On June 29th, 11-year-old Len Liddell set off with his father, Duncan, on a 100-km paddleboarding challenge to raise money for Tumble Downs SEN Kids Club. They travelled down the River Wye from Glasbury to Ross on Wye in three days.Duncan, can you tell us more about Len?Len is Autistic, has ADHD and OCD, and has always been open about his neurodiversity and why paddling is essential to him. By taking on and smashing this huge challenge, he has not only raised funds for a fantastic kids club but has shown that there are no limits to what a neurodivergent person can achieve in paddling. Paddleboarding should be embraced as an inclusive activity and sport for everyone; its benefits on wellbeing and self-esteem are huge. I hope people who read Lens story will be inspired to try it and that it sparks a wider conversation about how we can make it accessible for everyone to enjoy.What impact has Lens challenge had on the local community?Len has raised over 2,700 for Tumble Downs so they can continue their great work supporting children with additional needs in the Dudley area. Tumble Downs has played a huge part in Lens life since he joined at the age of six. He had just been diagnosed with autism at the time, and the support he has received from Tumble Downs has been incredible. Len just wanted to give something back and help his friends.What advice would you like to share with the paddling community?Dont be afraid to try something; where there is a will, theres a way. It is fair to say that all of us who paddle love our sport, so lets help everyone enjoy its benefits. I was so worried and anxious about taking Len out for the first time, but the support from my paddling friends has enabled Len to have some fantastic memories out on the water. Paddling has become a huge part of his life, and he loves being out on the water (or in it!). It is important for him to have this outlet as he finds many aspects of everyday life challenging.Len, can you tell us what you love about paddleboarding and why its important to you?I have more freedom, and it is a mindful place to be. I get out with my friends and have a lot of fun. It is just a wonderful experience! It helps me with my mental health, autism, and ADHD. It is just me communing with nature, and that means a lot to me. I can be me, and I love the white water! Its a magical experience.How was Lens Big Paddle Challenge? What were the highs and lows?The highs were exploring a new river and knowing that I was helping others. The lows were tiredness and exhaustion, especially on day two, when those 28.5 miles were very, very tough!You can read more about Lens story on the Paddle UK website. https://paddleuk.org.uk/

BY DEL READPHOTOS: Tom ClareDel Readhttps://delkayaks.co.uk/@del_likes_kayakingtom clare @tomclaremedia2024 ShePaddles whitewater festival at the TrywerynJune 7-9th was the ShePaddles white water festival at the Tryweryn, and I was lucky enough to be part of it! An amazing 52 women participated, and an array of talented coaches and organisers joined them. It was a really brilliant weekend, and I was thrilled to be asked to attend on behalf of Pyranha Kayaks. I had such a good time that I wanted to write a an article to tell people all about it!SaturdayI arrived on Saturday morning just in time for the opening briefing from event organiser Annette. A marquee had been set up to be used as a base for the weekend (thanks, River Legacy), and I joined everyone there for Annettes talk. Annette is a ball of positivity and enthusiasm, and her upbeat attitude was mirrored by the coaches who were there to run the sessions for the weekend.As Annette talked, I looked around the room and felt something special. White water kayaking is a sport where, for whatever reason, male paddlers massively outnumber female paddlers. It was quite something to be in a room of women who were all intent on their goals for the weekend, eager to push themselves out of their comfort zones and get as much out of the weekend as possible. You could feel the buzz of excitement amongst the paddlers, and I just thought to myself wow! How wonderful to be a part of something this special!SaturdayI arrived on Saturday morning just in time for the opening briefing from event organiser Annette. A marquee had been set up to be used as a base for the weekend (thanks, River Legacy), and I joined everyone there for Annettes talk. Annette is a ball of positivity and enthusiasm, and her upbeat attitude was mirrored by the coaches who were there to run the sessions for the weekend.As Annette talked, I looked around the room and felt something special. White water kayaking is a sport where, for whatever reason, male paddlers massively outnumber female paddlers. It was quite something to be in a room of women who were all intent on their goals for the weekend, eager to push themselves out of their comfort zones and get as much out of the weekend as possible. You could feel the buzz of excitement amongst the paddlers, and I just thought to myself wow! How wonderful to be a part of something this special!One much-needed shower later, I was back in the River Legacy marquee enjoying a refreshing lemonade! River Legacy is a paddling charity that supports events and raises money to help get people out on the rivers. So my lemonade tasted extra yummy, knowing it was for a good cause!The fabulous team provided dinner over at the cafe, and by 19:00, everyone was fed and happy. They were back over in the marquee for the evening talk. Lowri Davies, a UK kayaking legend and also one of the coaches for the weekend, was providing the talk on her adventures to the Zambezi. Whilst paddling the Zambezi might not be on everyones list of life goals, I think everyone could appreciate hearing about her extraordinary adventures. It was a great talk, with the highlight being watching a video of Lowri floating down quite a chunky Zambezi rapid on her inflatable unicorn! What a woman! A lovely, chilled evening of chatting and laughter in the marquee followed.SundaySunday morning came with a breeze, which was very welcome given how many midges seem to be residing at the Tryweryn this Summer! Meeting for a staff catch-up, I was presented with the exciting opportunity to coach for the day alongside the wonderful Cara McNamara. After a group photo and handing out many angry fish sponges (thanks, Pyranha!), our little group of four headed to the top of the Upper section.We got on and ended up splitting into two groups. I took my two paddlers to the little wave below the bridge by the rafting get-on. Both of my paddlers happened to be called Dani and were awesome! We had a great session working on using river features to move around the river and using the waves, holes, and eddy lines to help us break in and out of the flow and ferry glide. We ended up moving above the chipper as there were some great practice spots.I enjoy coaching but dont get to do it as often as I would like, so having the opportunity to do a whole day of coaching was nice! Both Danis had a great attitude and committed to giving everything a go and reflecting on their paddling as we went along. They did well, made lots of progress, and (I hope) had as good a day on the water as I did!Finally, it was time to get off! The Danis got off, and I paddled down to end the lap, stopping for a quick surf break on the lower Graveyard! I was pretty tired when I got off and changed, but I felt incredibly satisfied the whole weekend. It was rewarding, fun, inspiring, social, and generally wholesome. I said my goodbyes and thank you to everyone before heading off home tired but extremely happy!Thank youA huge thank you to so many people for pulling off a fantastic weekend! IncludingAnnette and all Tryweryn staff involved in the weekends organisation and running.All of the incredible coaches who put on such worthwhile and motivational sessions.Thank you to all of the brilliant participants! I had so many interesting conversations over the weekend and was continually blown away by how focused, resilient, and determined every paddler I met was! Everyone was incredibly supportive of each other, and it made for such a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere throughout the weekend.Pyranha Kayaks, thank you for letting me represent them and providing the sponges. (A big shout out to Mollie, who was also there for the weekend.)The River Legacy crew for providing the marquee, the bar and refreshments!Tom (my lovely husband) took all these outstanding photos Ive used in this article.I cant wait until next year!Thanks for having me!

#437 SEPTEMBER 2024WINDSURF MAGAZINE #437 SEPTEMBER 2024Dreams: Fuerteventura PWA Freestyle & Racing; Olympic Heartbreak For Emma Wilson & Sam Sills; Thomas Traversas Transition; Duotone Young Guns in South France; Flo Jung Shares his Ultimate Safety Checklist; 25 Years of Harry Nass; Tenerife PWA Report & Peter Harts Wave Masterclass.Subscribe andreceive your copy in either premiumPrintorDigitalformat.(Prices include delivery anywhere globally 10 times a year.)The Digital Edition is available now, and the print edition will be in shops and with subscribers soon.CoverVictor Fernandez slicing through a Hookipa lip! PhotoJohn CarterBIG JUICY READSTRANSITIONINGBig wave guru, Thomas Traversa discusses a potential midlife crisis, winning the PWA Wave World Championship and Red Bull Storm Chase in the same year, and the implications of sailing Nazar.2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMESCandid reflections by Emma Wilson & Sam Sills after two heroic efforts at the Paris Olympic Games, who did themselves and Team GB proud, but narrowly missed out on their dreams.FUERTEVENTURA MAKING THE SWITCHOver five days of brutal racing, some of the worlds best sailors tried to conquer switching between Foil Slalom and Slalom X. We hear from a selection of top sailors about how they copedFUERTEVENTURA FREESTYLE SHOWDOWNSotavento provided the worlds best Freestylers with the ultimate all-around test as they had to deal with anywhere from relatively light 20-knot winds to howling 40-knot offshore winds in their opening event of the year. We hear from the mens and womens top three.A MEDITERRANEAN STORM CHASEJohn Carter joins a crew of Duotone young guns as they chase an epic forecast in the south of France, where the infamous mistral wind was whipping up a storm.TENERIFE PWA WORLD CUPThe Tenerife PWA World Cup returned for the first time in five years and El Mdano reinforced its reputation as one of the best wave sailing spots in Europe. We hear from a selection of the top sailors.THE ULTIMATE CHECKLISTWith Europes autumn storms just around the corner, German wave sailor Flo Jung draws upon his years of experience to share with us his Ultimate Checklist for a safe and successful windsurf session.25 YEARS OF HARRY NASSJohn Carter tracked down Harry Nass who has been running world-class windsurfing centers in Dahab, Egypt since 1999, and more recently Hurghada, to find out how it all started, what makes his centers so special, and how he stays passionate after 25 years in the game.EQUIPMENT GARAGECATCH UP TEST: LOFTSAILS WAVESCAPE 5MJames Hardy shares his thoughts on the Loftsails Wavescape 5m.TEKKERSPETER HART MASTERCLASS FIRST TIME WAVE HEADSOf all the steps in the wave sailing journey, the first one is the hardest. With the help of folk who have recently made that journey, Harty answers the key questions and tilts you in the right direction.BOARDSHORTSLATEST & GREATESTThe best and latest selection of windsurfing news and products.UKWAScott Harrison looks ahead to the third UKWA Slalom event of the season, which will take place in Weymouth between 5th and 6th October.SITTIN ON THE DUNNYEDITORIAL DREAMSThe ed. discusses whether the current Olympic system finds the best sailor.AFFAIRS OF THE HART THE HAPPINESS DELUSIONOlympic windsurfing. Has the desire for jeopardy trumped fairness?Get yourPrintorDigitalcopynow!The post #437 SEPTEMBER 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

It is always a treat to get to explore a new coastline on foils. Dane McBride invites Jack to come do the most beautiful downwind run ever Na Pali Coast. Enjoy the action from his [&hellip... Read More

Together with the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, we want to ensure paddlers stay safe on the water, whatever craft they choose.The PaddleSafe campaign aims to raise awareness of how to prepare for any type of paddling and stay safe on any type of water. This could be at the coast or inland.Being safe on the water will only increase the fun you can have. These are our FIVE key messages to stay safe on the water this summer:Always wear a buoyancy aidNo matter how strong you think you are at swimming, wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Make sure it is fit for purpose and is done up securely. There are many things to consider when getting a PFD for you and your family, so check out our guide on buying your first PFD.On a paddle board, you might think, Im connected to a big inflatable. Do I need one? The answer is YES! Youre connected to it now, but you may need to release yourself from it for some reason. Having the right leash on in this situation is also essential, but more of that later.Tell someone where youre goingGive people FOMO, make them jealous of your plans, and see if they want to come along. The more people on the water with you, the safer! And if they dont fancy joining you then they know your plans and can check that you return safely. Making sure someone on land knows when you are going, where you are going, and when you will be back is all part of staying safe.Carry a mobile phoneMobile phone, VHF radio, or anything else that you can call for help on. Stick it in a waterproof pouch and put it in your pocket or in your PFD. You should carry your means of communication on you, not just on your board or in your boat. If you become separated from your craft, this is when you may need to call for assistance. Call 999 and ask for Fire & Rescue inland or the Coastguard in tidal waters.Check the weatherWhen making your paddling plans, always check the weather and plan accordingly. Ensure you wear enough layers for the temperatures, have waterproofs for any rain, and extra layers just in case. If it is sunny then make sure you take your sun protection! You can also spot any weather that is dangerous to paddle in! We highly advise that you avoid padding in a thunderstorm. Offshore winds should be avoided too. If the weather doesnt look good, think about changing your plans and paddle another day. Rain increases the currents of rivers, and winds can strengthen the tides. So, while checking the weather, cast an eye over the tides and currents of the waters you plan to paddle. Dont let them catch you out.Know your limitsTake your skill level into account when planning a paddle. If you have never been paddle boarding on moving water then think about taking some courses to help build you up to that. You should always stay within your ability and skill level.Think about where you are going to be paddling. Do you have the experience and skills for the water youre planning on paddling on? Do you have the right kit to be paddling on that water? A key skill to have is to identify which safety kit you need for your paddle.Paddle UK has several courses to help you level up your skills and safety. Check them out on https://standuppaddlemag.co.uk/developing-your-sup-skills

Words:Tim BurrisTim BurrisPhotos:Tim Burris &Jim LewisUsing sideslips to initiate freestyle manoeuvresI put together an interpretive routine called Sideslip Etude about five years ago.Tom McKenzie was the master of sideslips, but Tracy Hunt enlightened me that sideslips can be used as initiations to any freestyle manoeuvre.I will talk about this from the interpretive side, but I will eventually tie all the information into real-world applications.A freestyle manoeuvre has three components. For simplicitys sake, the initiation tells the back of the canoe which direction you want it to go (pries and sweeps are common initiations). The front of the canoe then rotates around a static paddle placement. Finally, the conclusion completes the manoeuvre with a stroke from the paddle placement to one end of the canoe.If you need a refresher on sideslips, check out Paul Klonowskis article athttps://freestylecanoeing.com/solo-sideslips/.For my Sideslip Etude, I did manoeuvres in all four quadrants (forward, cross forward, reverse, and cross reverse).Every manoeuvre was initiated by either prying or drawing sideslips in three of the quadrants.Lets start with forward manoeuvres. Christies, Axels, and Posts all turn the canoe towards the paddle side (or onside). We generally use a J stroke or a gentle stern pry to initiate those manoeuvres. The static paddle is then placed onside with the correct angle, and the canoe rotates around it. We finish with a reverse sweep to the bow. The important part is that the stern pry initiation tells the canoes stern to go away from our onside.We can substitute the stern pry with a prying sideslip because the prying sideslip moves the entire canoe away from our onside, and thus, the stern moves away from our paddle.Once the prying sideslip is moving the canoe diagonally away from the paddle, you put your paddle parallel (neutral) to the keel and slice forward to a spot slightly ahead of the point of rotation, then open the paddle angle so that the front of the canoe turns and then rotates around your paddle. It can be either an axle or a post with the correct heel. With practice, you will feel how much momentum you need after the sideslip to perform the manoeuvre.To turn our canoe away from our paddle, we use a sweep to initiate a wedge, because the sweep pulls the canoes rear towards our onside. A drawing sideslip pulls the entire canoe in the same direction. Once the canoe is moving diagonally towards the paddle, we slice the neutral paddle forward to a spot slightly ahead of the point of rotation and reverse the angle of the paddle blade so it pushes (wedges) the bow of the canoe away from the paddle. This is a fun sequence because the drawing sideslip carries more momentum into the manoeuvre, and the wedge demonstrates finesse.Because we use a sweep to initiate a cross axle or cross post, the drawing sideslip also works for these manoeuvres.Likewise, any manoeuvre initiated with an onside J-stroke can be effectively initiated with a prying sideslip.Once you figure out the mechanics, you can apply the same principles to all the other quadrants (cross forward, reverse, and cross reverse).Granted, it takes some practice to reach the point where your brain no longer needs to contemplate every paddle placement and angle.With practice, it becomes natural.Now, lets apply this in everyday life:Imagine canoeing in a narrow, slow-moving, twisty stream. Up ahead, the stream turns sharply to your onside, but the creek is shallow on the inside of the curve, so you want to move over away from the shallow. You start with a prying sideslip to move into the middle of the stream. As you approach the bend, you slice your paddle forward in a neutral position and then open the angle as you would in an axle. You magically turn around the shallow bend. You probably wont need the conclusion, so instead, take a forward stroke to straighten out and position your canoe for the next turn. The sideslip positions your canoe ideally in the stream, and the conversion of the sideslip into an axle turns you. This is an elegant way to negotiate the turn, but it is also very efficient because you use fewer paddle strokes to make the turn.If the bend is to your offside, you might initiate with a drawing sideslip and apply a wedge or a cross axle (or cross post), depending on which suits the turn the best. If I use the cross manoeuvre, I often take a couple of cross-forward strokes after the turn because it straightens out the canoe more quickly than switching over. Another reason for the cross-forward stroke is that often, your onside is too close to the bank after the turn, and you may not have room to make an effective onside forward stroke.*A note on heeling. Generally, we teach students to heel away from the paddle when drawing sideslips. The heel allows the canoe to ride up over the water instead of pushing it. Likewise, one normally heels toward the paddle on a prying sideslip. The problem comes when switching from an offside heel for the drawing sideslip to an onside heel for the wedge. The issue is that switching heels will rob momentum from your canoe -momentum that you need to manoeuvre. One can sideslip with a flat boat and do functional manoeuvres with minimal heel. (So dont overthink it.) I could do my Sideslip Etude with extreme heels because my canoe has a round bottom. I could roll the canoe from one side to the other with minimal loss of speed.A cool move is to paddle straight in (perpendicular) to a dock or landing. Apply a drawing sideslip and continue toward the landing. Apply a wedge a few yards (meters) before you reach your target. The wedge will turn your canoe parallel to the landing, but your momentum will carry you slowly right up to shore, and youll step out with grace. This move takes a little practice to get the start point and timing perfected. But once you have it down, youll see jaws drop because it is a cool yet useful way of initiating a turn with a sideslip.All of these manoeuvres take practice. More importantly, consider which sideslip to use with each manoeuvre. A sweep wouldnt be the correct initiation for an axle or post. For that reason, it is not effective to perform an axle after a drawing sideslip because the canoe is moving in the wrong direction to initiate the turn. With practice, it becomes second nature and gives you efficient ways to turn on streams and creative approaches to an interpretive routine.Tracy Hunt rocked my world about how much fun (and useful) sideslips can be.I hope you will have fun and try sideslips as initiations.

#437 SEPTEMBER 2024WINDSURF MAGAZINE #437 SEPTEMBER 2024Dreams: Fuerteventura PWA Freestyle & Racing; Olympic Heartbreak For Emma Wilson & Sam Sills; Thomas Traversas Transition; Duotone Young Guns in South France; Flo Jung Shares his Ultimate Safety Checklist; 25 Years of Harry Nass; Tenerife PWA Report & Peter Harts Wave Masterclass.Subscribe andreceive your copy in either premiumPrintorDigitalformat.(Prices include delivery anywhere globally 10 times a year.)The Digital Edition is available now, and the print edition will be in shops and with subscribers soon.CoverVictor Fernandez slicing through a Hookipa lip! PhotoJohn CarterBIG JUICY READSTRANSITIONINGBig wave guru, Thomas Traversa discusses a potential midlife crisis, winning the PWA Wave World Championship and Red Bull Storm Chase in the same year, and the implications of sailing Nazar.2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMESCandid reflections by Emma Wilson & Sam Sills after two heroic efforts at the Paris Olympic Games, who did themselves and Team GB proud, but narrowly missed out on their dreams.FUERTEVENTURA MAKING THE SWITCHOver five days of brutal racing, some of the worlds best sailors tried to conquer switching between Foil Slalom and Slalom X. We hear from a selection of top sailors about how they copedFUERTEVENTURA FREESTYLE SHOWDOWNSotavento provided the worlds best Freestylers with the ultimate all-around test as they had to deal with anywhere from relatively light 20-knot winds to howling 40-knot offshore winds in their opening event of the year. We hear from the mens and womens top three.A MEDITERRANEAN STORM CHASEJohn Carter joins a crew of Duotone young guns as they chase an epic forecast in the south of France, where the infamous mistral wind was whipping up a storm.TENERIFE PWA WORLD CUPThe Tenerife PWA World Cup returned for the first time in five years and El Mdano reinforced its reputation as one of the best wave sailing spots in Europe. We hear from a selection of the top sailors.THE ULTIMATE CHECKLISTWith Europes autumn storms just around the corner, German wave sailor Flo Jung draws upon his years of experience to share with us his Ultimate Checklist for a safe and successful windsurf session.25 YEARS OF HARRY NASSJohn Carter tracked down Harry Nass who has been running world-class windsurfing centers in Dahab, Egypt since 1999, and more recently Hurghada, to find out how it all started, what makes his centers so special, and how he stays passionate after 25 years in the game.EQUIPMENT GARAGECATCH UP TEST: LOFTSAILS WAVESCAPE 5MJames Hardy shares his thoughts on the Loftsails Wavescape 5m.TEKKERSPETER HART MASTERCLASS FIRST TIME WAVE HEADSOf all the steps in the wave sailing journey, the first one is the hardest. With the help of folk who have recently made that journey, Harty answers the key questions and tilts you in the right direction.BOARDSHORTSLATEST & GREATESTThe best and latest selection of windsurfing news and products.UKWAScott Harrison looks ahead to the third UKWA Slalom event of the season, which will take place in Weymouth between 5th and 6th October.SITTIN ON THE DUNNYEDITORIAL DREAMSThe ed. discusses whether the current Olympic system finds the best sailor.AFFAIRS OF THE HART THE HAPPINESS DELUSIONOlympic windsurfing. Has the desire for jeopardy trumped fairness?Get yourPrintorDigitalcopynow!The post #437 SEPTEMBER 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

An annual special issue dedicated to Stand Up Paddling. Focused on newcomers to the sport, SUP World Mag primarily covers the recreational aspects of Stand Up Paddling: beginner paddlers, leisure and family paddling, fitness, flatwater, and [&hellip... Read More

Whether youre brand new to paddleboarding and want to develop your paddleboarding skills or are looking to become an instructor, coach or leader, weve got the course for you!New to paddleboarding?If youre new to paddleboarding and dont know where to start, the Paddle Awards are for you.The Paddle Start Award does exactly what it says on the tin and is the place to start your paddleboarding journey! It covers everything from getting on and off your board to what you need to wear and some useful paddleboarding skills.The Paddle Discover Award allows you to develop your decision-making and practical skills for a fun and safe time on the water as you become a more skilled and independent paddleboarder. Through this award, you will learn how to choose and effectively use equipment while developing an understanding of the factors that affect your paddling.If you want to become independent on the water, go on self-guided adventures to control your board, and stay safe on the water, the Paddle Explore Award is for you! You will take ownership of your own decisions and learn to make confident choices based on the places you paddle, wind, and weather.Developing your paddleboarding skills?Sheltered water environment, e.g., small lakes or lochs, slow-moving rivers, small enclosed bays, or enclosed harbours, the Stand Up PaddleboardSheltered Water Award will give you an understanding of how to plan and paddle an enjoyable and safe trip. You will be able to journey in water that is no more than 200 metres from the shore and up to force 3 winds.White water environment, e.g. Simple white water with small rapids featuring regular waves up to grade 2. The Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Award will progress your SUP skills and introduce the skills required to have an enjoyable and safe day out on white water.Surf environment: The Stand Up Paddleboard Paddle Surf Award will give you the personal anddecision-makingskills to enjoy your first wave riding experiences. You will learn how to catch, ride and exit a wave.These courses areopen to all ages and are great for individuals, families, and groups wanting to develop their paddleboarding skills.Become an Instructor, Coach or LeaderAs the National Governing Body for Stand Up Paddleboarding, recognised by Sport England, we are also the only Awarding Body in the UK for SUP. As an organisation, we recognise and celebrate experience. For those who have gained certification from another training centre or have experience, we offer direct access to assessments, allowing a time and cost-effective way to gain a formal, credible, and regulated qualification. Find the right qualification for you!SUP InstructorAimed at: Paddleboarders whose primary focus is to deliver fun-starter sessions and activities and short journeys within the safety management systems of clubs/centres or other organisations. The activity takes place in a very sheltered water environment, such as small lakes or gentle, slow-moving rivers.Age: 14+Prerequisites: Personal paddling and rescue competence and Full National Association Membership.Training & Assessment: two days combinedExamples: This is great for outdoor centres and clubs to support their activity delivery, such as running introductory sessions for those who have never tried paddling or clubs playing games to progress their new paddleboarders skills.SUP CoachAimed at: Paddleboarders who wish to coach those who want to improve their paddleboarding skills. This will include coaching beginners new to paddleboarding or paddleboarders looking to develop their skills so they can paddle safely without needing a coach.Age: 16 or over at the time of assessment.Options:Stand Up Paddleboard Sheltered Water CoachStand Up Paddleboard Open Water CoachStand Up Paddleboard White Water CoachStand Up Paddleboard Race CoachPrerequisites: Membership is the only prerequisite of Core Coach Training.Training: Two-day Core Coach Training and two-day Discipline Specific Training.Assessment: One-day assessmentExamples: A SUP Race club looking to develop their athletes skills or a club coaching SUP sessions on open water or white water.SUP LeaderAimed at: Paddleboarders running safe and enjoyable trips and journeys based on their groups needs and aspirations.Age: 16+Options:Stand Up Paddleboard Inland Open Water LeaderStand Up Paddleboard Coastal LeaderStand Up Paddleboard White Water LeaderPrerequisites: Two-day First Aid, safeguarding training and Membership.SUP Coastal Leader: Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning.SUP White Water Leader: White Water Safety.Training: It is not compulsory. Candidates can cross-check their requirements and opt for bespoke training opportunities, such as in-house training at your club or working alongside/ shadowing other leaders at your centre.Assessment: one-day assessmentExamples: A Stand Up Paddleboard Coastal Leader could lead journeys and provide a safety framework in a moderate sea environment.Why choose us?British Canoeing Awarding Body fit-for-purpose qualifications are included in the register of regulated qualifications and have been accepted as the industry standard for over 45 years. We are recognised and regulated by Ofqual, QiW and the CCEA. Our qualifications are mapped to the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) professional standards and aligned with national coaching standards.Due to our regulated status, we can offer high-quality learning and standardised assessment processes, providing peace of mind for SUP Coaches, Leaders, and deployers worldwide.All SUP award providers have undergone a significant recruitment, training, and moderation process, ensuring that high standards are followed. Compulsoryupdates are also provided yearly to ensure continual competenceand delivery of the most current practices within SUP.Come and join us! The only paddlesport awarding body to offer stand up paddleboard qualification and awards.Find your next course today at paddlesuptraining.com

Interview: Peter TranterPhotos: Huw Butterworth, Halvor Heggem, Lachie Carracher, Andy Kettlewell, Kalob Grady & John HainesA chat with Lord Huw ButterworthMy name is Huw Butterworth, and Im a whitewater kayaker from South Wales. I started kayaking when I was eight years old, and I quickly got into a slalom boat. I trained and competed for the Welsh team until I was 17 years old, and then I transitioned to the world of whitewater kayaking. I am now 23 years old and live in tztal, Austria, where I have lived for five years. Over the last few years, I have been lucky enough to go on multiple trips around the world, kayaking on some of the worlds best rivers, and I am stoked to get the opportunity to share my experience with the Paddler Magazine!So when did you first start kayaking, and what specifically got you hooked on WW kayaking?I started kayaking when I was eight years old, and around 11 or 12, I started my journey in slalom. I was always interested in WW kayaking and would always be motivated to get on new rivers and paddle waterfalls. I made a move to fully pursue whitewater when I moved to tztal, Austria.Through your video production company, you motivate so many paddlers, but who motivates you?Ahah, Im glad to hear that our videos motivate people to get out kayaking! Many people have motivated me through my journey at different stages. For example, my coaches, Tommy Power and Geoff Forster motivated me during my slalom days, and in more recent times, its all my friends who I get to spend time with on the water, who are always keen to get out on the water and have some fun.If you could head anywhere in the world to paddle, where would it be, and what would appeal about that location?There are loads of places on my list that I want to visit or visit again. But if I had to choose one to go to this year, it would be Chile because it has so many sick runs and waterfalls that I saw in videos growing up.When preparing for a multi-day expedition in challenging conditions, what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate kayaker?I have only done a couple of multi-day missions, and theyve always been with different people, but there are definitely some things I would look out for. Other than their kayaking ability, I look for people with a good attitude on and off the water so that when the days get long, they can still enjoy and appreciate the beautiful places they end up in.Whats the one piece of advice you would give to somebody thinking of packing it all in to become an adventurer?Make sure you enjoy every moment of what youre doing. A lot of the time, it will be type two fun, where you look back on it and realise it was actually quite a lot of fun! So yeah, if you can appreciate the small things, it improves the whole adventure.How do you prepare mentally and physically for a challenging run?In my opinion, physical preparation is done outside of the river. Its making sure that you keep yourself fit and active so that when you come to a challenge on the river, you have physically prepared yourself as best you can for the run. That also helps me with my mental preparation. If I know that I have worked towards being able to make certain moves, I can be confident in my ability to execute the move safely.If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up, what would that be?There is so much that I want to do in WW, small goals such as running Big Banana in Mexico, or longer-lasting goals like making videos of my journey that inspire other kayakers to enjoy the sport I love.Can you share a time when you faced a particularly difficult situation on the water and how you managed it?This would probably have to be the last time I was close to swimming; it was on Cherry bomb gorge when I got stuck in the top hole against the wall, super disoriented I couldnt get pressure on my blade to roll, so I thought it was broke, I spend roughly 20 second upside down trying to spin my paddle around to be able to roll, because I knew that the gorge ahead was too long and steep to swim through. It wasnt pleasant because even after rolling, I had some tight moves to make, I was tired, and my boat was heavy with multi-day gear.Have you ever feared any particular river or waterfall?I wouldnt say I fear any particular river, but there was a time when I would get pretty nervous above one drop on the Saalach River in Lofer. The reason for this was that I had two back-to-back runs where I violently surfed in the hole for quite a while. But the way I got over it was to look at it again and keep running it until I was confident in it again.Who or what was the inspiration for setting up Pistyll Productions?The start-up of Pistyll was all John and Chips. I guess they just loved cameras and kayaking and wanted to do something with them. About a year later, they invited me to join, which was sick because it helped me with my filming, editing, and kayaking!Whats your primary job within Pistyll Productions, or do you, Andy Kettlewell, and John Haines all muck-in together?We kind of all muck in together. As I said, we all love kayaking and cameras, so when one person gets inspiration for a new project, we all do what we can to help make it happen!Is it always whitewater? or do you enjoy any other type of paddling?Like I said, I started in slalom, but I dont do much of it at all anymore. However, when I spent some time in New Zealand in 2023, I got back into some training in a slalom boat, which was pretty fun! I never spent much time in a freestyle kayak when I was younger, but Im not opposed to going to play around in one, although I dont make it look very good at allAny business relationships with any other companies in paddlesports?I work a bit with the Source to Sea shop in Innsbruck, Austria, but other than that, its just Pyranha and NRS.Youre clearly one of the paddlers of this generation. Which paddlers from the past would you have loved to have paddled with?I think it wouldve been so sick to be around when Bomb Flow was in full flow. The videos that they made were insane, and they definitely made me want to try whitewater!Can you talk about your training? What keeps you motivated?Training-wise, I like to keep myself fit in the gym, especially when I cant go paddling, but I think I would do that even if I stopped kayaking. But the best training I can think of is just spending as much time on the water as possible. What keeps me motivated is that the more training or practice I do, the better I get and the more fun I have.Is there anyone in particular in the sporting world that has influenced you?There have been many people who have influenced me over the years. Its hard to put a name on who influenced me the most, but in my time in WW kayaking, it would have to have been Bren. He had a lot of influence over me and always guided me in the right direction, which I will forever be grateful for.Its a tough call, I know, given all the expeditions you have undertaken, but does one pop up as your favourite?The Sary Jaz has got to be my favourite expedition! But as a kayaking trip, Norway 2023 would be the best so far because we kayaked so much and enjoyed it so much!Whats the biggest lesson youve learned from WW kayaking?Its got to be that even if Im not enjoying myself at the time, Im going to look back at that time and realise it was actually pretty fun.What do you do to relax away from the world of paddlesports?To be honest, I dont do that much apart from kayaking and editing kayaking videos, but if the river doesnt have good flows, Ill spend time in the gym and dabble in a bit of Fifa, even though Im not very good at it.Whats in the pipeline for the next 12 months?Its hard to tell at the moment, but I have plans to spend a fair bit of time in Norway. I also want to go to the Zambezi and probably end up in New Zealand at some point, but its always hard to make solid plans that far in advance.Where do you see yourself in 20 years?I hope Im still kayaking! But by then, Id have probably grown up and decided to get a normal jobWhere did the Lord Huw Butterworth come from?Well, its not as fancy as it seems I always joked about being able to buy a piece of land and acquire the title of Lord, and then my Girlfriend bought me some for Christmas, giving me the title of Lord.QuickiesIf you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?Chuck Norris, I think it would be funny to see.Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?Again, Chuck Norris. I think he would gain a good insight into my life and bring my character to life after going paddling with me.Are you a bathroom/shower singer, and if so, what do you sing?Oh, for sure. It depends on what Im listening to at the time, but Country is always a safe bet.What is your favourite social media platform?Instagram @huwkayak An ideal night out for you is?One where me and some friends end up on a random side quest.What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?Probably a fan I think that would come in useful!What would I find in your fridge right now?I havent been home in a couple of weeks, so Im not even sure what Ill find there when I get home. Normally, it would be some halloumi, tofu, and some questionable vegetables.What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?Chicken pesto pasta. (I am not a great cook)If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?I think it would be teleportation. It would be easy to get around all the crimes, and if I had a spare minute, I could go on a short holiday somewhere nice.Who are your kayaking buddies?It depends on where I am, but John is always keen on a paddle. I also like to go on missions with Zack; I am probably going to be spending a lot of time with him in Norway this season.Any final shout-outs?I guess everyone who has been a part of my journey so far!