The Paddler ezine Issue 53 Late Spring 2020 | Page 3
Ed’s
foreword
‘Looking forwards’
Covid-19, coronavirus, contact tracing, super-spreader, social distancing, selfquarantine,
self-isolate, contactless, unprecedented times, PPE, herd immunity, WFH,
second wave, etc, etc. This is the first and last time you’ll read those words on this
page. Instead I’m going to try and look forward and say a big thank you to those who
have contributed here and made this issue happen and printed.
PETER TRANTER
The current crisis seems to have provided just as larger a
divider of public opinion as Brexit ever did – yes Brexit,
remember that word? However, as paddlers, I’ve been
pleasantly surprised at how we have put our sport aside for
nearly two months and resisted the temptations to go out
on the water. That reflects well upon us and for important
reasons such as being treated seriously on access to the
water here in the UK. If paddlers had ignored the
restrictions, then future negotiations would undoubtedly
have been harder.
As a regular reader of the Paddler, you would have noticed
there is always a large proportion devoted to expeditions and
trips to the four corners of the planet. For the next year that is
going to change for obvious reasons, so it may be a good time
to ask you the paddler, what you would like to see in the next
12 months – email me suggestions on
[email protected].
Having a magazine printed means bringing a large number of
people together. The unpredictability that reigns at the moment has
to be overcome and a plan formulated. So big thanks to British
Canoeing and the media team of Robert Knott, Jennifer Gibbon,
Steph Roberts, Sam Rankin, Gareth May, Wendy Hockenhull, Kate
Bradley, Jenny Spencer and CEO David Joy for their support and
guidance through this crisis.
The impact of the virus on watersport businesses has been as
hard as anywhere else, so I want to paticularly thank those who
have come on board for this printed issue, your support is
invaluable. We do realise cashflow is perilous at best for the
moment, plus some companies are closed and therefore despite
best intentions, some haven’t been able to commit. We haven’t
forgotten them though – they have supported us the past few
years and so we have included their ads free of charge in the
digital editions. The sport must survive and therefore we need to
look after each other.
Huge thanks also to the printers and mailing house, who are
working under guideline conditions and last but nowhere near
least, the contributors and subscribers, all the cogs working
together – thank you to you all – onwards and upwards let’s hope.
Under the circumstances, I really think we have an exceptional
issue headed no less than the ‘Great Dane’ himself: Dane Jackson.
We carry an in-depth interview with possibly the best known
kayaker on the planet and instead of being bored rigid by my
questions, I invited three well known UK paddlers to put their own
questions to him – take a look to see whom and a special thanks
again to those paddlers.
There’s also a double up from the ever popular Chris Brain for
this issue as he asks, “What is freestyle,” for the Paddler, whilst
giving an interview in Canoe Focus on planning your
progression back into paddling. There’s also a paddler on
paddler interview from Sarah Thornely to David Walker on the
merits of Paddle Logger, something that should gain even more
significance during these times of paddling alone.
Corran Addison can always be depended upon to bring debate
to the table and it’s no different in this issue as he questions the
merits of fashion vs function where playboats are concerned –
we love him!
Whitewater is wrapped up by Bartosz Czauderna and his
expedition to the magnificent and challenging Slave River in
Canada, a river we’ve never featured before.
On the canoe front, we are so happy to have Ray Goodwin
onboard with a new set of coaching features – so neat to have
one of the very best in the business adding his expertise, here
with the J-stroke. In addition to Ray’s coaching, we also have a
valuable contribution from the U.S. with a canoeing freestyle
article on how to perform a heeling manoeuvre with Marc
Ornstein and the other guys at the American FreeStyle
Canoeing Committee.
Whilst we’re on America and canoeing, we feature one of the
world’s best known expedition canoeists, Martin Trahan, and his
tremendous challenge of crossing the U.S. by canoe – a truly
magnificent effort. It was also interesting to read about his postexpedition
blues.
We have not forgotten the virus and therefore include Richard
Jane’s bringing the dreams together for an NHS worker, Lyn
Jackson by guiding her crossing to the Skerries and Thomas
Mogenson and his take on what you need for paddling alone.
Whilst in Costa Rica last October, I was fortunate to meet
American motivational speaker, Ken Streater. He’s very kindly
started off a selection of articles on watersports by giving an
insight into how and why expedition guides need to focus and
respect the nature around them.
In the digital edition we have extra features from coach Lynne-
Marie Daleon on the charity, Black Dog Outdoors, and The Shift
breathing tool by by Jaden Hunter plus what a huge array of
paddlers from across the planet list as the place the would paddle
if they could.
British Canoeing’s Canoe Focus carries something of personal
interest to me and their recent success of renegotiating access
to the River Cam through central Cambridge. I love this stretch
of water and in the busy times of the year, you will come across
nearly every nationality on the planet. I expect this year to be
much quieter but who knows? Thank you to you all and enjoy
this issue of the Paddler.
English-based BC
members can now
subscribe to the print
edition of the Paddler at
the BC member reduced
cost of £3.99 per single
issue or £20.99 for the
annual six-issue
subscription:
www.britishcanoeing.org
.uk/membership/
benefits/communications
ThePADDLER 3