Blog

The week kick’s off with a warm up day getting to know the features and setting goals for the rest of the week. The general themes of the week follow a training to train, training to compete and competing to win approach. This progressively layers skills to provide not just the technical, but also tactical, psychological and physiological elements to reach your full ride potential. It’s great fun and it’s not all about competing, it’s Read more

I’ve barely had chance to reflect on the recent World Championships; It’s been a full-on year for the ASP programme. As this training/competition cycle comes to an end, and on the back of the World Freestyle Championships in Argentina we would like to congratulate all our ASP athletes. Last year the ASP programme set out with a desired goal for our female athletes – to increase not just the depth of competition in ladies freestyle, but Read more

It’s been a busy month of coaching in the UK in preparation for the World Championships. The ASP (Athlete Support Programme) and GB Team training have gone really well. I’m also stoked to be competing this year; there’s been a few minor setbacks in my preparations, but that’s life and right now I feel prepared and strong. Between this, the new British Canoeing Coaching Awards has been launched and I qualified as a core trainer/assessor. Read more

I’m humbled to be nominated for the World Paddle Awards alongside some truly remarkable individuals. I feel privileged to have been a part of so many paddlers journeys over the last 20 years. During this time I’ve had the pleasure to coach whitewater paddlesport to a diverse range of groups including children in crisis, disability sport, grass roots and world class athletes. It’s been fun and at times challenging, but I’ve learnt, and enriched my Read more

  This year I have been super stoked to of had the opportunity to train with Dennis Newton(Sweetwater Coaching) on ADP and ASP coaching programs. Denis’s knowledge of coaching freestyle is exceptional due to his many years of experience, his enthusiasm and pure joy for being on the water makes being coached by him a totally awesome experience. This year my main goals have being focused around the freestyle World championships in November. We have Read more

Awesome week, so much fun… there was a wonderful atmosphere, with everyone working to support each other in achieving their aspirations. It reminded me why this is such a beautiful sport. It’s a unique opportunity to see and feel the outcome of our actions and interventions unfold; surfing waves, reflecting, smiling, laughing and just as importantly seizing the opportunity to improve and celebrate our success with others – something that I feel has far reaching Read more

Stoked to be back in Finland!  I’ve spent the last week coaching the Finnish Freestyle Team in the Northern Karelia region on the Neitikoski rapids, close to the Russia border. It’s an amazing place with forests and lakes as far as you can see in all directions, with the Lieksa River winding its way through them. The Team was ripping it up, although the water levels were higher than expected, which meant we had to Read more

The Freestyle Coach Award is coming! This is a super exciting time for freestyle in the UK, as there’s never before been a dedicated freestyle coach award! In January, you will be able to access a 2 day discipline specific training and then assessment to coach freestyle on all appropriate waters that are park and play. DO YOU WANT TO BE A PROVIDER (i.e. Someone who trains or assesses the award)? Right now we are Read more

I was asked recently if there’s a way to shorten the period it takes to get used to unfamiliar waves… apart from surfing the feature and going through a process of success and failure, you can use video analysis, observing your performance post-session. This process benefits in avoiding making the same pattern of mistakes (that lead to failed tricks or preventable missed passes), and, of course, maximising your time and enjoyment on the wave. It’s Read more

Stoked to have secured my place on the GB Freestyle Team 2017! Big thanks to my sponsors and supporters, here’s to another great season… The ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships will be held at SAN JUAN, Argentina, 27 November – 2 December 2017 Kokatat, Werner Paddles, System X, Playboater. Photo by Dale Mears Photography