Tell us a bit about how you got into paddling?

I started paddling in my mid twenties whilst working at an Outdoor centre. It was a way to get on the water when there was no surf. When I moved back to Scotland and met my paddling mad partner we cemented our relationship through our love of white water SUP.

What do you love about paddling?

The thing I love most about paddling is the locations it takes me and the people I get to share those places with. I love working hard to reach quiet corners which haven’t become overrun with humans. Whether exploring the coastline or running a river with paddling friends sharing those experiences with people I love is the best.

What do you think needs to be done to genuinely make "paddlesport for all"? 

Paddling provides so many benefits and those should be available to everyone. I think the key thing to making paddlesports fully inclusive is to show people that they are welcome and paddling is for anyone. Lets promote the gentle pootles and fine weather doddles its not all about being mega gnarly (event though that’s fun too).

Why are you passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion?

I sit on the LGBTQI+ equality group and through that my awareness of the issues and barriers for LGBTQI+ people in sport has been massively increased. Its given me the confidence to start Cairngorms Paddling with Pride – an LGBTQI+ paddling group. Its such a great bunch of people who I love to pieces we paddle together, socialise and put the world to rights because we all feel so at home in that group with those people. New people join us at most meet ups and they fit in right away. Being involved with creating a safe place where LGBTQI+ paddlers can come together on the water is hugely rewarding and it’s helping increase awareness throughout the highlands that there is a queer community out there and it’s active. People have a sense of belonging to something and that’s so important for us all