ThePADDLER 118
Your something new doesn ’ t have to be paddlesport ; many friends of mine ski , climb or mountain bike when the rivers aren ’ t flowing . This keeps them fit and active and allows them to enjoy the same camaraderie they get in paddlesport . Doing something new also removes the risk of failure as your performance expectations aren ’ t necessarily there . This is important if you haven ’ t paddled regularly for a long time .
For me , enjoyment in what you do is far more important than performance . Maybe changing craft or just shaking up your routine means you ’ re not trying to compare yourself to previous success . The utility of a beginners mindset , no matter where you are in your paddlesport journey , is a tool that just keeps giving .
GO WITH FRIENDS AND TAKE IT SLOW WHEN YOU GET BACK TO IT Having not paddled properly for almost a year , I admit I was a little apprehensive when my phone screen lit up with the message , “ The Dart is running ; who ’ s free ?” Luckily a strong group was interested , and one of my Royal Navy paddling buddies was willing to take the lead while I concentrated on remembering how to paddle . I would typically rate myself as a confident grade 4 paddler . As the Dart was on a nice medium level , we ’ d have been straight at the put-in for the upper section on any typical day .
It ’ s a testament to the group that the upper was never considered or mentioned for our first run . We had a great time paddling the Dart Loop , built some confidence , got comfortable with our edging , and made sure the roll still worked . In the afternoon , we hit the Upper full of conviction in our abilities and were ready to make the most of a great rapid . There were no incidents , some smooth lines , and everyone left the river buzzing .
HMS Queen Elizabeth
It ’ s crucial to ensure that the environment you return to is right , ensuring you have the right people and conditions . It is far too easy to over commit to something you ’ re not ready for ; for me , I have to be careful not to blindly follow the gung-ho military attitude of throwing yourself at a task .
GET PLANNING Some of my favourite time ’ s kayaking are spent , not kayaking . They are spent in a pub , coffee shop , or on a riverbank with like-minded friends dreaming of the next big adventure . Nothing enthuses me more to get paddling than planning ; researching possibilities and destinations is always fun . It also reminds me of what ’ s fantastic about our sport : we ’ re a collective , love the outdoors , and love adventure .
This is probably also why I ’ m still involved in scouting , an organisation with the same ethos . If the conditions aren ’ t perfect , why not meet with your paddling buddies anyway ? For river and sea paddlers , this can sometimes present an excellent opportunity to walk the rapids or coastline , look for get-out points , and plan safety .
Planning trips is also the best way to spend an evening off the water ; amongst my small group of Royal Navy paddling buddies , we have a loose rule that we never leave a trip without some idea of when we are going next . Ambition is never my failing ! I ’ ve already got plans for Uganda , Chile , The Grand Canyon , Plattling and the Verdun Gorge to fit into the three weeks of holiday I have remaining . It might take me ten years to visit all of them – I might never achieve it – but you know what , it is fun to dream !