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ShePaddles SCOTTISH WOMEN ’ S PADDLE SYMPOSIUM
Words by Emy McLeod , 21 / 22 # ShePaddles Ambassador
The Scottish Womens ’ Paddle Symposium took place at Scotland ’ s National training Centre ; Glenmore Lodge at the end of May .
It is probably the biggest female-only paddling event in the whole of the UK . Bringing together those with a love of paddlesports , the top coaches in Scotland and some very stunning rivers , lochs and coastal environments you have got one awesome weekend ahead of you !
Workshops in Canoe , Sea Kayak , White Water Kayak , SUP , Rolling and OC1 , Adaptive Paddling & Greenland Rolling were on offer for people to book on to . The weekend was a sell out with over 108 participants in attendance ; the symposium is not solely for people who live in Scotland - with people from Wales , England and even the Netherlands travelling to it !
With an all female coaching team of 26 coaches and 20 assistant coaches it was pretty amazing to have all that experience , knowledge and talent all at the same event . Empowering , Inspiring and Welcoming were three words used to describe the experience by some of the participants .
The current Scotland # shepaddles ambassadors were representing at the symposium ; Claire Scott & Savanna Guade were on the water assisting the paddle board workshops . There are exciting things to come from the two of them as they team together to offer paddleboard & yoga weekends in Scotland ! www . britishcanoeing . org . uk
“ Mags Duncan and I are very proud of the event we started in 2010 now being in its rightful home of Glenmore Lodge , Scotland ’ s National Outdoor Training Centre . It is fantastic that the event has stuck to its roots of “ For Women by Women ” and now have so many great women coaches to be able to hold such a large event . Everyone one of them were so stoked to be working at the National Centre .”
- Quote by Tracy Sherrington . Organisation Committee & Surf Coach .
Photo Credit : Emy Mcleod
“ Each year I look forward to coaching at SWPS , it brings a wide variety of women from the paddling community that are all keen to learn new things and share a fun day on the water . It has also been great to work alongside aspiring coaches and see them progress .”
- Quote by WW SUP Coach Jess Philips