Words : Elaine Farquharson Photos : Elaine Farquharson & Shalene Loh
PADDLER 99
Words : Elaine Farquharson Photos : Elaine Farquharson & Shalene Loh
According to Sport England , only 35 % of females participate in regular physical exercise , including gentle and safe activities like pilates , walking or yoga . So , encouraging women to enjoy the great outdoors and take themselves out of their comfort zones to become skilled in adventure sports is an even greater challenge .
I have been paddling since I was ten years old . I was lucky to grow up with a family who liked the outdoors , and I went to a school with a paddle sports section . My home was North Wales , and the culture around me was about adventure . I was one of the 35 % who enjoyed sports at school . My shape was tall and athletic , allowing me to wear male-tailored wetsuits , drysuits and paddle sports equipment easily . The kayaks fitted my slender shape . Being sporty meant I could join the cadets and later the TA , so I was trained to like roughing it . So what ’ s a little water and a smelly drysuit when you spend days in the field living off the land ? I was lucky ; it seemed natural to become adventurous , but this isn ’ t the route for many women .
I work in the world of sports , health and exercise . I am a coach and physio , and the biggest thing I have learned about the barrier to female inclusion is comfort . Comfort isn ’ t just staying warm or dry . It ’ s about the weight of the kit when submerged , the cut of the kit to allow motion , the seat of the kayak to be able to obtain a neutral , pain-free posture , the adjustment of the backrest to accommodate all sizes of a female pelvis and even comfort breaks and modesty in the outdoors is a significant factor which does need more thought and work to overcome the problem it brings . The most critical barrier , though , is health . This is the physical strain , pressure on the skin and overload of the tissues , AND psychological wellbeing . Understanding female psychology and empathising with each person ’ s needs make a massive difference in participation .
PADDLER 99