mainly due to the need to only pressurise to 1-2 psi. On the water, the packraft feels like it hugs the contours of the waves, creating high stability for the paddler. In addition, the low seating position aids the high stability due to the low centre of gravity of the seated paddler. This high stability provides the paddler with confidence to try out manoeuvres, especially for those paddlers unfamiliar with the moderate water environment.For those with a background in white water kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding, it does come as a little surprise that the manoeuvrability of the packraft is not as great as those other craft. The packraft feels like it scuds over the waters surface when performing a breakout (of the flow). On the other hand, ferry gliding is possible and achievable with ease. On approaching rapids, the low seating position in the packraft makes the visibility of river features less pronounced, so it does not help with river reading. This could be an issue when packrafting rivers you are unfamiliar with.The packraft provides fantastic opportunities for traversing through the river and lake systems (e.g. in Sweden), where sometimes there is a disconnect between one river/lake and another due to its portability and low weight. Within a packraft, there is little room for anything other than the paddler, so kit must be mainly transported on the deck in waterproof bags. Depending upon how much gear you might be transporting on the front deck, visibility for river feature reading could be hindered. The high buoyancy of a packraft also means that it remains unaffected by river boils encountered in moderate water alongside eddy lines.As with any inflatable, a packraft is susceptible to a puncture or a ripped base. On that basis, carrying a repair kit as part of the necessary gear is essential, particularly for a multi-day trip or even a day trip in an inaccessible location. The high portability and lightness of the packraft do mean, however, that walking out is a definite remedy to a significant puncture.Packrafting is fun and adaptable to moderate (Grade 2) water environments (e.g., the River Spey from Ballindaloch to Aberlour with the well-known features of the washing machine and Knockando rapids). Finally, packrafting provides flexibility for travel either by car or on foot as a backpack.HistoryPackrafting is not new, but it has a varied history that originated in the 1840s when Lt. (later Captain) Peter A. Halkett (Royal Navy) (1820-1885). Halkett wanted a versatile water-based craft to transport an individual, but at the same time, it was portable and could be easily carried over any terrain. History often tells us that an invention can only occur because of another invention, and so it was with packrafting.Halketts development of a cloth-boat in 1844 required the invention of rubber-coated cloth some twenty years before by Charles Macintosh. Halketts dual-purpose cloth-boat doubled up as both an inflatable water-based craft and an item of clothing (the boat cloak). The ingenuity of this cloth-boat was extraordinary; the cloak could be spread out on the floor and inflated with bellows, while the cloaks walking stick could be adapted as a paddle by removing the handle and replacing it with the (paddle) blade.Photos: National Maritime Museum, London.https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/library-archive/boat-cloak-or-cloak-boatThe whole cloth-boat weighed around 3.5 kg, making it very portable (and wearable). It could be inflated using the bellows in around 3-4 minutes. Its four separate airtight compartments supported the notion of a durable inflatable, as it would not sink if a compartment leaked! And as every gentleman carried an umbrella, it could serve as a sail. And, as well as a single-person boat, he also adapted his design for a two-person inflatable boat. The concept was ideal for exploration, and its intended purpose was to explore the Canadian Arctic.After such an illustrious start, you would think that packrafting would have taken off. But far from it. Any future developments in the concept of a portable, inflatable watercraft that could be easily transported in a backpack whilst hiking had to wait another 100 years. The adaption of military survival and aeroplane rescue rafts after WW II opened the concept of packrafting for travel and exploration. Slowly and surely, purpose-made packrafts appeared via inventors and were tested by explorers keen to exploit their portability in remote white water river locations. Notable packrafting companies, including Alpacka Raft Co., American Safety Equipment Corp. and Curtis Designs, started to appear.Packrafts tested by authorsAlpacka classic https://alpackaraft.com/products/classic/Alpacka refuge https://alpackaraft.com/products/refuge/Kokopelli Packraft Rogue R-deck https://kokopelli.com/products/rogue-r-deck-removable-spraydeck/Kokopelli Recon Self-Bailing https://kokopelli.com/products/recon-self-bailing/The AuthorsJohn R Dean is a performance coach for white water canoes and kayaks. He was the first person in the UK to hold the dual awards (UKCC Level 3). He is also a Paddles UK Assessor for open water and white water canoe leader and coach awards, standup paddleboard white water leader and white water coach awards, and the white water safety award. Sam N Dean is a performance coach in open canoe (UKCC Level 3). He is a provider of performance coach, coach and instructor awards from the British Canoe Awarding Body; Sam is also a trainer/assessor for leadership awards across advanced and moderate water environments in canoe, standup paddleboard and white water kayak.Useful informationA thoroughly resourced book: Packrafting A UK Manual. Jason Taylor, Pesda Press Ltd., 2023. ISBN: 978-1-906095-91-8. www.pesdapress.com/index.php/product/packrafting-a-uk-manual/YoutubeYoutube has many valuable and informative articles on packrafting safety, rolling a packraft, outfitting and rigging a packraft, as well as some fantastic expedition trips to view to both entertain and excite you as well as you start to dream and then plan what your next trip is going to be.

Words:Devan Crawfordwww.crawfordcoaching.co.uk Photos:Taylored Outdoors &Jim MillerDipper Paddleboarding: www.dipperpaddleboarding.com Nookie: www.nookie.co.uk Tambo SUP: www.tambo-sup.comDevan CrawfordAbout DevanDevans journey began with a skateboard 15 years ago, leading him through a degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Management and a postgraduate certification focused on special education needs. These experiences shaped his personalised approach to coaching, where hes dedicated to guiding both newcomers and experienced athletes to surpass their limits.White water SUP for allWith the rise in diversity within white water paddling, I genuinely believe we have paddleboarding to thank. This could be due to the lack of ingrained cultures, behaviours and images from the longer-standing history of the more traditional paddlesports. I say this because, from personal experience, many paddleboarders have limited or no previous experience in canoeing or kayaking. This article delves into some of my magical experiences while white water paddleboarding this year.Louise RoyleMy 2024 kicked off with a trip to Uganda where whenever my paddleboard wasnt under my feet, it was under the feet, bum, or belly of a local kid who wanted to experience their local river in a fun and exciting way. Since returning from the Nile, I have spent a lot of time with Louise Royle. Some describe Louise as an inspiration and role model; my views are no different. Mine and Louises friendship is a prime example of why white water paddleboarding is inclusive, diverse, and here to stay!Two years ago, I met the legend that is Louise. Born in the Lake District, Louise is the mother of a sponsored kayaker. Shes a sponsored paddleboarder in her own right, and Im sure she wont mind anyone knowing; shes old enough to be my Granny. I, a 28-year-old male of mixed ethnicity, mean that the two of us are as wide as the diversity spectrum comes. While our passion for white water paddleboarding brought us together, our age, gender and cultural upbringing may play a significant role in how and why we enjoy white water.I have an energetic and playful approach that lends to me surfing every possible wave, tailing in every enticing eddy line and attempting to run challenging rapids whenever possible. In comparison, Louise is more selective on rapids that intrigue her. She prides herself in carrying the worlds heaviest everything bag and a buoyancy aid filled with homemade brownies. This means navigating a trip where we both feel we have accomplished our goals whilst still being able to support others can be full of challenges. Please keep reading for some examples of how and why two exceptionally different paddlers have formed a solid and successful paddling partnership.Paddle UK Personal Performance Award in White Water SUPIn April this year, Louise and I teamed up to lead a white water paddleboard coaching week in Scotland with a small crew of intermediate paddleboarders. Louise appreciates planning and organisation and always has safety at the forefront of her coaching. I knew this would complement my technical skills and analytical coaching style. Together, we managed to sign off all the paddlers with a Paddle UK Personal Performance Award in White Water SUP and see long-term development in the personal and leadership skills of our friends who attended the coaching week.A fantastic effort for all involved. Our dynamic duo style and range of skills lead to a super holistic and well-rounded week of coaching in grade 1/2(3) white water. The following month, Louise and I paddled the infamous river Soca in Slovenia and met up with a group of 15 paddlers from around the world, who, in total, had ten different native languages. This meant our communication was limited between individuals, yet universal river signals, laughter and the passion for paddleboarding in white water successfully guided the team dynamic. This hit home about how white water SUP is a truly special sport to be a part of.Top section of the SocaOne stand-out moment where my and Louises difference in experience came true was on the first rapid on the top section of the Soca, which finishes by the Prijon shop. This rapid has some serious consequences for paddleboarders as there is a large undercut wall at the bottom of the rapid. With this in mind, I paddled down the rapid to help set up safety from the large beach eddy.Paddlers came down one by one to regroup in the eddy, some of whom received a throw line to prevent them from swimming into the syphon. On Louises turn, she took a tumble and lost contact with her board. Defensively swimming calmly and collected, she soon started staring down the syphon. A line was thrown, yet Louise did not accept it; she pressed her feet onto the solid rock wall next to the syphon, pushed off, and ferry-gilded her body around the hazard and back to her board safety.Feeling perplexed, I later asked why she didnt accept the throw line. She explained that due to her limited dexterity and strength in gripping the throw rope, she opted to rely on her 40 years of experience to keep herself safe.In November this year, we once again found each other in Scotland in a diverse group of individuals in the Spean Gorge. The seven paddlers ages covered every decade from their 20s to 60s, and while on this peer paddle, we all helped each other in very different ways. We took turns setting up safety, discussing lines down the rapids with different views, taking photos and videos, and coaching those who asked for guidance.We all navigated the rapids the way we wanted to, and we all commemorated the day with smiles on our faces, repeatedly saying, I cant believe how good today was. Paddling with peers of a similar age and with the same goals is excellent, and so much can be achieved. Conversely, paddling with people of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds this year has made me feel that so much more can be accomplished than simply running a hard waterfall or rapid.Other developmentsIn other recent developments, the accomplished coach, trainer/assessor, and avid Scottish white water paddleboarder Jess Philip, has recently published her first paddleboard-specific river guide. Available on Patreon, Jess has outlined in great detail the main features and hazards of specific river journeys using geo-tagged images and an interactive map. This guide offers much greater beta than other white water guides Ive come across, and we cannot wait to see the finished product. Jess does everything she can to support other paddlers accessing the Scottish rivers in a safer and more accessible way, all the way from coaching to researching and writing this guide.Please support Jess and her company Dipper Paddleboarding by subscribing to their Patreon page. A special mention to Nookie for supporting my journey this year. It means a tremendous amount to have this local, eco-focused paddlesport companies support.Tambo SUP has also played a big role in my and Louises paddleboard journey, so thank you to them. If you would like to support either myself, Louise, or Jess, please contact us for coaching, whether you are simply intrigued by whitewater paddleboarding or wish to achieve new things in the sport.

HTTPS://PADDLEUK.ORG.UKHave you been enjoying your November paddles so far? If so, its definitely time to start thinking about adding a layer or two.Check out our new paddle trail guide, which weve produced in partnership with Transforming the Trent Valley. Check out https://paddlerezine.com/trent-valley-paddle-trail/to find your next paddling adventure.If youre looking for the perfect gift for your paddling pals, weve got you sorted in this edition of Paddler Magazine. Check out our guide @https://paddlerezine.com/christmas-gifts-paddlers. Plus, if youre a Paddle UK member, you can access some great discounts on a number of the gifts listed.Keep up to date with all things Paddle UK by visiting the news page on the Paddle UK Website: https://paddleuk.org.uk/category/all-news/. For now, check out a few recent news stories belowNew collaborative incident reporting system launchedPaddle UK, the British Stand Up Paddleboard Association, and Surfing England have launched a new, collaborative online incident reporting system for paddlesport. The system aims to streamline incident reporting by providing one place to report all paddlesport-related incidents. It is available via the Paddle UK website and can be used by anyone to report an incident or notable event that occurred during any paddlesport activity.Find out more: https://paddleuk.org.uk/new-collaborative-incident-reporting-system-launched/.Addlestone and Pleasley Vale Canoe Clubs receive Kings AwardAddlestone Canoe Club in Surrey, and The Pleasley Vale Canoe and Outdoor Activity Club, in Derbyshire, have been awarded The Kings Award for Voluntary Service for 2024. It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, the equivalent of a MBE.Find out more: https://paddleuk.org.uk/addlestone-canoe-club-receives-kings-award/.Tokyo Olympian Katie Reid retires from international racingTokyo Olympian and canoe sprint athlete Katie Reid has announced her retirement from international racing after a decade in the sport. The 29-year-old made history on her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, as she was part of the first athlete cohort to compete in the C1 womens 200m, which also made its Games debut in Japan.Read about Katies career: https://paddleuk.org.uk/tokyo-olympian-katie-reid-retires-from-international-racing/.Buckingham Palace Hosts Historic Event to Recognise Coaches Vital Contribution to British Sport. A number of Paddle UK coaches were celebrated at Buckingham Palace as over 300 Olympic and Paralympic coaches were recognised for their remarkable contribution to sport in the UK.Read more here: https://paddleuk.org.uk/paddle-uk-performance-coaches-celebrated-at-royal-reception/.

https://paddleuk.org.ukWhat is the Paddler Spotlight?The Paddler Spotlight is a monthly commitment from Paddle UK to showcase case studies, events, experiences, and a broader range of stories from our wonderful community to address the lack of representation of particular communities across paddling.Paddler Spotlight: Share your storiesThrough the National Inclusion Survey, we received lots of feedback that we need to improve the diversity and representation of our imagery and stories to share more from people of different backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We recognise that our media lacks diversity when it comes to ethnic diversity and the representation of people with disabilities, for example, and we hope to make positive changes through this initiative.How can I share my story for the Paddler Spotlight?All you have to do is share your story with us via our form here: https://forms.paddleuk.org.uk/live/form/PaddlerSpotlightSubmissionForm/formperma/iAXLmSEzU1MxAZ5Wef0sZcYnNjA7frZQGK0XRWPeILI or if you prefer to send us an email, get in touch at mediaenquiries@paddleuk.org.uk. Well do the rest! Dont forget to include photos to bring your story to life.You can submit your story as an individual or on behalf of someone else or a group. You can also tell us about events that you might be running; initiatives youre supporting throughout the year; case studies on clubs or deliverers running programmes to connect paddling with new communities; or spotlights on individuals breaking down barriers and working hard to make our sport more equitable, diverse and inclusive.How well share your storyWe strive to share as many stories as we can from across the paddling community, and we do our best to ensure these are aligned with the many awareness and celebration days, weeks and months as possible. Were hopeful that well see lots of submissions through our form, so please bear with us as we process them there will be no guarantee that your submission will be shared the month you submit it, but it may appear in later months, so keep an eye out.For more guidance on what were looking for and how to submit your story, download our guidance document here:https://paddleuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/shared-files/british-canoeing-central-documents/Paddler-Spotlight-Guidance-Document.pdfPaddler Spotlight: How Herts Disability Sports Foundation is making paddling accessible for everyone. Words by HesterHearnCheck out our most recent Paddler Spotlight, where we caught up with #ShePaddles Ambassador Hester Hearn about the work shes been doing in collaboration with the Herts Disability Sports Foundation (HDSF) to support their paddling sessions for adults and children with physical and/or learning disabilities below and check out all the spotlights from this year: https://paddleuk.org.uk/category/all-news/edi/.The Herts Disability Sports Foundation supports individuals across Hertfordshire with a wide range of sports and physical activities for people with disabilities, including paddleboarding and bell boating. They strive to offer adapted opportunities for anyone who cannot access mainstream physical activities developing group activities for those who have previously not been included.As a qualified Paddlesports Instructor (SUP), I was interested in doing some voluntary instruction and was already aware of the great work being done by HDSF. So, I offered my services at the beginning of the year and have been working with them since.Having an extra instructor has enabled them to offer more places on the paddling sessions, which are always fully booked. Ros Cramp, who runs the charity, has a positive knack for persuasion. Before I knew it, I had completed my Bell Boat Helm qualification, so I can now help with those sessions, which is fantastic as theyre always popular.I like paddling, mainly bell boating, because its really good fun and really relaxing on the water. I look forward to meeting the others and that my mum can come too and enjoy it with me. I like looking at the scenery. Tuesday is bell boating day and its one of my favourite days.Participant AliceIm enjoying volunteering and working with those who attend the sessions. They teach me to be more mindful and enjoy the moment, often without speaking whether that means just following the ripples on the water, observing the wildlife at the waters edge, listening to the birds in the trees, or noting the different sounds of vehicles travelling along the road nearby.Each participant behaves in a unique way, and its great getting to know them. Its also lovely to work with a team at HDSF that is so passionate about improving the lives of others and ensuring that those often excluded have the opportunity to experience paddling and its benefits.I like bell boating as Im out with the team, but I would like to be on a boat on my own, like the paddling group on a Thursday. I tried paddle boarding on a massive beanbag, but I needed two staff with me. I want to be able to paddle independently.Participant CazEach week during the season, they run a one-hour bell boat and paddling sessions. Sessions are open to ages eight and above, with the paddleboard session aimed at those who like to be independent in their own craft. The bell boat sessions are aimed at those who cant, for various reasons, be independent on their own craft which would include wheelchair users, as the bell boats have adapted bucket seats with 4-point harnesses, and the participant can be hoisted in.Sessions are at Stanborough Park Watersports Centre, which has excellent disability facilities, including an extensive range of paddleboards, a pontoon hoist, and a changing room.Ros Cramp, Director of Herts Disability Sports Foundation, shares her reflections:We started out with regular bell boats at Stanborough Park for day services, but we quickly realised how many people still could not access paddlesports. Gradually, we developed moulded seats with harnesses, hand paddles, and anything else we could do to make activities accessible.As new people want to try paddling, we have done our best to work out how we can safely cater for individual needs while ensuring the human being feels as independent and empowered as possible. We love being able to make things happen for people who either dont think they can or are determined to try, no matter what.We are very excited to be working with the new Paddle UK Disability group, to learn from others and, where needed, help design the best resources possible so that we can ultimately get more people with disabilities out on the water, safely.