Tally says:

I started paddling when I was around nine years old. Initially paddling took place in the pool at Strathearn Community Campus. It started as an activity to fill an evening once a week, but I ended up really enjoying it. Because of this, me and my older brother decided to join a club. We joined Breadalbane Canoe Club and started canoe slalom training. This led to my first competition when I was ten years old.  I continue to paddle with Breadalbane, but when I moved to senior school, I also joined Strathallan Canoe Club. Both these clubs have been important for me over the past five years and have helped shape me as the paddler I have become. Of course, I have had support from many in the sport outside the clubs including Central Squads and Slalom Inspires.

What I love about kayaking is the adrenaline I feel on the water, especially white-water courses. Being on the water and learning new skills is brilliant. I have always wanted to travel, and kayaking is such a great way to do that. Over the years of my paddling, I have met a lot of new people and spent time paddling with and being coached by great people.

Last year, during the summer, I completed the first step in gaining my coaching qualification by doing Foundation Safety Rescue Training (FSRT), this was followed by my first coaching training, the Paddle Sport Instructor Course. I was excited to complete these courses as it gave the opportunity to coach others and help with the club training sessions. It helped me build my own paddling skills too. I have always had a lot of support around me and thought I could do the same for others in coaching them.

The course was good as it was a chance for me to learn new skills around safety and rescue and elements of coaching. I got to try out different forms of water sports and how to rescue paddlers in different disciplines, for example stand up paddle boarding and canoeing. Since doing the course I have been helping the club in the pool. It has been really rewarding helping others to learn how to roll and improve their paddling skills. It is great seeing someone use a new skill you have helped them develop. I am excited to continue to develop myself as a coach.

I think it is important to encourage young paddlers to develop coaching skills. To encourage more young people to get into coaching, it is necessary to raise awareness of what is out there and that there are courses that younger paddlers can attend. I think it also important to highlight not only does completing these courses allow you to help others, but it helps your paddling too and gives you confidence to lead a session or help someone if they need it on the water.

Moving forward I would like to continue to do some coaching and obtain a lifeguard qualification. I’m hoping these qualifications will help me be able to get a summer job at a water sports centre and continue doing these activities alongside my own paddling and ambitions for that.