Alex Rose: I started paddling as a child in canoe slalom alongside my brother and doing white water kayaking with the local club. I got my coaching qualifications and leadership qualification and fell in love with open canoeing. I work as a paddlesports instructor at Port Edgar Watersports introducing people to paddling and go out with Dundee University Canoe Club when I can. I am excited to be part of the Female Equality Group and hope to get more ladies involved in paddling and loving the sport as much as I do.
Inspiring Women in Paddling
October 21, 2020
SCA staff member, Lara Cooper, provides an introduction to the new SCA Female Equality Group
Why the focus on Females?
Simply put, there are more men paddling than there are women, and the percentage of women in positions of influence (e.g. coaches, leaders, committee roles, management roles, event organisers etc.) gets lower the higher up the ladder you get.
So we want to inspire more women to take up paddling, and support the development of female friendly, welcoming, supportive and inclusive environments and encourage them to get to where they want to be in paddlesport, enjoyably.
What are the group doing?
Right now, we are focusing on some quick interventions that we believe can start to have an immediate impact. The first is to commit to increasing the visibility of females in all of our media; website content, news items, articles, facebook, podcasts that are created by, for, and about women.
What about longer term aspirations?
We are just working that out! At the moment we are exploring projects that we feel could have a positive impact on female participation across Scotland. There have been loads of great initiatives across sport already and understanding into what can make a difference is growing, so with confidence we are exploring ideas such as:
- Increasing female representation in positions of influence;
- Delivering a mentoring program;
- Education on how to make what we do ‘female friendly’;
- Supporting Female Club Champions.
Who's on the committee?
Eildih Gibson: I grew up on the river with my parents, finding a love for being outdoors amongst the waves with my family and friends! I started competing in canoe slalom at the age of 13 and have since progressed onto Junior, U23 and Senior British Teams. I am currently a full-time athlete based at the British Canoeing Centre in Lee Valley. I have always had a passion for women and girls in sport and in 2018 I started an organisation Slalom Inspires with the aim of inspiring more women and girls through the sport of canoe slalom. Sport has completely shaped my life and I want all girls to have the same chance at this life-changing magic as the boys.
Ellie Seed: I'm into pretty much any discipline that means I can kayak that day, however I've found whitewater to be the most fun. I started kayaking at university and it's given me good excuses to go far and wide. My proudest achievement is making Team GB in Wild Water Racing and I want to encourage as many people as possible to take part and experience everything they can to the fullest.
Emily Hamilton-Peach: My paddling journey started splashing about with the Scouts at a young age, then as soon as I was old enough, I spent each summer coaching at local activity centres. Wizz forward a bit, and now, after the past few years running sea kayaking expeditions abroad, I've landed in Perth to work full-time with Willowgate Activity Centre. I'm excited to join the group to help women paddlers feel confident jumping out of their comfort zone to enjoy paddling the way I do; whether that's challenging environments or a day trip with a picnic. I'm excited to work together to get paddlesport as inclusive as possible!
Hannah Blair: I have been General Manager at Pinkston in Glasgow since 2017, but rather than from a paddling background I came from one of charity management, an academic career studying quality of life, alongside a passion for the impact that the outdoors can have. I had taken up paddling about a year before as something to do with my children. All this time later I still consider myself a nervous novice – especially when it comes to white-water, but there is something special about the good feeling that comes from spending time on the water. I will keep trying to broaden my comfort zone! Part of my current remit and one of the things that motivates me in my job is to increase opportunities for all. Gender equality is only a small part of this, but I very much believe that any way that we can increase diversity in the sport will increase its accessibility more widely.
Jess Philip: Hi everyone, I have been a keen paddler for most of my life i really love the people I get to meet and the places paddling takes me. I first started as a white water kayaker and have now branched out into river and expedition SUP paddling.. The Highlands is my home currently as I work as an instructor at Loch Eil outward bound. I am greatful to be part of the British Canoeing #shepaddles ambasadors and the Female Equality group. My main passion in this group is to connect and form a stronger female community within Scotland. Also I'd love to meet and get out paddling with some of you in the future.
Lara Cooper: I grew up paddling, started as a kid racing in Canoe Slalom, then got into White Water kayaking (paddling, exploring and coaching), and now love my Sea Kayaking. My professional career is also firmly set in paddlesport as Coach Educator, Qualification Developer and Trainer supporting the SCA. I am delighted to be part of the SCA Female Equality Group, I am particularly passionate about supporting female paddlers, coaches and providers to thrive in our sport, whilst also championing a 50:50 representation.
Liz Cain: I started paddling as a kid competing in canoe polo and K1 and quickly got into white water kayaking and canoeing. Paddling has been a big part of my life professionally and personally. More recently I have been really enjoying going on solo canoe journeys and connecting with nature; it couldn't be more apparent how important this is for us all right now. I love coaching anyone on any craft and getting more people out on the water helping them make their own decision making. I thoroughly enjoy being on the SCA board and very inspired by the push for equality within the organisation especially the push for under represented groups.
Lizelle Kemp: I was only introduced to paddling in my mid 30’s and fell in love straight away. It was a form of escapism from daily life and it soon progressed from Sit on Tops to Sea Kayaks and eventually Kayak Marathon & Surfski Racing. My passion & stress relief is Open Ocean Surfski Racing, I'm the current Chair of the newly established SCA Ocean Racing Committee and I’ve been championing the growth of women taking up surfski paddling in Scotland. It’s a privilege being part of the SCA Female Equality Group, I’m incredibly inspired being surrounded by women willing and able to share their experiences and help support and educate everyone involved in the sport to encourage inclusivity within paddling.
Connect on Facebook
Scottish Women’s Paddling Community
A NEW private Facebook group for female paddlers (and those who want to become paddlers), to share ideas, make new friends, meet up, swap advice and stories and discuss paddling in general. A supportive community to support, encourage and celebrate. 360+ members already!
Women's Paddling Community
This group was created by British Canoeing about 5 years ago, now with 1,700+ members. It serves the same purpose as the Scottish Women’s Paddling Community (but with a broader reach and wider geographical spread).
Women in Paddlesports Coaching, Guiding & Leading
A group for female Paddlesports coaches, guides and leaders to discuss, introduce, inspire, question, suggest…. 300+ members.
We need your help
We are calling out to ALL paddlers (male and female alike) to help us celebrate, and raise the profile of inspirational women in our sport.
Who do you want to read about, listen to? Whose thoughts do you want to hear? Who’s stories do you want to see being recognised and celebrated?
Please get in touch if you have any ideas of people that we might approach; be brave and put yourself forward to tell your story; or let us know if you would like to author some content. Anything ABOUT, FOR or BY women is welcomed.
Please contact habbi.liton@canoescotland.org or lara.cooper@canoesotland.org if you have questions.
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
VIEW MORE
Coaches Community Event 8 & 9 November 2025 at Grandtully Station Park
Save the date!
Adventure awaits! The Scottish Women's Paddle Symposium (SWPS) is just around the corner, and while many sessions are fully booked, we still have a limited number of non-residential tickets available for a fantastic range of paddling experiences.
Are you passionate about paddlesports and eager to share your knowledge? We’re offering two upcoming Tutor Orientation Events that could be the perfect next step on your journey.
