A Year of Delivering SUP Tuition

Its been a miserable morning but its has given Fiona and myself the opportunity to reflect and look back at this summers SUP tuition. We started delivering sessions back in February of this year and only finished recently. Looking at the maths we've delivered over 95 sessions and have hosted over 195 wonderful individuals on the water. A truly amazing year. Thank you to you all, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with each and every one of you....

KKC on the River Derwent

 An enjoyable day assisting with getting these wonderful individuals down the river. Kirkham to Howsham on the Derwent.

Canoes with Rudi

 

A very cold, wet and windy Saturday morning and this lady insisted on paddling.. Only one thing for it, an A to B journey up the river with the 30mph winds on our backs, Weel to Wilfholme, weapon of choice was always going to be the canoes... A little coaching on the move and Rudi really started to control these boats very well.

Easedale Island

 

A simple one today using the tides through Cuan Sound to visit Easdale Island. We shared our lunch stop with a busy otter catching and eating lunch too. Back through the sound at the beginning of the ebb, it was a bit of a grind on the return with head winds much more than forecast so we simply hand railed around Arduaine back to our launch. Another 25km covered..

Loch Etive

A crazy, beautiful day on Lock Etive, this one has been on the list for a while. We both a little broken, 36 kms with no tide or wind assist... Wonderful to bump into Jen on her paddleboard. Even the sun made an appearance in the afternoon... Brochroy to the head and back..

Luing and Shuna

 

A perfect day around Luing and Shuna though with an ebbing tide all day it was never going to be easy, we were hoping to sneak up the west coast of Luing and get through Cuan sound for the last of the ebb, we did good, some amazing eddies taking us up but we were eventually pushed back by tide close to Fladda, no problem, we jumped onto the south going flow for a free ride and then bimbled around Shuna, lots of weather but bloody good to back here and a solid 35kms covered..

A Fast Downwind Run on the River Today

 

After a summer of standing up it was so nice to sit down today... A strong northerly breeze and scruffy seas - nothing for it but to take the fast boats out on the tidal river. Punching upstream from Wilfholme to Hempholme and then a long downwind run to Weel. A good 18km covered. So good to be back in a long, narrow, fast boat , Fiona did brill, been a while since she's been in her boat too …

Flamborough Head with Three Amazing Individuals

 

I had my work cut out today. I had the opportunity to guide three amazing individuals through a dynamic, challenging and changing environment. To also make sure no wildlife was disturbed and of course make the day fun and safe. I think we pulled it off. Lots of wonderful memories made for us all. Gee and Fay did so well but it was Obi who stole my heart, just an amazing little dog.

  

Canoe Fishing

 

A self indulgent day floating with fishing rods, I'd like to say I was angling but the fish count says otherwise...

FSRT Fun

 

An excellent day assisting Stuart deliver this great day. Well done to all of our Foundation Safety and Rescue Training students today, a brilliant effort by you all. Well done Alistair, Oliver, Rudi, Fiona and Steven.

Flamborough Head and Caves

 

A pleasure to lead this group from North Landing today, through the caves, to Little Thornwick and ultimately around Flamborough Head to South Landing. Everyone did amazing, a first in tidal conditions for a few. Thanks for Tom for assisting me - top guy.

Surf Fun at Filey

 

A jaunt to Filey, a visit to the Brigg where the sea was well up. Then back into the bay for some simple surf. Full marks to the girl, totally commitment in the steeper mush which lead to a few swims, every time she sorted herself out and re-launched independently. Chips on Cobble Landing before an early escape.

Family Fun at Filey

 

Just a play in the bay and an attempt to surf rubbish waves being flattened by the offshore breeze. Most of all it was just lovely to play and be with the grandkids and daughter on the beach..

Litter Pick on the River Hull

A most excellent day of people coming together - albiet in groups of 6, spaced apart and launching at various times to clean the River Hull at Beverley. Astonishingly we collected over 100 sacks of rubbish between us. I lead group one upstream, we had it easy by all accounts by the reports that were coming from further down river. Tired and a little humbled at just how generious some folk are at giving up their time to clean up after others. Thats 100 bags or rubbish that are not going to end up in the sea..

A Spring Time Full of SUP Tuition

Its been a very busy few weeks of delivering coached sessions in SUP to amazing people. At the last count I think we've introduced 18 people to the wonderful world of SUP paddling in the last few weeks alone. Its going to be be an amazing year, its so rewarding empowering individuals with the fundamental skills to take them forward in this great paddle sport.