“Twenty-two women?” my friend Dougie says. “I didn’t know there were that many female white water boaters in Scotland.” And the thing is, neither did we. And it was great.

On Saturday the 12th February, the fifth and biggest White Water Women meetup so far took place on the River Dee - and for a growing number of female paddlers around the country, the second Saturday of the month is now firmly marked "WWW". 

The concept is really simple. In Scotland, there are comparatively few white water paddlers (seriously - there are more shinty players than river boaters). Even fewer of these paddlers are women - a minority within a minority, particularly when you start pushing grades. This means that although you might occasionally clock another girl on the river, conversation is likely to be limited, which is hardly a great start for the nonsense and shenanigans on which all true friendships are based. White Water Women is designed to give ladies who paddle the chance to meet other ladies who paddle, doing what we love doing, but with loads of time and space to blether. The idea is that it puts people in touch, friendships are made, and folks go out again with each other, meet each other's pals, extend their own paddling posses, and push their own boundaries. To use a dirty, awful, corporate word - it’s white water networking. And it’s based on a solid precedent. All the organisers met at the Scottish Women’s Paddle Symposium, and not only kept in touch but now paddle regularly, stay over at each other’s homes, and go on boating holidays together.

“I’ve only been to one of the trips, but it was 10/10 amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect but I had a feeling it would be full of good vibes and a fantastic day out meeting lovely people. Kayaking is a pretty male-dominated sport, and I was so, so ready to get out paddling with a group of fierce and inspiring women where the only agenda is to enjoy ourselves and back each other up. I met so many wonderful people and just felt in my element, in the outdoors, in gorgeous Scotland, in a boat, and surrounded by positive and encouraging vibes. This group has so much potential to challenge the narrative surrounding adventure sports - safe to say I’ve written down all the next trips in my calendar and will do my very best to go to them!”

-Claudia 

“WWW is a great bunch of ladies who like to paddle white water! Kayak, SUP, Canoe - we are all there! The group brings us together and explores rivers across Scotland. Looking forward to many more trips in the future, the girls have done an awesome job in getting it off the ground and running.”

-Emy

“I've only made it along to one WWW trip so far. I was a bit nervous as only knew one person but everyone was so friendly and welcoming, not at all cliquey. It was a good laugh - very supportive and encouraging, no macho nonsense and amazing cake! I definitely will try to come along to more trips and definitely recommend to other women paddlers.”

-Liz

“I've only made it to one so far, and didn't know what to expect because I'd only really paddled in a coached group with my club for the past couple of years. When I got there everybody was so friendly and it was such a good time! I hadn't paddled with SUPs before and I really enjoyed seeing them (was so impressed!). I'm by no means the best WW paddler in the world and thought the peer paddle suited the way I learn, by watching other people on the river and having a go at what they're doing! I live in the back of beyond and the group is a good incentive to go on a wee road trip to new places, excited to come to more in the future!”

-Hannah

“The reason I was keen to join in with White Water Women was because I'd lost confidence and wondered if being around mainly men wasn't helping. No fault of the guys but being around female paddlers definitely allowed me to relax and focus on enjoying the paddle, have fun and chat. I loved my day on the Middle Findhorn and I felt I could be myself. I think it's a very, very valuable resource for women in the paddling community and just great to see so many smiles on the water.  Well done to all of you who set it up. It's absolutely brilliant!”

-Annie

Each event is an informal, independent peer paddle - so, they’re not coached, and it’s taken on trust that you can handle a boat, are past the beginner stages and looking to stretch your wings. Trips will generally be grade two with the possibility of grade three - they will never be heart-in-the-mouth adrenalinfests, because the idea is you get to know people, not spend the day like a deer in the headlights. 

Right from the start we were determined to organise paddles all round the country, not just the Central Belt, and this is where our organisers’ strengths come into play. Because we come from all over Scotland, we have a wealth of different local knowledge. Each month we have a set area and a set date, but our local expert makes the call on the river a day or so beforehand. So far we’ve been to the Tay, the Findhorn, the Ayr, the Ettrick and the Dee, and our marvellous lady paddlers have travelled from as far north as Wick and as far south as Prestwick. 

Now rolling into our second series of trips, the idea has worked out brilliantly in ways we hadn’t expected. For instance, we were clear from the start that we wanted to be inclusive of all white water craft, not just kayaks - but the SUPers who have joined in have been a revelation – we’re all a bit in awe of their skill. We’d love to have some more canoeists on board, and we’re always hoping for an OC1 to appear. That said, numbers have leapt from six boaters at our first paddle, to sixteen at the Findhorn, to over twenty at the Dee - more than any of us had ever seen on the river at one time. And honestly? Seeing 22 women peeling down the Dee on a blue-sky gift of a day just makes your heart sing.

Next month we're back in Central again - fingers crossed for good water, great craic... and copious amounts of home baking. If this all sounds like something you'd be up for, fantastic. We look forward to meeting you. 

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/whitewaterwomen