All systems Go!
Sometimes when someone else is in trouble a paddler has no option other than to get in the water to help although our training tells us this is our most […]
Category Archives: Safety
To BA or not to BA?
That is the question… posed by this year’s wonderful summer! I have to admit that historically I’ve definitely been in the ‘thou shalt wear a Buoyancy Aid’ camp; I’ve always […]
Knowing when to say ‘no’
Knowing when to say ‘no’ is one of the trickiest decisions coaches, leaders and paddlers ever need to make. And the month just passed has presented no shortage of occasions […]
My friend Steve…
There have been a couple of occasions in recent weeks when I’ve thought about my friend Steve. He’s always with me on the water, sitting there in the background and […]
Starting with MY ABC…
Whether you’re about to start a coaching session or lead a group of other paddlers on a journey, your initial briefing goes a long way to establishing the success or […]
Getting on (the right) side
Falling out of an open canoe is usually a simple matter. We allow our upper body to go too far outside the gunnel, lose our balance and find ourselves having an […]
Coaching from the bank
Even for coaches who have qualified as boat-based coaches the benefits of coaching from the bank can be significant. Being on the bank gives a different and very often better […]
Effective communication
Safety when we’re out on the water starts and ends with effective communication. Even if we’re paddling alone we should always tell someone what we’re planning and when we’re due […]
Let’s shout about rescues
Shout – Reach – Throw – Row is a well established protocol across paddlesport safety training but working with some fellow coaches recently (who, by the way, made short work […]
Reading aloud
With the UK white water season upon us, now’s a good time to talk about river reading skills! I was paddling at the weekend with two other experienced coaches and […]
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