Young Paddlesport Instructor Profiles: Adam Knox
Get to know some of the SCA's young paddlesport instructors! Every few weeks we will feature a young PSI. This week it's all about Adam Knox.
Adam says:
I started paddling at Pinkston in Glasgow with the Cubs about 5 or 6 years ago and really enjoyed it. I then went to the summer kayak class run by Pinkston Panthers and after that I started training at the club. Mostly I do slalom and WWR practice but don’t do any lake or river trips. I love the challenge of paddling the white water because the course and the water is always different. It is a great feeling when you do a gate really well or get faster in the racers.
I did the Paddlesport Instructor Course as I like teaching and seeing others have as much fun in a boat as I do. We all had good fun learning together on the course and there was a bunch of us who regularly meet at training days and at slalom events. My favourite part of the course was the rescues.
Since doing the Course, I have started helping with Pinkston Panthers club nights when we were really busy after summer. I also have been helping with my Scout group because we want to give them more opportunities to enjoy paddling.
I think more young people would do the course if they knew about it. Moving forward, I would like to do slalom coach qualification when I am a bit older. For now I am looking forward to next summer when we can get more people on the water.
Paddlesport Instructor Training Course - more info
The BCAB Paddlesport Instructor course is open to anyone aged 14 or over. This two day course helps you develop practical skills to support learning, inspire adventure and exploration, and sets you up to run taster/introductory sessions within clubs or centres.
Paddlesport Instructors are often the first point of contact for newcomers to our sport, and play a really important role. First impressions from these sessions can have a lasting impact on the likelihood of the person returning to do more in the future. Delivering sessions that are safe, enjoyable and rewarding are cornerstones of the Paddlesport Instructor role, and threads that run through all elements of the course.
Not only does this qualification help get you started delivering sessions, for many it is the first step on the formal qualification pathway. The course is open to people who have basic paddling skills in kayak, open canoe, sit on top, or stand up paddleboard. You’ll need to feel comfortable getting around where you want to go in/on your preferred craft, in calm benign conditions, close to easy bank-side access.
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