Home Club: 

Discipline: 

Sprint

Home Club:

Aberdeen Kayak Club

Discipline: 

Slalom

I started when I was 14 doing pool sessions with the club. Really enjoyed it. Progressed quickly through the rankings whilst paddling recreationally, doing lots of river trips, playing polo, essentially out on the water as much as possible. Slalom then took hold with a lot of travel, thanks to my parents. I did engineering at uni which allowed to me to balance a full time athlete lifestyle with having 4 months in the summer off.

Started coaching via coaching myself and my peers when away on trips. Then moved into a club coaching role. I've now been in my role since 2017 which has evolved a lot along the way.

Seeing athletes achieve their goals. In particular that moment after some last minute maths to see Vitto & Ailsa make the team! (separate occasions). I learnt that you need to fight all the way to the end of the series, and it's all the little things that make the difference in terms of gaining consistent results.

Favourite Race Course: 

Lee Valley - it can be a tricky place to get it right, but when it goes right it feels awesome. Also conveyor belt and clean water!

Why do you love to coach?

I really enjoy seeing the athletes grow as people. You gain a lot of skills not just paddling related from Performance sport.

Home Clubs:

Breadablance CC

Discipline: 

Slalom 

I joined Breadalbane canoe club when I was 9 years old and am still paddling with them today, 13 years later. I was an athlete with the Scottish Performance Squad for 8 years and in that time raced for Great Britain at the 2016 junior European championships. I started coaching on a voluntary basis with clubs alongside my athlete training with the performance squad and through more experience and commitment in coaching I am now working with the SCA performance team as an apprentice coach.  

When working with a young paddler on a new and scary move they repeatedly gave me their full trust, even when the first couple of times ended in a swim down the river. Together we practiced the move over and over until it was no longer scary and they could perform the move confidently and without assistance. I will always remember how valuable that coach-athlete relationship was in that session and I love being reminded what can be achieved with a little trust, commitment and nurturing. 

Favourite race course:

Prague- racing there feels like the Wimbledon of canoe slalom (I imagine so anyway- I've never actually been to Wimbledon)

Why do you love to coach?

Being able to pass on my knowledge and love for canoeing is the best job in the world. I am constantly learning and facing challenges. There's never a dull day in coaching.