I am a keen kayaker and canoeist, paddling a range of disciplines including: C1 slalom, white-water kayak and open canoe (Canadian). I am a BCU/UKCC L1 coach and a committee member of Manchester Canoe Club.
Canoe Slalom
Manchester Canoe Club has a strong slalom presence and many of the regular sessions are geared towards slalom training. Although I had no intention of taking up slalom and competing (I’ve never been the athletic type) I got roped into helping the club organise one of the annual Marple slaloms. During this event I was persuaded to enter Division 4 K1M (men’s single kayak) and got hooked. A couple of races later I was out of Div 4 and working my way up the rankings in Div 3.
Shortly after taking up K1 slalom a project was set up at the club to encourage women to take up C1 (single canoe) and C2 (double canoe) slalom. There were a couple of spaces left on the project so I joined to see what it was all about (in my defense I did have longer hair than all the women!). After a few sessions in a C1 were all that were needed to pursuade me to switch from K1 to C1. Since switching I’ve managed to get promoted from Div 4 through Div 3 and up to Div 2.
For more information on Canoe Slalom please visit the (unofficial) UK Slalom website.
Coaching
“The best way to learn is to teach”
- Frank Oppenheimer
Many of my paddling skills have been driven by coaching and training for coaching qualifications. Within six months of taking up paddling I got pursuaded to become a BCU/UKCC Level 1 coach which required 2* and Foundation Safety & Rescue awards. Since then I’ve got my 3* in Kayak & Canoe, done a White Water Safety & Rescue course, a first aid course and 4* Open Canoe training.
In the near future I’m hoping to work towards getting my Level 2 coach award and possibly start coaching slalom.