ThePADDLER 44
YOU MUST GET HUGE SATISFACTION FROM ALL THE PADDLERS YOU HAVE HELPED OVER THE YEARS THROUGH THE MIKE JONES RALLY AND BCU EXPEDITIONS COMMITTEE - WHO ARE THOSE YOU REMEMBER BEST AND INSPIRED THE MOST ? Biggest satisfaction : Yusufeli Kayak Club . When I was running Coruh River Trips , I left some boats at my friend Birol ’ s campsite over winter one year . His son and mates ’ borrowed ’ them over the winter and went to the local lake and learned to paddle , and now they have club members competing at international slaloms ; they have a purpose-built slalom course in their village with a pool and clubhouse . They gave me a plaque which I treasure .
ANY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG PADDLER JUST STARTING IN WW ? If they are going to go on expeditions , learn languages ! OK , English will be the most typical language others will speak , but sometimes French or German etc . will get you out of a jam . I speak a little Turkish , and being able to have a basic conversation opens so many doors !
IF YOU HAD YOUR CAREER IN WW KAYAKING AGAIN , IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY OR CHANGE ? Gone and paddled in Afghanistan if I could and explored the rivers of Iran more before they dammed them !
WHAT , IN YOUR OPINION , IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO RIVERS ? Dams . I once composed a list of the top ten rivers that you can ’ t paddle now .
AFTER TRAVELLING ALL OVER THE PLANET – WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE ? When at Project RAFT competition in Turkey , the Californian team handed over their gold medals for the rescue event to the disabled team I had organized to be there .
WHICH DRIVES YOU THE MOST – INTERACTING WITH THE VARIOUS PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE RIVER OR THE PADDLE ITSELF ? Now ? Interaction with people . In my youth , the paddling .
WHAT ’ S THE ONE RIVER YOU HAVEN ’ T PADDLED THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST ? Do you mean other than the top ten dammed rivers ? Futaleufu in Chile , but I ain ’ t flying there or the Marron River , Bolivia – similarly requires flying .
IS THERE ANY ISSUE THAT STOPS YOU FROM SLEEPING AT NIGHT ? At present , yes ! How will this steelwork fit together , and what are we going to do about the sloping ground for the footings !