The Paddler magazine Issue 58 early Spring 2021 | Page 105

THE

EXPLOSIVE RISE OF

Words and photos : Clare Rutter British Canoeing # ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales
In 2019 , Canoe Wales decided to get on board with the # ShePaddles programme that British Canoeing had been running for three years to address an identified paddlesport gender imbalance in Wales . At the time , less than three in ten Welsh paddlers were female and identified several barriers preventing or deterring women from taking up and remaining in paddlesport . Reasons included a lack of finance or access to childcare through to lowered confidence in a male-dominated environment and feeling that , as women , it was still seen and expected that females should be the primary parent with no hobbies or interests of their own and the associated fear of being judged and looked down upon for their own wants and desires .
Canoe Wales successfully applied for funding from Sport Wales to develop paddlesport opportunities to increase the participation , membership and retention of women and girls . To support them in their journeys , whether they wished to develop their skills and knowledge to be a weekend recreational paddler , gain awards and qualifications to become an instructor , leader , coach or guide , or pursue a competitive career as an athlete .
One of the first steps was to recruit a # ShePaddles Ambassador to inspire , motivate and be that friendly face with a supportive personality to help promote paddlesports and its participation and help drive the # ShePaddles idea , programme and opportunities forwards . As we all know , though , Covid-19 struck , potentially threatening the opportunities that may have been considered in any ‘ normal ’ year .
Roll on several weeks , during the first ‘ stay at home ’ lockdown , I was contacted by Gayle Penn , a Development Officer at Canoe Wales , who informed me that I had been successful in my application to be their # ShePaddles Ambassador . I was over the moon , and the news came at a time when everybody needed some real positivity and glimmers of hope . The real question in such an unprecedented situation would be how we moved forwards and make a success of the programme in such an uncertain world .
Clare Rutter
Facebook : clarerutter . DBA l Twitter : clare _ rutter l Instagram : clare _ rutter . ba . hons
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