CYLCHGRAWN PADDLE CYMRU
JOURNAL OF PADDLE CYMRU
ceufad
golygyddol
Mae datblygiad chwaraeon padlo dros y 40 mlynedd diwethaf wedi bod yn rhyfeddol. Mae wedi galluogi padlwyr i wthio
ffiniau'r gamp ymhellach i mewn i'r hyn y tybiwyd ei fod yn amhosibl. Enghraifft wych o hyn yw Aniol Serasoles yn mynd ar drywydd rhaeadrau iâ yn Svalbard. Anhygoel. (Os nad ydych wedi ei weld, mae'n werth gwylio – Ice Waterfalls – ar Daith Gŵyl Ffilm Mynydd Banff ac ar RedBull.com).
Mae hefyd wedi gweld PAD (SUP) yn dod if od y chwaraeon padlo sy'n tyfu cyflymaf, gan ddarparu ffordd newydd i mewn i fyd chwaraeon dŵr. Gall PAD hefyd gynnig dewis arall mwy hygyrch i ganŵod a chaiacau, ac mae wedi darparu mynediad i'r dŵr i badlwyr fel Victoria Hewitt, a gwblhaodd badl o 35 milltir yn ddiweddar i elusen ar gamlas Mynwy ac Aberhonddu. Stori lawn am sut y bu i hwn dyfi fel pelen eira o sgwrs ar y soffa i epig aeaf rhewllyd ar dudalen 16!
Mae hynny'n gyflwyniad eithaf oer i'r cylchgrawn – os oes angen dadmer edrychwch ar erthygl Emily Davies ar dudalen 20 – a mwynhewch rywfaint o haul a dŵr gwyn ar y Futaleufú yn Chile!
Vicky Barlow
Golygydd
Ceufad
ANIOL SERRASOLSES SVALBARD RED BULL CONTENT POOL
editorial
The development of paddlesport over the last 40 years has been extraordinary. It has enabled paddlers to push the boundaries of the sport further into what was thought to be impossible. A great example of this is Aniol Serasoles chasing ice waterfalls in Svalbard. Incredible. (If you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth watching – Ice Waterfalls – on the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour and on RedBull.com).
It has also seen SUP become the fastest growing paddlesport, providing a new way into the world of watersports. SUP can also offer a more accessible alternative to canoes and kayaks, and has provided access to the water for paddlers like Victoria Hewitt, who recently completed a 35-mile paddle for charity on the Mon and Brec canal. Full story of how that snowballed from a chat on the sofa to a freezing winter epic on page 16!
That’s quite a chilly intro to the magazine – if you need defrosting check out Emily Davies’ article on page 20 – and soak up some sun and whitewater on the Futaleufú in Chile!
Vicky Barlow
Ed Ceufad @Ceufad ceufad@paddlecymru.org.uk
Ceufad yw cylchgrawn swyddogol Paddle Cymru ac mae’n rhad ac am ddim i’w aelodau. Cynhyrchir y cynnwys gan Paddle Cymru, ei aelodau a chyfranwyr eraill, felly nid yw’r safbwyntiau a fynegir o reidrwydd yn rhai Paddle Cymru na golygydd y cylchgrawn. Cynhyrchir Ceufad bob chwarter yn y Gwanwyn (Mawrth), Haf (Mehefin), Hydref (Medi) a'r Gaeaf (Rhagfyr)
RHIFYN NESAF: HAF DYDDIAD CAU:1 MAI
I gael gwybodaeth am DANYSGRIFIADAU, HYSBYSEBION a CHYFLWYNIADAU: www.paddlecymru.org.uk/ceufad ceufad@paddlecymru.org.uk
Ceufad
Editor Ceufad is the official magazine of Paddle Cymru and is free to its members. Content is produced by Paddle Cymru, its members and other contributors, so the views expressed are not necessarily those of Paddle Cymru or the magazine’s editor. Ceufad is produced quarterly in: Spring (March), Summer (June), Autumn (Sept) and Winter (Dec) NEXT ISSUE: SUMMER DEADLINE: 1 MAY
ceufad@paddlecymru.org.uk
Ed Ceufad @Ceufad
For info on SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADVERTISING and SUBMISSIONS: www.paddlecymru.org.uk/ceufad ceufad@paddlecymru.org.uk
CYNNWYS
PADDLE CYMRU — EIN TÎM
Jet Moore Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Dros Dro
TÎM GWASANAETHAU AELODAU
Andy Turton Rheolwr Hyfforddi
Val Ephraim Swyddog Gweinyddol
Suzanne Parkin Cynorthwyydd Llywodraethu ac Aelodaeth
Bonnie Ireland Arweinydd Cyfathrebu a Marchnata
Ellen Roberts Swyddog Cyllid
Phil Stone Rheolwr Lleoedd i Badlo
Kerry Skidmore Swyddog Arweiniol Diogelu a Chydraddoldeb
Lydia Wilford Swyddog Datblygu
Emily King Arweinydd PAD/SUP
TÎM PERFFORMIAD
Sid Sinfield Rheolwr Perfformiad
Jonathan Davies Swyddog Llwybr Talent (Gogledd)
Gareth Bryant Swyddog Llwybr Talent (Gorllewin)
James Pigdon Swyddog Llwybr Talent (De)
Giacomo Leighton Talent Slalom - De
Emily Davies Talent Slalom – Gogledd
CYFARWYDDWYR
Kerry Chown Cadeirydd
Jet Moore Is-gadeirydd
Andy Booth Cyfarwyddwr Cyllid
Elsa Davies
Alun Davies
Allan Binstead
Ruth Hall
Tanya Neilson
Dave Kohn-Hollins
David Eade
CYSYLLTWCH Â PADDLE CYMRU
www.paddlecymru.org.uk admin@paddlecymru.org.uk 01678 521 199
Canolfan Dŵr Gwyn Genedlaethol, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU
ALISTAIR DICKSON I ROI'R GORAU IDDI FEL PRIF
SWYDDOG GWEITHREDOL
Gydag emosiynau cymysg, rydym yn cyhoeddi y bydd Alistair Dickson, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Paddle Cymru, yn camu i lawr o'i rôl ym mis Mawrth 2025. Ar ôl pedair blynedd o wasanaeth ymroddedig, mae Alistair wedi penderfynu dilyn uchelgais gydol oes fel capten yn y Ras Cliper 2025/26. Yn ystod ei gyfnod gyda ni, mae Alistair wedi chwarae rhan ganolog wrth lunio dyfodol Paddle Cymru. Bu'n arwain y sefydliad yn llwyddiannus drwy heriau’r pandemig COVID-19, gweithredodd strwythurau llywodraethu gwell, gan gynnwys datblygu fframwaith is-bwyllgor, ac adeiladodd dîm staff talentog ac ymroddedig. O dan ei arweinyddiaeth, lansiwyd ein hunaniaeth wedi'i hailfrandio fel Paddle Cymru a chreu cynllun strategol 2024–2028, sy'n gosod cwrs ysbrydoledig ar gyfer dyfodol y sefydliad.
Mae gweledigaeth, angerdd ac arweinyddiaeth Alistair wedi gadael marc annileadwy ar Paddle Cymru. Bydd colled fawr ar ei ôl ymhlith y Bwrdd a'r staff fel ei gilydd, a diolchwn iddo am ei gyfraniadau rhagorol i'n cymuned.
Dywedodd Kerry Chown, Cadeirydd Paddle Cymru: ""Mae Alistair wedi bod yn arweinydd ysbrydoledig ac yn sbardun y tu ôl i'r cynnydd y mae Paddle Cymru wedi'i wneud dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf. Mae ei ymrwymiad diwyro i'r sefydliad a'n cymuned padlo wedi bod yn wirioneddol ryfeddol. Er ein bod yn drist ei weld yn mynd, rydym hefyd yn hynod falch ac yn gyffrous iddo wrth iddo ymgymryd â'r her anhygoel hon. Ar ran y Bwrdd, y staff a'r gymuned ehangach, rydym yn diolch iddo am ei waith caled a'i ymroddiad ac yn dymuno pob llwyddiant iddo ym mhennod nesaf ei daith."
Mae datrysiad dros dro yn cael ei drefnu ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau trosglwyddiad llyfn, a bydd y broses o recriwtio olynydd Alistair yn cychwyn yn fuan wedi hynny.
Rydym yn dymuno'r gorau i Alistair wrth iddo gychwyn ar yr antur newydd anhygoel hon a gobeithio y bydd yn cario ysbryd Paddle Cymru gydag ef wrth iddo ymgymryd â'r her gyffrous hon. Diolch i chi, Alistair, am bopeth rydych chi wedi'i wneud i wneud Paddle Cymru’r hyn ydyw heddiw.
DIWEDDARIAD GAN PADDLE CYMRU
Mae’n bleser gennym gyhoeddi bod Jethro Moore wedi’i benodi’n Brif Swyddog Gweithredol Dros Dro Paddle Cymru am y tri mis nesaf. Gyda phrofiad helaeth mewn chwaraeon padlo ac arweinyddiaeth, bydd Jet yn chwarae rhan allweddol wrth sicrhau sefydlogrwydd a chynnydd yn ystod y cyfnod pontio hwn. Bydd ei arbenigedd a’i ymrwymiad i’r gymuned padlo yn helpu i yrru ein cenhadaeth yn ei blaen, gan gefnogi ein haelodau, athletwyr, a phartneriaid ledled Cymru. Edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda Jet yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
MAE'R GLANHAD MAWR WRTH BADLO YN ÔL!
CADWCH Y DYDDIAD: 24 MAI - 8 MEHEFIN 2025
Mae’r Glanhad Mawr wrth Badlo yn ôl, gyda padlwyr, gwirfoddolwyr, clybiau a grwpiau eraill yn helpu i lanhau ein hafonydd a’n dyfrffyrdd.
Y nod yw cael gwared â chymaint o sbwriel a gwastraff plastig â phosibl o'r mannau lle byddwch chi'n padlo. Mae eich ymdrechion yn helpu i godi mwy o ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith y cyhoedd am y materion yr ydym yn eu hwynebu.
@paddlecymru
Yn 2024, gwelwyd 3,699 o wirfoddolwyr anhygoel yn cymryd rhan yn y Glanhad Mawr wrth Badlo. Yn ystod y pythefnos treuliwyd tua 7,398 o oriau allan ar ein dyfrffyrdd gwerthfawr ar draws y wlad, gan lenwi 1,888 o sachau â sbwriel. I ddarganfod mwy, cymerwch ran neu trefnwch eich digwyddiad eich hun: www.clearaccessclearwaters.org.uk/bigpaddlecleanup/
SUP LASS PADDLE ADVENTURES YN ENNILL
GWOBR PARTNER CYFLENWI 2024
DARPARWR CYMREIG YN DERBYN GWOBR 'YMRWYMEDIG I'R AMGYLCHEDD'
Mae Gwobrau Partner Cyflenwi Paddle DU 2024 yn cydnabod ac yn dathlu cyflawniadau rhyfeddol, arferion gorau, ac ymroddiad o fewn Partneriaeth Cyflenwi PDU. Mae'r gwobrau hyn yn anrhydeddu'r rhai sy'n mynd i’r eithaf wrth ymgorffori'r gwerthoedd a'r egwyddorion a nodir yn Siarter y Partneriaid Darparu. Ac mae Partner Cyflenwi o Gymru, SUP Lass Paddle Adventures, wedi’i enwi’n enillydd Gwobr ‘Ymrwymiad i’r Amgylchedd’!
O'r diwrnod cyntaf, mae SUP Lass Paddle Adventures wedi bod yn hyrwyddwr dros yr amgylchedd, gan adeiladu eu busnes gyda chynaliadwyedd yn ganolog iddo. Dan arweiniad Caroline, y mae ei hangerdd dros fyd natur yn amlwg, mae’r tîm wedi cymryd camau ysbrydoledig i amddiffyn a dathlu ein byd naturiol.
Dyma rai ffyrdd maen nhw wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth y flwyddyn ddiwethaf:
» Arwain sesiynau codi sbwriel gan wirfoddolwyr padlfyrddio ar Afon Dyfrdwy.
» Dosbarthu 40+ o becynnau rhywogaethau ymledol a chofnodi lleoliadau allweddol ffromlys chwarennog a chrancod menigog.
» Ymuno â menter Race for Rivers gyda Planet Patrol, gan gyfrannu at brofi dŵr, codi sbwriel, ac ymgyrchoedd ymwybyddiaeth sy'n taro'r newyddion cenedlaethol.
Mae cysylltiad dwfn Caroline ag Afon Dyfrdwy a’i rôl fel Ymddiriedolwr benywaidd cyntaf Ymddiriedolaeth Dyfrdwy Cymru yn enghraifft o’i hymroddiad diwyro i warchod y dyfroedd y mae’n eu caru.
Llongyfarchiadau i SUP Lass Paddle Adventures am eu hymrwymiad i’r amgylchedd a’u hymdrechion ysbrydoledig i wneud ein dyfrffyrdd yn lanach, yn iachach ac yn fwy cynaliadwy!
I ddarganfod mwy ac archebu sesiwn ewch i: www.suplass.com
2025 LLYSGENHADON SHEPADDLES CYMRU
CWRDD Â'R PADLWYR SY'N CYNRYCHIOLI SHEPADDLES CYMRU
HANNAH CLARK, DE CYMRU
Pam rydw i eisiau bod yn llysgennad SPC:
Rwy’n dyheu am fod yn llysgennad SPC i hyrwyddo’r gamp a ffordd o fyw ymhlith menywod – y rhai sy’n chwilio am eu cymuned, gan oresgyn petruster wrth groesawu sgiliau a phrofiadau newydd, a chefnogi a dathlu’r menywod anhygoel sy’n arwain y ffordd ac yn dangos i ni sut y gwneir hynny!
Ffaith hwyliog amdanaf:
Rwy'n adnabyddus am blymio’n sythi mewn i heriau, yn feddyliol ac yn gorfforol. Fy mhlant yw fy nghymhelliant mwyaf – rwyf am ddangos iddynt y gallant gyflawni'r amhosibl gyda gwaith caled a phenderfyniad!
AMY JENKINS, SIR BENFRO
Pam rydw i eisiau bod yn llysgennad SPC:
Rwy’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig i fenywod weld menywod yn arwain ac yn hyfforddi. Rwy'n aml yn gweld bod llawer o fenywod angen ymagwedd ychydig yn wahanol na dynion i wneud defnydd o'u cryfderau naturiol, ac rwy'n mwynhau helpu menywod i wireddu eu galluoedd.
Ffaith hwyliog amdanaf:
Dechreuais ar gaiacio 15 mlynedd yn ôl pan gefais swydd mewn siop caiac leol …. Dwi dal ddim yn gwybod sut ges i fy nerbyn ar gyfer y swydd, achos doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod y pen blaen o gefn caiac pan ddechreuais i!
EMMA REASBECK, YNYS MÔN
Pam rydw i eisiau bod yn llysgennad SPC:
I rannu fy angerdd dros yr awyr agored a phadlo fel rhan o dîm cefnogol, angerddol ac ysbrydoledig sy’n trawsnewid byd chwaraeon padlo, ac yn annog merched a merched i archwilio, gwthio eu hunain a chael hwyl!
Ffaith hwyl amdanaf:
Dros gyfnod yr haf 2024 treuliais 8 diwrnod mewn pabell caiac môr yn tywys yn Norwy!
PADDLE CYMRU – OUR TEAM
Jet Moore Interim CEO
MEMBER SERVICES TEAM
Andy Turton Coaching Manager
Val Ephraim Administrative Officer
Suzanne Parkin Governance & Membership Assistant
Bonnie Ireland Comms & Marketing Lead
Ellen Roberts Finance Officer
Phil Stone Places to Paddle Manager
Kerry Skidmore Lead Safeguarding and Equality Officer
Lydia Wilford Development Officer
Emily King SUP Lead
PERFORMANCE TEAM
Sid Sinfield Performance Manager
Jonathan Davies Talent Pathway Officer (North)
Gareth Bryant Talent Pathway Officer (West)
James Pigdon Talent Pathway Officer (South)
Giacomo Leighton Slalom Talent Coach
Emily Davies Talent Slalom – North
DIRECTORS
Kerry Chown Chair
Jet Moore Vice Chair
Andy Booth Finance Director
Elsa Davies
Alun Davies
Allan Binstead
Ruth Hall
Tanya Neilson
Dave Kohn-Hollins
David Eade
CONTACT PADDLE CYMRU
www.paddlecymru.org.uk
admin@paddlecymru.org.uk 01678 521 199
National Whitewater Centre, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU
ALISTAIR DICKSON STEPS DOWN AS CEO
It is with mixed emotions that we announce Alistair Dickson, CEO of Paddle Cymru will be stepping down from his role in March 2025. After four years of dedicated service, Alistair has decided to pursue a lifelong ambition as a skipper in the 2025/26 Clipper Race.
During his time with us, Alistair has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Paddle Cymru. He successfully guided the organisation through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented improved governance structures, including the development of a sub-committee framework, and built a talented and committed staff team. Under his leadership, we launched our rebranded identity as Paddle Cymru and created the 2024–2028 strategic plan, which sets an inspiring course for the organisation’s future.
Alistair's vision, passion and leadership have left an indelible mark on Paddle Cymru. He will be greatly missed by the Board and staff alike, and we thank him for his outstanding contributions to our community.
Kerry Chown, Chair of Paddle Cymru, commented:
"Alistair has been an inspirational leader and a driving force behind the progress Paddle Cymru has made over the past four years. His unwavering commitment to the organisation and our paddling community has been truly remarkable. While we are sad to see him go, we are also incredibly proud and excited for him as he takes on this incredible challenge. On behalf of the Board, staff and wider community, we thank him for his hard work and dedication and wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey."
An interim solution is currently being arranged to ensure a smooth transition, and the process to recruit Alistair’s successor will begin shortly thereafter.
We wish Alistair all the very best as he embarks on this incredible new adventure and hope he carries Paddle Cymru’s spirit with him as he takes on this exciting challenge.
Thank you, Alistair, for everything you’ve done to make Paddle Cymru what it is today.
UPDATE FROM PADDLE CYMRU
We are pleased to announce that Jethro Moore has been appointed as Interim CEO of Paddle Cymru for the next three months. With extensive experience in paddlesports and leadership, Jet will play a key role in ensuring stability and progress during this transition.
His expertise and commitment to the paddling community will help drive our mission forward, supporting our members, athletes, and partners across Wales. We look forward to working with Jet during this period.
THE BIG PADDLE CLEAN-UP
IS BACK!
SAVE THE DATE: 24 MAY - 8 JUNE 2025
The Big Paddle Clean-up is back, with paddlers, volunteers, clubs and other groups helping to clean up our rivers and waterways.
The aim is to remove as much junk and plastic waste as possible from the places you paddle. Your efforts help raise more public awareness about the issues we’re facing.
In 2024, the Big Paddle Clean-up saw an incredible 3,699 volunteers take part. During the two weeks about 7,398 hours were spent out on our precious waterways across the country, filling 1,888 sacks with rubbish.
@paddlecymru
To find out more, get involved or organise your own event: www.clearaccessclearwaters.org.uk/bigpaddlecleanup/
SUP LASS PADDLE ADVENTURES WIN 2024 DELIVERY PARTNER AWARD
WELSH PROVIDER RECEIVES 'COMMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT' AWARD
The 2024 Paddle UK Delivery Partner Awards recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements, best practices, and dedication within PUK’s Delivery Partnership. These awards honour those who go above and beyond in embodying the values and principles set forth in the Delivery Partner Charter. And a Delivery Partner from Wales, SUP Lass Paddle Adventures, has been named as the 'Committed to the Environment' Award winner!
From day one, SUP Lass Paddle Adventures has been a champion for the environment, building their business with sustainability at its heart. Led by Caroline, whose passion for nature shines through, the team has taken inspiring actions to protect and celebrate our natural world.
Here are just a few ways they've made a difference this past year:
» Leading volunteer paddleboarding litter picks on the River Dee.
» Distributing 40+ invasive species kits and recording key locations of Himalayan balsam and mitten crabs.
» Joining the Race for Rivers initiative with Planet Patrol, contributing to water testing, litter picking, and awareness campaigns that hit the national news.
Caroline's deep-rooted connection to the River Dee and her role as the first female Trustee of the Welsh Dee Trust exemplify her unwavering dedication to protecting the waters she loves.
Congratulations to SUP Lass Paddle Adventures for their commitment to the environment and their inspiring efforts to make our waterways cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable! To find out more and book a session visit: www.suplass.com
2025 SHEPADDLES CYMRU AMBASSADORS
MEET THE PADDLERS REPRESENTING SHEPADDLES CYMRU
HANNAH CLARK, SOUTH WALES
Why I want to be an SPC ambassador:
I aspire to be an SPC ambassador to champion the sport and lifestyle among women – those seeking their community, overcoming hesitation in embracing new skills and experiences, and support and celebrate the incredible women leading the way and showing us how it’s done!
Fun fact about me:
I’m known for diving headfirst into challenges, both mentally and physically. My biggest motivation is my children – I want to show them that with hard work and determination, they can achieve the impossible!
AMY JENKINS, PEMBROKESHIRE
Why I want to be an SPC ambassador:
I think it is important for women to see women leading and coaching. I often find women many need a slightly different approach than men to make use of their natural strengths, and I enjoy helping women realise their abilities.
Fun fact about me:
I first got onto kayaking 15 years ago when I got a job at a local kayak shop …. I still don’t know how I got accepted for the job, because I didn’t know the front from the back of a kayak when I started!
EMMA REASBECK, ANGLESEY
Why I want to be an SPC ambassador:
To share my passion for the outdoors and paddling as part of a supportive, passionate and inspiring team transforming the world of paddlesport, and encouraging women and girls to explore, push themselves and have fun!
Fun fact about me:
Over the 2024 summer period I spent 8 days in a tent sea kayak guiding in Norway!
MYNEDIAD TEG, CYFRANNOL A CHYNALIADWY AT
DDYFROEDD IACH: GWELEDIGAETH AR GYFER Y DYFODOL
Mae mynediad i'n dyfrffyrdd yn fwy na braint hamdden yn unig; mae'n gyfrifoldeb. Dyna'r mantra gyrru y tu ôl i'r Siarter Mynediad a’r
Amgylchedd, Mynediad Clir Dyfroedd Clir, gan Paddle UK (British Canoeing gynt) a'i fabwysiadu gan Paddle Cymru.
Mae'r siarter hon yn hyrwyddo ymrwymiad ar y cyd i greu dyfrffyrdd iach, hygyrch a chynaliadwy i bawb, wedi'u seilio ar weledigaeth sy'n canolbwyntio ar:
» Ysbrydoli mwy o bobl i fwynhau mannau glas, yn amlach
» Cadw dyfrffyrdd sy'n llawn natur yn hygyrch i bawb, ar draws Prydain
» Adeiladu addewid cyffredinol i amddiffyn, parchu a mwynhau ein dyfroedd
» Meithrin cymunedau ffyniannus ac adeiladu perthynas ymddiriedus gyda thirfeddianwyr
» Sicrhau bod cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn etifeddu dyfrffyrdd iach, glân
Mae egwyddorion y siarter yr un mor berthnasol yng Nghymru ag y maent yn Lloegr, ac mae angen gweithredu gan y Senedd yng Nghymru a San Steffan i wireddu'r weledigaeth hon. Fodd bynnag, nid yw mynediad yn unig yn ddigon. Er mwyn i bobl fwynhau ein dyfroedd, rhaid iddynt fod yn lân, yn ddiogel ac wedi'u hamddiffyn rhag llygredd.
BLAENORIAETHAU AR GYFER GWEITHREDU
Mae'r siarter yn amlinellu nifer o gamau allweddol i wella mynediad ac iechyd ein mannau glas:
1. Ehangu Mynediad Cyfrifol: Eiriol dros yr hawl i fwynhau mwy o'n dyfroedd mewndirol, yn gyfrifol ac yn gynaliadwy
2. Brwydro yn erbyn Llygredd: Gweithredu'n gyflym i adfer ein hafonydd a'n llynnoedd rhag gafael llygredd
3. Addysgu am Gyfrifoldeb: Ysbrydoli a hysbysu defnyddwyr dŵr ar sut i ofalu a diogelu ein mannau naturiol
DANGOS EIN BOD YN PRYDERU TRWY WEITHREDU
Un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o ddangos ein hymrwymiad i fannau glas yw drwy weithredu. Mae Mynediad Clir Dyfroedd Clir yn annog clybiau padlo ac unigolion i gymryd rhan mewn glanhau rheolaidd, gan dynnu sbwriel a gwastraff arall o'n hafonydd, ein camlesi a'n llynnoedd. Mae padlwyr yn aml yn gallu cyrraedd mannau cudd, gan eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa unigryw i fonitro ar gyfer materion amgylcheddol, adrodd am rywogaethau ymledol, llygredd, rhwystrau mewn afonydd a thynnu sylw at fannau problemus am sylw amgylcheddol. Mae'r ymdrech sylfaenol hon yn helpu i gadw ein dyfroedd yn lanach ac yn fwy diogel i bawb.
ERTHYGL: PHIL STONE, RHEOLWR LLEOEDD I BADLO
SUT Y GALLWCH GEFNOGI MYNEDIAD CYNALIADWY
Mae sicrhau mynediad teg, cyfrannol a chynaliadwy at ddyfroedd iach yn gofyn i bob un ohonom weithredu'n gyfrifol. Drwy fod yn ymwybodol o effaith amgylcheddol ein gweithgareddau, gallwn helpu i ddiogelu'r mannau hyn i bawb. Mae Paddle Cymru yn credu'n gryf y bydd ein gweithredoedd, os bydd pob padlwr yn mabwysiadu egwyddorion Dyfroedd Clir Mynediad Clir, bydd ein lleisiau'n cael eu clywed, gan roi mwy o siawns o wella mynediad at ddyfroedd mewndirol glân ledled Cymru.
Mae angen cefnogaeth wleidyddol arnom i helpu i gyflawni'r newidiadau hyn. Felly, gadewch i ni rannu'r weledigaeth hon gyda'n cynrychiolwyr yn y Senedd. Mae dyfrffyrdd glanach, mwy hygyrch yn bosibl - ond dim ond os ydym i gyd yn chwarae ein rhan. Dewch o hyd i'ch Aelod Cynulliad lleol a chysylltu â nhw i sicrhau ei fod yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw'r mater hwn i'n cymunedau. Gyda'n gilydd, gallwn helpu i ddiogelu ein dyfrffyrdd ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
Mae'r rhain yn ddolenni defnyddiol a fydd yn eich helpu chi yn ogystal â rhoi gwybod i eraill beth rydych chi wedi'i wneud neu ei ddarganfod:
» Mewngofnodwch eich glanhau ar dudalen we Mynediad Clir Dyfroedd Clir - www.tinyurl.com/2a9pdzm6
» Helpwch i atal rhywogaethau ymledol rhag lledaenu trwy ddilyn Check Clean Dry - www.tinyurl.com/4k4pwvdr
» Rhoi gwybod am rywogaethau ymledol ar yr irecord Reporting Page - www.tinyurl.com/2wceby9y
» Rhoi gwybod am achosion o lygredd, rhwystrau afonydd neu weithgaredd amheus i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru - www.tinyurl. com/32sa5pz7
» Gallwch hefyd ymgysylltu â'ch aelod Senedd lleol – maen nhw'n hoffi clywed am straeon llwyddiant yn eu hetholaeth. Dod o hyd Aelod o’r Senedd - www.tinyurl.com/58uxs86e
» Siarter Mynediad a'r Amgylchedd - www.tinyurl.com/2frrnf4m
FAIR, SHARED AND SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY WATERS: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Access to our waterways is more than just a recreational privilege; it’s a responsibility. That’s the driving mantra behind the Clear Access Clear Waters, Access and Environment Charter by Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing) and adopted by Paddle Cymru.
This charter champions a shared commitment to creating healthy, accessible, and sustainable waterways for all, underpinned by a vision that focuses on:
» Inspiring more people to enjoy blue spaces, more often
» Preserving nature-rich waterways accessible to everyone, across Britain
» Building a universal pledge to protect, respect, and enjoy our waters
» Fostering thriving communities and building trusting relationships with landowners
» Ensuring that future generations inherit healthy, clean waterways
The charter’s principles are just as relevant in Wales as they are in England, with action needed from both the Senedd in Wales and Westminster to realise this vision. However, access alone isn’t enough. For people to enjoy our waters, they must be clean, safe, and protected from pollution.
PRIORITIES FOR ACTION:
The charter outlines several key actions to improve both access and the health of our blue spaces:
1. Expand Responsible Access: Advocating for the right to enjoy more of our inland waters, responsibly and sustainably
2. Combat Pollution: Acting swiftly to restore our rivers and lakes from the grip of pollution
3. Educate for Responsibility: Inspiring and informing water users on how to care for and preserve our natural spaces
SHOWING WE CARE THROUGH ACTION
One of the most effective ways to demonstrate our commitment to blue spaces is through action. Clear Access Clear Waters encourages paddling clubs and individuals to participate in regular clean-ups, removing litter and other waste from our rivers, canals and lakes. Paddlers are often able to reach hidden areas, putting them in a unique position to monitor for environmental issues, report invasive species, pollution, river blockages and flag hotspots for environmental attention. This grassroots effort helps keep our waters cleaner and safer for everyone.
ARTICLE: PHIL STONE, PLACES TO PADDLE MANAGER
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ACCESS
Achieving fair, shared, and sustainable access to healthy waters requires all of us to act responsibly. By being mindful of the environmental impact of our activities, we can help protect these spaces for everyone. Paddle Cymru strongly believes that if all paddlers adopt the Clear Access Clear Waters principles, our actions will be noted, and our voices will be heard, providing a greater chance of improving access to clean inland waters across Wales. We need political support to help bring about these changes. So, let’s share this vision with our representatives in the Senedd. Cleaner, more accessible waterways are possible - but only if we all play our part. Find and connect with your local Senedd member to ensure they know how important this issue is to our communities. Together, we can help safeguard our waterways for future generations.
These are useful links that will help you as well as let others know what you have done or found:
» Log your cleanup on the Clear Access Clear Waters web pagewww.tinyurl.com/2a9pdzm6
» Help stop the spread of Invasive species by following Check Clean Dry - www.tinyurl.com/4k4pwvdr
» Report Invasive species on the iRecord reporting pagewww.tinyurl.com/2wceby9y
» Report pollution incidents, river blockages or suspicious activity to Natural Resources Wales - www.tinyurl.com/muhdyu7z
» You can also engage with your local Senedd member – they like to hear of success stories in their constituency. Find your Senedd member - www.tinyurl.com/mrayrt8y
» Clear Access Clear Water Charter - www.tinyurl.com/2u7avdbf
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is thriving across the UK, and Wales is at the heart of its evolution. Paddle Cymru, AquaPaddle, and GBSUP have come together to deliver an exciting initiative, providing opportunities for paddlers of all abilities to experience SUP, from grassroots participation to high-level competition. This collaboration aims to build a structured pathway that allows paddlers to progress naturally, offering everything from relaxed social paddling to competitive national and international racing.
Emily King, SUP Lead at Paddle Cymru, has been instrumental in bringing together key organisations to ensure a thriving and inclusive SUP pathway. “SUP has grown so much in recent years, and I am incredibly excited to see this partnership develop. We want to create a clear and supportive structure for paddlers at all levels—whether you're just getting started or aiming for international competition,” says Emily. “This initiative is about inclusivity, progression, and making SUP accessible to all, no matter your experience level.”
Building on the successful collaboration between Paddle Cymru and the Fishguard Bay Ocean Race event last year, this partnership aims to showcase the potential for local paddling communities. It seeks to establish clubs, create events, and develop sustainable pathways that will ensure long-term growth and accessibility for all paddlers. Some of these pop-up events will be at familiar locations, while others will introduce new venues that highlight the
PADDLE CYMRU, AQUAPADDLE & GBSUP: THE FUTURE OF SUP IN WALES AND THE UK A
NEW ERA FOR STAND-UP PADDLEDBOARDING
incredible paddling spots across Wales. By fostering collaboration between paddlers, businesses, and clubs, this initiative is creating a sustainable network that will continue to grow and evolve.
THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: A UNITED SUP STRATEGY
Earlier this year, Emily King hosted a roundtable meeting in London with GBSUP Club and AquaPaddle. GBSUP Club has been organising SUP racing events across the UK for over 14 years, while AquaPaddle provides accessible, community-driven paddling experiences. The meeting facilitated discussions on leadership pathways, collaboration, and how to create a structured SUP development strategy. The result? A clear commitment from all organisations to work together, embedding their ethos into an aligned strategy that provides clear opportunities for paddlers at all levels.
This agreement strengthens the SUP pathway, ensuring there is a seamless transition from local participation to national and international selection.
“Bringing these organisations together was a key step in ensuring that we create a lasting, impactful strategy for SUP in Wales,” adds Emily. The commitment to nurturing talent at every stage of a paddler’s journey means that whether you’re dipping your paddle in the water for the first time or setting your sights on international competition, there’s a place for you in this growing community.
WORDS: EMILY KING, SUP LEAD
PHOTOS: AS CREDITED
THE PADDLE CYMRU AQUAPADDLE POP-UP TOUR 2025
Paddle Cymru and AquaPaddle are excited to announce the 2025 pop-up tour, designed to be welcoming, safe, and inclusive. The events are not races but instead offer a relaxed 5km paddle challenge in a fun, supportive atmosphere. Each event will have a Captain (Event Director), Crew (Marshals), and a Time Lord to manage the timings, ensuring a smooth experience for all. These events are also an opportunity for paddlers to connect, build confidence, and explore some of the most beautiful paddling locations in Wales. By participating, paddlers will see how easy and enjoyable it is to get involved, whether as a paddler or as part of the organisational team. This tour is a showcase of the fantastic paddling locations Wales has to offer and an opportunity to inspire more communities to host future AquaPaddle events. AquaPaddle is designed for all levels, meaning even those who haven’t paddled in years or are entirely new to SUP can feel comfortable joining in.
EVENT DATES AND LOCATIONS 2025:
» 16 March – Swiss Valley, Llanelli.
» 23 March – Park in the Past, Wrexham.
» 6 April – River Tawe, Swansea.
» 27 April - Plas Menai, Caernarfon.
» 4 May – Llyn Padarn, Llanberis
» 17/18 May- AquaPaddle at the GBSUP Llandeggfeded, Pontypool.
» 1 June – Plas Y Brenin, Capel Curig.
» 21/22 June – Fishguard Bay Ocean Race, AquaPaddle, Tech & Sprint Racing, Welsh Selection Race, Goodwick & Newport.
AQUAPADDLE SWANSEA
The final stop at Fishguard is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events of the season. As a prime destination for water sports enthusiasts, Fishguard offers stunning coastal scenery, reliable sea conditions, and a vibrant paddling community. This year, the event will be bigger and better, featuring not only the AquaPaddle but also the Fishguard Bay Ocean Race – a highprofile event attracting paddlers from across the UK. Participants can expect a weekend packed with activities, including a community raft race, an open-water swim around the breakwater wall, trade stands, paddleboarding workshops, and evening festivities at a local campsite. With its growing reputation as a premier paddling hub, Fishguard is the perfect setting for a landmark event in the SUP calendar.
BLACK PROJECT X GBSUP NATIONAL SERIES – THE WELSH EVENT AT LLANDEGFEDD RESERVOIR: A PREMIER SUP DESTINATION
Llandegfedd Reservoir is rapidly establishing itself as one of the top SUP racing destinations in Wales. Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Torfaen, this stunning reservoir provides an ideal setting for both competitive and recreational paddling, with its expansive waters and top-tier facilities making it a favourite among paddlers. SUP racing is
growing, and this venue is stepping up as a premier location for national competitions. The Welsh leg of the Black Project x GBSUP National Series will take place on 17-18 May at Llandegfedd Reservoir in Pontypool. This event will be a celebration of paddle sports, with something for everyone, from first-timers to elite competitors.
Sat May 17 – Festival of SUP Paddle Sports
» AquaPaddle pop-up event (open to all paddlecraft)
» SUP Polo, SUP Yoga, and trade stands showcasing SUP equipment
» Paddle Cymru stand
» Clinics and demonstrations from top SUP paddlers
Sun May 18 – BPGBSUP Racing Events
» Youth Development Opportunities: If you have a child who loves SUP and is aged 8 years or above, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring them along! The event will feature youth categories, short races, and a chance for young paddlers to develop their skills under expert guidance.
» Distance Races: 16km (Adult Fleets), 10km (Challenge Tour)
» Tech Sprint Racing for Juniors & Adults
» Novice Events: 1km Adult Novice, Fun races & SUP games for kids (Ages 8+)
» Industry Demos & Exhibitors
BUILDING THE FUTURE OF SUP IN WALES
This collaboration between Paddle Cymru, AquaPaddle, and GBSUP marks a significant step forward for SUP in Wales and the UK. By combining expertise, resources, and shared values, this initiative enhances accessibility, community engagement, and strengthens the pathway from grassroots participation to elite competition. With expanded events, youth development opportunities, and strategic partnerships, the collaboration ensures a more inclusive and sustainable future for SUP across the country.
“This is such an exciting time for SUP in Wales,” says Emily King. “We want to create a pathway where anyone, regardless of background abilities or experience, can get involved and feel part of a supportive and growing community.”
Whether you’re looking to reconnect with paddling, challenge yourself with a timed event, or take part in the GBSUP racing series, there’s something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you on the water!
FIND OUT MORE on AquaPaddle or GB SUP visit: www. aquapaddle.org or www.gbsup.co.uk
LLANDEGFEDD PURSUIT @SUPJUNKIE.UK
FISHGUARD BAY OPEN RACE
FISHGUARD BAY OPEN RACE
LLANDEGFEDD PURSUIT @SUPJUNKIE.UK
Porthcawl NCI
“The objective of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is to assist in the protection and preservation of life at sea and along the United Kingdom coastline.”
National Coastwatch is a charity staffed and managed by volunteers whose mission is to help save lives at sea and around the UK coastline. The objective of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is to assist in the protection and preservation of life at sea and along the United Kingdom coastline. A critical part of UK Search and Rescue, the NCI works alongside His Majesty’s Coastguard, the RNLI and the “blue-light” emergency services to assist in the protection and saving of lives at sea and along the coastline of England and Wales.
In 1994, near the Lizard in Cornwall, a fishing boat sank, and its two crew unfortunately perished. This happened soon after many Coastguard lookouts had been closed down, and such was the depth of local feeling following the tragedy, the community decided to establish a volunteer watch over that section of the coastline and the NCI was established.
Currently, there are 60 NCI operational stations manned by over 2800 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles, from Fleetwood in the Northwest, through Wales, the south and east coasts of England to Hornsea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the northeast.
There are 5 NCI stations along the South Wales coast, from Nells Point at Barry in the east, to Wooltack Point, which is situated to the west of Milford Haven. Porthcawl NCI station is located at the eastern end of the Esplanade. It is housed in the old Victorian Pilot Lookout Tower built in 1870, which is a Grade 2 listed building, adjacent to the RNLI lifeboat station. Porthcawl NCI overlooks the Bristol Channel almost opposite Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon, some 14 miles away as the crow flies. The field of view stretches east to Nash Point on the Welsh side of the Channel, over to Minehead and down to Ilfracombe on the English coast, and across to the Gower peninsular in the west. The Porthcawl NCI station opened in 2014 after the lookout was refurbished with grant funding from the Townscape Heritage Initiative, by Bridgend County Borough Council and the full support of Porthcawl Town Council. The lookout was in use during both the First and Second World Wars and has been used for various activities between those conflicts up until the 1960’s.
TONY JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY
ARTICLE: LAURENCE BATER, ACTING STATION MANAGER, PORTHCAWL NCI
Porthcawl is a popular destination all year round, with visitors coming from all over the UK for the beaches, surfing and the ‘Elvis Festival’, plus the large Trecco Bay caravan site run by Parkdean Resorts, which is one of the largest caravan parks in the UK. The harbour has recently been refurbished with lock gates and moorings for some seventy boats, ensuring an increase in marine traffic. There are also several beaches in view of the lookout. The increase in coastal leisure users; swimmers, surfers, kite surfers, windsurfers, paddleboarders, walkers and fishermen, plus the high tidal ranges in the Bristol Channel (the second highest tide in the world), means that the maritime rescue and emergency services are kept busy. The result of all these amenities and facilities is that Porthcawl NCI has been the busiest NCI station in the UK for last few years in terms of the number of incidents dealt with. There were a total of 81 incidents, 41 of which were land or beach based, 34 were due to water sports or leisure craft, with 6 other various types.
With five very good beaches in the Porthcawl NCI watch area, during the summer months, particularly when the schools are closed, the watchkeepers are kept very busy monitoring all the activities that occur. These include people dipping in the sea, open water swimmers, windsurfers, wingfoilers, kite surfers, wave surfers, kayaks, paddleboards, fishermen, vessels going in and out of the marina, etc. To help keep a close eye on these many activities, the watchkeepers have some equipment to aid their searches. There are a few sets of 7x50 selffocusing binoculars, for making a quick search of the area. Plus a pair of large high-powered binoculars that have a 45 times magnification. These can observe people on the beaches as far as 3 or 4 miles away. As the station tower has a limited viewing area, there are some sections of the coastline that are out-of-sight of the watchkeepers in the tower, so there are five CCTV cameras installed at various points around the area that monitor most of the coastline between Nash and Sker Points. They are located at Rest Bay, Sandy Bay, Newton Bay and Ogmore by Sea plus one on the roof of the station tower. The watchkeepers use a control console as the cameras can pan around and zoom in with a very high magnification. The station also has three VHF radio sets that are tuned to specific frequencies so that the watchkeepers can listen in to any emergency broadcasts, information broadcast by the coastguard and answer requests for radio checks or local weather reports. If the watchkeepers spot something they think is a possible issue, the first action is to monitor
the situation. This occurs quite frequently, perhaps a paddleboarder venturing out a bit too far and potentially approaching an area of strong current. Very often the person notices the dangers and turns around, returning to safer water close to shore. If the incident escalates and becomes a more dangerous situation, the watchkeeper will telephone the local HM Coastguard station, which is at Milford Haven. The situation is explained to the coastguard and, as they also have a link to the cameras in the Porthcawl NCI station, the coastguard can observe the situation for themselves. Unless it a very serious incident, the coastguard will usually ask the watchkeeper to monitor the situation for a short while and call again with an update. Once again, the potential casualty sometimes self-rescues and returns to a safer area, in which case the coastguard is informed that all is well. If the incident escalates and the watchkeeper and/ or coastguard decide the casualty is in danger, the coastguard will call on one or more of the
“The result of all these amenities and facilities is that Porthcawl NCI has been the busiest NCI station in the UK for last few years in terms of the number of incidents dealt with.”
Camera control unit.
Camera Monitors.
“As the NCI is a charitable organisation and purely selffunded, another activity the watchkeepers are involved in is fundraising.”
Search and Rescue organisations depending on the nature of the incident. These include the Coastguard Rescue Team, local Beach Lifeguards, the RNLI or the rescue helicopter. The watchkeepers will be asked to continue monitoring the incident, reporting back as and when required. Other ways the Porthcawl NCI station can be involved in incidents is by a call or visit from a member of the public explaining they have concerns for somebody’s safety. The HM Coastguard may call the station and ask the watchkeepers to scan a certain area with cameras due to a call to them from a member of public or from a casualty. The station is also occasionally involved with the local police if there is an issue on the shore. This could involve a missing person/ child or a despondent person possibly considering harming themselves in some way.
As the NCI is a charitable organisation and purely self-funded, another activity the watchkeepers are involved in is fundraising. Funding the NCI stations is done on a local basis, so each NCI station is responsible for raising enough funds to keep the station operational throughout the year. At Porthcawl NCI funds are raised through a variety of activities including street bucket collections, quiz nights, a choral evening event and a second-hand book stall that is located outside the station tower (when the weather permits!). The station also benefits from some local organisations adopting Porthcawl NCI as their nominated charity for various events, which is very much appreciated.
Trainee watchkeepers are usually recruited in the autumn to be trained through the quieter winter months. The training involves six theory sessions in a classroom covering subjects such as plotting positions on nautical charts, recognising buoyage and navigation marks, local geography, tides and currents, weather forecasting, identifying different vessels, VHF radio and much more. The trainees are then rostered into the station tower to continue their training with a mentor plus an additional watchkeeper. This continues until the trainees are deemed suitably trained, when they are formally assessed. All watchkeepers commit to at least four watches per month and are asked to actively support the fundraising team. The crew at Porthcawl NCI come from all walks of life, are generally retired, although quite a few fit watches around their work and there is a split of around 70% male and 30% female.
ABOUT
The NCI has 9 stations in Wales: Llandudno, Moelfre, Nells Point, Porthcawl, Porthdinllaen, Rhoscolyn, St Donat’s Bay, Wooltack Point and Worms Head. Each station has its own page on the NCI website which includes handy links to the inshore forecast, shipping forecast, pressure chart and tide times: www.nci.org.uk/stations/ For info on the Porthcawl Station or to make a donation: www.nci.org.uk/station/porthcawl/ For more info on the NCI, the work they do and how you can get involved: www.nci.org.uk.
DEEFEST
Llangollen
An inclusive whitewater paddling festival held on the iconic River Dee. Everyone is feel welcome, with events for all levels of whitewater paddler. Enjoy a weekend on the river! www.deefest.com
ANGLESEY SEA SYMPOSIUM
Anglesey
One of the longest running sea kayak events with workshops, trips, demo boats, manufacturers and the all-important social! An event full of adventure, fun and laughter. www.angleseyseakayaksymposium.co.uk
CIWW PADDLEFEST / DGRHC GŴYLBADLO
Cardiff
Paddlefest is all about building community, and the fest is as inclusive and fun as possible. With competitions throughout the day it is also about connecting with new people and catching up with old friends. www.facebook.com/cardiffintww
SHEPADDLES FESTIVAL
Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig
An unforgettable event designed for ShePaddlers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this is your chance to grow, learn, and connect with an amazing community of ShePaddlers. www.pyb.co.uk/event/shepaddles-2025/
SHEPADDLES CYMRU WHITE WATER FESTIVAL
NWWC, Bala
#SPC's sell out white water fest is back - with workshops, guided trips and a big social! www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
FISHGUARD BAY OCEAN RACE - FBOR'25
Fishguard
FBOR’25 is the 10th edition of this 17km major downwind race, with classes for ocean skis, ocean canoes and SUPs. www.fishguardoceanrace.uk
CONWY ASCENT
Deganwy
An upstream canoeing event, chasing the flood tide from Deganwy to Dolgarrog Bridge, approximately 15km away. www.dmxl.co.uk/Conwy_ascent
TRYWERYN FEST
NWWC, Bala
The original ww festival! Don't miss out on a weekend of fun on and off the water, with camping, workshops and a party. www.facebook.com/trywerynfest/
SHEPADDLES CYMRU SUMMER CELEBRATION FESTIVAL
Llandysul Paddlers
Get ready for two days packed with fun and challenges as #SPC hits the river, lake and sea! www.paddlecymru.org.uk/shepaddles#Events
SHEPADDLES CYMRU WHITE WATER FESTIVAL KARL MIDLANE
PADDLEBOARDING 35 MILES FOR CHARITY SUP for a Challenge?
ARTICLE: VICTORIA HEWITT
Have you ever had an idea that snowballed?
One minute you’re hatching a plan from the comfort of your sofa and the next you’re on the water in December, with snow falling on your board and toes that have gone numb.
In Summer 2024 I was looking for a new hobby. I’d been very active and outdoorsy in my youth, despite a genetic condition causing pain, but a fall while pregnant with my daughter sped up the decline in my health. With many of my hobbies becoming impossible, I now need a powerchair to walk my dog and try to hobble around on crutches at home. But living in South Wales I had seen people paddleboarding on local waterways and I fancied a go, so I bought one on a whim. A local paddleboarding instructor pointed me in the right direction on safety advice and I was ready to get stuck in.
As it turns out, I might not be able to walk down the street, but I can paddleboard!
By October I was completely hooked on paddling and I wanted to keep myself motivated and active over the winter. I mentioned in passing to my husband that our local canal, the Monmouthshire and Brecon, is thirty-five miles long. Theoretically, I could paddle it in threeto-five-mile sections and have the whole thing done before spring arrived. How hard could it be? A week later I was in Brecon Basin, starting a sponsored paddle to raise funds for Surfers Against Sewage, and litter picking along the way. Funny how these things happen.
Getting me on and off the water can be a bit tricky and takes some planning. First off, we
must be able to park within a few yards of the water or have wheelchair access. When we’ve found the perfect parking spot, my husband lugs my board down to the water and helps lower me down so I’m either kneeling or sitting on the paddleboard, depending on my ability that day. Once I’m on the water I’m the most independent I ever get to be these days, and it feels amazing to push myself physically again.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon canal is a beautiful waterway, weaving through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Beginning in the picturesque Brecon Basin, it meanders through the hills, passing Abergavenny on the way to Five Locks Basin in Cwmbran, where a town was inconveniently built over the canal in 1949. The wildlife to be found in and around the water includes kingfishers, eels and even a pair of ospreys who nest nearby but, despite all this natural beauty, the popularity of the canal with tourists and walkers means there is a surprising amount of litter on view. In the southern, more urban sections, the amount of rubbish was both astounding and disappointing to see.
Early on in my challenge I began picking up the odd plastic bottle or crisp packet, but I soon realised this was a bigger job than I had originally thought. A bag, in which to collect my findings, soon became an integral part of my paddling kit. After a run-in with a quadruplehooked fishing lure, leading to the use of a first aid kit during an impromptu tea break, I also invested in a ‘grabber’ to pluck the litter safely out of the water.
“LIVING
IN SOUTH
WALES I
HAD SEEN PEOPLE PADDLEBOARDING ON LOCAL WATERWAYS AND I FANCIED A GO, SO I BOUGHT ONE ON A WHIM. A LOCAL PADDLEBOARDING INSTRUCTOR POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON SAFETY ADVICE AND I WAS READY TO GET STUCK IN. AS IT TURNS OUT, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN THE STREET, BUT I CAN PADDLEBOARD!”
MIKE SPOKES
MIKE SPOKES
“AT ONE POINT I FISHED A LAUNDRY BASKET OUT OF THE CANAL AND BEGAN USING THAT TO HOLD OTHER LITTER – AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT A LAUNDRY BASKET FILLED WITH GLASS BOTTLES AND CANS SOON ADDS NOTICEABLE WEIGHT TO THE BOARD.”
Some paddling sessions were more successful than others. There were days I surprised myself with my stamina, and days when I had to pull out partway through my planned route if the pain was just too much. I try to remember that any movement is good and that it’s progress, not perfection, I’m aiming for.
Particularly on those days when it was a real struggle, I was immensely grateful for both my husband and my mum. Rusty, my husband, drives my Motability car for me as well as lugging my wheelchair and paddleboard around. He nips out to check access points for me and then takes care of me when I get home exhausted and sore. It takes me several days to recover from an activity, so he’s chief tea-maker and snack-supplier in the following days. My mum is a keen hill walker and joined me for most of this challenge. She was absolutely invaluable after Storm Darragh brought down numerous trees across the canal, forcing me to get off my board on banks which were far from ideal for an able-bodied person, let alone me. I did end up flat on my back on a muddy bank on more than one occasion and I picked up plenty of bruises, but what’s life without a little challenge in it?
As the winter rolled on, it became clear that this hobby, started largely through frustration at my lack of outdoor options (ever tried getting a twenty stone powerchair over a stile?), had
taken hold and was not going to let go. This paddleboarding lark was here to stay and I needed an upgrade from my bargain basement board. FatStick paddleboards lured me in partly due to their adaptive seat option. I had been working hard on my stamina to kneel as much as possible, but I still reached a point of intolerance long before I mentally wanted to stop and go home for the day. I took the plunge and boy am I glad I did! Aside from the board itself being a big improvement, the seat has been a game changer. I can attach it in such a way that I am able to kneel for the first part of a trip, allowing me to paddle more effectively. Then, when the pain has ramped up and I need a change of position and some more postural support, I flip the seat forward and can sit comfortably, taking the pressure off my spine and hips. Using this set up, I have increased my potential distance from three to over five miles on a good day. The last time I was able to travel five miles under my own power was over a decade and a half ago. That sense of freedom and potential, when day to day life is so limiting, cannot be underestimated.
Back on the water, equipped with my grabber, I was picking up a large bag of litter every few miles. At one point I fished a laundry basket out of the canal and began using that to hold other litter – and I can assure you that a laundry basket filled with glass bottles and cans soon adds noticeable weight to the board. Some of the stranger items I fished
MIKE SPOKES
out of the canal included a fluorescent light tube, a welly boot and a series of bright pink flowerpots!
During my challenge I joined a local group who help clean and care for the southern end of the canal. Some are other paddlers, many live or holiday on narrowboats and others just live nearby and care about our local area. Unbeknownst to me a group of them, including Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers, decided to meet me towards the end of my very last paddle of the challenge. As we passed Pontymoile Basin I was flagged down and offered tea and cake (a much-needed respite!).
A little nearer Cwmbran was a local independent journalist who had been told of my challenge and wanted to cover it for his Facebook page. As we got to the last mile though, with both Mum and me finding ourselves flagging, we began to see people waving from the canal bridges, taking photos and cheering us on. It took me a minute to truly realise they had come to see me and celebrate the end of the journey with us, it was a complete surprise! The last section was paddled with a group of walkers on the towpath encouraging me and more people, including my husband, waiting at the terminus of the canal. It felt quite moving, that a community I only knew from a Facebook group had come out on a cold January afternoon, because we have a shared love of this waterway.
As I write this, it has been a week since I completed my sponsored challenge to
paddleboard the entire navigable length of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal. My ribs are still sore from that last section but I’m already planning my next outing. The rubbish bag and grabber will remain a standard part of my paddling kit, so I can do my small part for the environment whenever I’m out enjoying our landscape, and I’m proud to have raised some money and awareness for a cause as important as clean water. But I’m also proud from a personal standpoint. Balancing on a board, inches above cold water, when balancing on dry land is challenging enough, is either brave or foolish… and I wouldn’t like to swear to which one applies for me. Perhaps both? I do believe that tenacity and the ability to adapt are important to achieving a fulfilling life. That goes for everyone, but especially for those of us who have extra barriers to overcome. Paddleboarding has offered me a new way to push myself both mentally and physically, as well as opening doors for me to contribute to accessibility in the wider paddling community. Who’d have thought so much could come from a harebrained plan conceived over a cup of tea one afternoon?
ABOUT to donate to Victoria's fundraiser for Surfers Against Sewage visit: www.tinyurl.com/yck28w25
“AS WE GOT TO THE LAST MILE ... WE BEGAN TO SEE PEOPLE WAVING FROM THE CANAL BRIDGES, TAKING PHOTOS AND CHEERING US ON. IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO TRULY REALISE THEY HAD COME TO SEE ME AND CELEBRATE THE END OF THE JOURNEY WITH US, IT WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE!”
Futaleufú
Futaleufú
WORDS: EMILY DAVIES
PHOTOS: AARON KENDALL OR AS CREDITED
The Rio Futaleufú is known for its worldclass high-volume whitewater, pools of deep blue and breath-taking backdrops. Which all results in class joy. With sections ranging from class 1 to 5, this river offers something for everyone.
I first visited the Futa in February 2022 and have been addicted since. For the last 2 years I have ventured with my partner in crime Aaron. I really think there is something special about just the two of us heading out on adventures, the Futa is one of our favourites.
NORTH WALES TO PATAGONIA
Our journey door-to-door included many flights, starting in London and arriving in Puerto Montt. We planned to travel with our kayaks, however, they didn’t make it any further than Heathrow. Fortunately, this problem had a solution; we knew there were a few options to rent out there, and it was more of an inconvenience and one that we were not going to let ruin the trip. After landing in Puerto Montt we hired a truck to drive the rest of the way, which included 3 ferries and lots of dirt roads.
Everywhere you look there are mountains, lakes, forests, rivers and volcanos. A particular highlight of mine are the penguins and dolphins you can spot from the ferries and the copious amount of friendly dogs roaming, always happy to have a fuss.
FIRST STROKES BACK ON THE FUTALEUFÚ
The first day was sorting logistics. The lovely BioBio Camp helped us sort boats and gave us a warm welcome. Once we had boats, we headed to a section called Makal. It’s a short section that’s the perfect warm up to the Futa. It has all the big waves, boils and lateral moves, but slightly more spread out than some of the other sections. At the end it opens up to where the valley widens, to showcase one of the many breath-taking angles of the valley.
As evening drew in, it was time to find our home for the next few weeks; a small Airbnb cabin at the get out Casa De Piedra rapid. It couldn’t get much better.
PUENTE PUENTE
Puente Puente means ‘bridge to bridge’ and it is the classic section of the river. We would paddle here most days. This also gave us the option to paddle Maso Manos and Casa de Piedra; two rapids after the get off that were a step up from the rest of the run. Puente Puente spans 10km and encompasses 11 rapids of consistent grade 3+/4 whitewater. The water levels vary massively, mainly due to the upstream hydro-
dam in Argentina. When we first arrived the levels were consistently high. Later in our trip they could fluctuate over a metre daily. When the river is high it makes everything faster and closer together and of course, BIG! However, when it’s lower the waves close out and more stoppers begin to form, resulting in a more technical run.
The first week it took me a while to get back in the groove of paddling a river with such volume. It means you must adapt from UK-style boating. It took some time for my head space to get used to how big the water is out there. At first it is quite intimidating how continuous it is.
With this being my third time here I found it a little easier and quicker to get back into the groove of the Futa way. The joy came back quick!
When you have blue water, blue skies, sunshine and good company, getting comfortable with flying off huge waves, cruising around big boils and having the best time ever is just so easy.
A PATAGONIAN CHRISTMAS
Spending Christmas and New Year in the Patagonian Desert is special. We had a very white Christmas but not quite your classic UK template. Swapping it for beautiful weather and whitewater. Our morning consisted of kayaking with friends from around the world then heading to the BioBio camp for an asardo; a roast lamb slow cooked over fire, shared with friends. A true Patagonia tradition.
In the New Year we were joined by friends from Wales, we moved house so we could all stay together. Having the chance to share this amazing place with friends and show them down the river was a highlight. Going from being scared and nervous myself when we first arrived to confidently leading people down really showed how far I had come.
EXPLORING LOS LAGOS
The occasional day we didn’t spend on the water we explored the local area. There was a local rodeo event in Futaleufú town, We had to see what it was about. As we quickly found out, it’s not to be mistaken for the North American rodeos – it comprises totally different rules, not a bull in sight! They are required to wear traditional huaso clothing and two horses and their riders must skilfully herd a cow around the rodeo ring.
After watching the rodeo, it was decided we would try our hand at horse riding. Not in the rodeo ring I must add, but more in the Patagonia mountains. What an experience this was. We made acquaintances with our horses and were led across and up the hillside to a small waterfall looking over the valley, it was everything and more that we could have hoped from that experience. One to remember for a lifetime.
There is also a small glacial lake named Laguna Pinilla, we walked here on one of our days off. What we hadn’t realised was it is almost the height of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). But it was well worth the walk! At the top the lake is on one side of you, and then on the other is
ANDY KETTLEWELL
the valley with the Futaleufú river. Looking down you could see how big and mighty the river really is. We all went for a swim at the top to cool off. As nice as it was to cool off it was some of the coldest water I’ve been in.
TONNAU – A NEW VENTURE
For a while I’ve had a concept, and on this trip it started to become reality. It’s named Tonnau, the welsh for Wave.
If you search for kayaking films you will find a very limited number that contain women who shred and everything that comes with that. I wanted to create a series that displays good kayaking, in cool places, with cool people but it just so happens they are all women.
One evening, while we were sat in the cabin talking about this film I wanted to make when we were back home, I was asked the question; ‘Why not start it here in Futa? We have the water, the team and the cameras to make it happen.’
So that was that, we got brain storming. It would have myself and Cara Lee as the paddlers and the rest of the gang gathering and editing the media. We took our time filming, following myself and Cara, making us look really cool and having the patience to deal with our shenanigans!
I’m really excited to share this project and you will be able to watch the first one very soon.
TODO – A MUST DO
One of the things that is a must when visiting the Futa is doing a ‘Todo’. A Todo is a complete run of the river, starting in the town of Futaleufú and running all the way down to the bottom of Makal, a total of over 60km. It’s a big day that requires snacks and sandwiches, and lots of them! It took us around 6.5hrs hours to complete and it was a first time for all of us at the river level it was at, not high but not low.
The first section of note is Inferno Canyon. It’s fairly mellow and open above, then all the water gets pushed into this narrow boxed-in canyon. That’s the start. At the first rapid we were able to hop out and have a look at what lines we wanted to take. The first one is the longest rapid and really sets the tone for the rest of the canyon. I knew if I was happy with this one, I would be good with the rest. My belly was churning with nerves but after a look at the rapid, deciding on a line and then committing to it, I was in, and it paid off. Relaxing a little bit more into it after each rapid. Once again, just breath-taking. The walls towering above you with thick forest, mountains even higher, the blue water and then the rapids, it makes you feel so small.
After Inferno Canyon comes Zeta, a rapid that is portaged most of the time. We sat on the rocks and ate our sandwiches which, by the way, were
“One of the things that is a must when visiting the Futa is doing a ‘Todo’. A Todo is a complete run of the river, starting in the town of Futaleufú and running all the way down to the bottom of Makal, a total of over 60km.”
“Following Throne Room there are endless stretches of perfectly sculpted whitewater. White Mile, Terminator and Himalayas to just name a few. This is of course followed by a celebratory beer on the back of the truck on the way home.”
a highlight for everyone. Some of the team had a look at Zeta and decided they were keen to run it. So we set up some safety and I sat with the camera at the top ready to capture. For most of us that walked around this rapid meant we had the fun, no stress choice of seal launching in, a big 20m slide!
On the flats that followed we tried our hand at some fishing to try and catch dinner, but the fish weren’t nibbling so we carried on down to Throne Room. Throne Room flows from a blissful pool, then immediately churns into massive waves and curlers resulting in a huge pillow wave off a rock at the end, with some sizeable stoppers to avoid. It looks so intimidating. I chose to walk this one, being in a half slice I didn’t fancy my chances and was not feeling completely comfortable. So, while the others had a look and chatted I found my perch on a rock at the bottom of the rapid to capture the moment with the camera.
Throughout the trip I have been playing around with the camera taking photos and filming. I really enjoyed catching shots and learning as I went along. It’s how I learn. Just playing.
Following Throne Room there are endless stretches of perfectly sculpted whitewater. White Mile, Terminator and Himalayas to just name a few. This is of course followed by a celebratory beer on the back of the truck on the way home. After a very full belly of kayaking,
sandwiches and good times it seemed right to wash it down with a cold local beer.
A day to keep in the diary. A day to remember.
THE MENTAL GAME
Whitewater kayaking, the sport is as much psychological as it is physiological. This is something I have always struggled with, even back when I competed in slalom on the international stage, and I still do now. Pushing myself into bigger and bigger water, and having those mental battles is a process. The Futa is about joy. But it is also big and feels intimidating. Big waves. Big boils. Committing rapids. I find it hard not to think of the ‘what ifs’ when I get scared or nervous. I forget that I do know how to move a kayak, the years I have got behind me and how much confidence I have in the group I’m with.
Despite being on the Futa twice previously I was just as nervous getting on for the first lap and into the first week as I was the first time. Even when the levels were higher the year previously. Even though I had paddled it with no issues before, I still ran questions of:
“What if I swim? That would be a long swim.”
“What if my asthma kicks off?”
“What if I lose my contact lenses and can’t see where I’m going, especially if I’m meant to be following someone?”
“What if all three of these things happen? Then I’m really in trouble.”
There are the ‘what ifs’ and then there’s the questioning:
“Am I good enough to be here?”
“Should I be here?”
“What if I just get in the way?”
So much runs through my mind. Getting past this can be tricky, but it helps to look at why I might be thinking this way. An example would be; if I am tired from traveling, that might be why I don’t feel like I’m paddling well. Another example, and a bit more specific to me, is where I am with my menstrual cycle. This really affects the way I feel about myself and my head space. The day we went to do the Todo, shark week had begun that morning. I wasn’t feeling good in myself before we even got on the water. Stomach cramps and feeling flat with heavy arms. Dropping into the first rapid my head was not in the right place. I looked for lines on the rapids that were clean and I’d be happy with. I began to get into the groove again after the first few rapids until one particular rapid. It had a big kicker wave on it and all the water pushed into a wall on the left and a swirly eddy on the right. I watched the paddlers in front of me go through and my head switched. I sprinted for the last eddy I could see before heading down, and had a freeze moment. I didn’t
really have much of an option but to go down and I knew this. I also knew that it wasn’t any harder than what I had already done on the run and our trip. This freeze moment I believe is a big factor of me being in shark week and day 1. It’s not usually something I would do and the way my head was thinking was almost 2 steps back from reality. Getting over this is easier said than done, and the more I do it and push myself the more I learn what works for me and I progress. I am still figuring it out, one step at a time and yes, it is a frustrating process but it is part of the sport I love and do. Sometimes it’s remembering why I do things. At the end of the day it’s because I enjoy it and it’s fun, and I love the community and what it gives me.
ABOUT Emily Davies is a raft guide and kayak coach, who was born and bred in North Wales. She is 7 times Welsh Slalom Champion and was on the GB extreme slalom team. When she's not guiding or coaching, she's paddling, and is a super-talented whitewater paddler. Insta: em.a.davies
She's also working on a new project – Tonnau – a series of films showcasing women who shred! Insta: _tonnau
“I began to get into the groove again after the first few rapids until one particular rapid. It had a big kicker wave on it and all the water pushed into a wall on the left and a swirly eddy on the right. I watched the paddlers in front of me go through and my head switched.”
Hanes gyrfa caiacio môr TAITH JAKE
Yn gynnar yn 2024, roeddem wrth ein bodd yn sicrhau grant hyfforddiant gyrfa gan Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050 — prosiect o dan Raglen ARFOR sy’n anelu at arddangos y cyfleoedd gyrfaol cyffrous a’r dyfodol disglair sydd ar gael yn rhanbarthau gorllewinol Cymru. Roedd y grant hwn wedi’i dargedu’n benodol at berson ifanc o dan 30 oed sy’n siarad Cymraeg ac yn wreiddiol o orllewin Cymru. Roeddem hefyd yn chwilio am rywun gyda diddordeb brwd yn y diwydiant antur a chanŵio môr.
Ar ôl chwilio’n helaeth am yr ymgeisydd cywir, bu ein ffrindiau yn Môn CF - sef elusen gymunedol ym Môn sy’n cefnogi unigolion i ddatblygu sgiliau a dod o hyd i waith - yn gymorth mawr wrth ein helpu i recriwtio Jake Hall-Beal. Mae Jake, sy’n 26 oed, yn wreiddiol o gefn gwlad Môn ac mae ganddo brofiad gwerthfawr yn y sector chwaraeon dŵr antur. Mae wedi hyfforddi a gweithio gyda Camp America, darparwr gwyliau antur yn Groeg, Plas Menai, a’r Môr-filwyr Ifanc. Fodd bynnag, ar ôl cau’r ffatri brosesu cyw iâr yn Llangefni yn 2023, roedd yn ei chael hi’n anodd dychwelyd i’r byd gwaith. Diolch i’r grant hwn, roedd cyfle newydd gan Jake i ailgychwyn ei yrfa yn y diwydiant antur awyr agored.
CYFARFOD CYNTAF – PRAWF
AR Y DŴR
Cwrddais i â Jake gyntaf ym mis Ebrill 2024 ar ddiwrnod hyfryd o wanwyn - heulwen gynnes, gwynt ysgafn, a llanw neap. Roedd hi’n berffaith i fynd allan o Borthdafarch ar daith geufadio môr ddatblygiadol i rîff llanw Penrhyn Mawr. O’r cychwyn cyntaf, roedd yn amlwg bod Jake yn awyddus i weithio yn yr awyr agored, yn berson cymdeithasol ac yn badlwr medrus - er bod ychydig o rwd i’w lacio. Roedd ei frwdfrydedd yn amlwg wrth iddo blymio i mewn i donnau
Penrhyn Mawr i chwarae yn y syrff. Yn fuan, fe drodd ei ganŵ, a bu’n nofio - yn gwenu drwyddo
JAKE AR EI TAITH GYNTAF GYDA CEUFADIO MOR CYMRU
GEIRIAU: GETH ROBERTS, CYD-BERCHENNOG SEA KAYAKING WALES
LLUNIAU: GETH ROBERTS, PAUL MUIR, MIRCO GOLDHAUSEN, ED LOFFILL
draw! Roedd yn amlwg bod ganddo gysur a mwynhad gwirioneddol yn yr amgylchedd morol. Sylweddolais yn syth y byddai, gyda rhywfaint o hyfforddiant targedig, yn rhagori mewn amodau deinamig ac yn dod yn ased gwerthfawr i’n tîm.
TAITH ANTUR GYNTAF - YR YNYSOEDD LLECHI, YR ALBAN
Dechreuodd Jake gymryd rhan yn ein cyrsiau hyfforddi ym Môn cyn mentro ar ei daith geufadio môr gyntaf i’r Ynysoedd Llechi yn yr Alban. Roedd y daith yn cael ei harwain gan Pete Jones, gyda thri chyfranogwr arall. Roedd Pete yn fentor perffaith - yn arwain gyda doethineb, ymwybyddiaeth diogelwch uchel, positifrwydd, ac agwedd “medrwn ni wneud hyn!”. Roedd y daith hon yn agoriad llygad i Jake—gan brofi croesiadau dŵr agored heriol, awyrgylch gwyllt, undod tîm, a’r teimlad o rannu nod cyffredin. Dysgodd hefyd lawer o wersylla - o becynnu gormod o offer, dewis bwyd maethlon, cydbwyso ei ganŵ ar gyfer sefydlogrwydd a rheolaeth, llywio mewn golwg wael, i ddewis llwybrau a safleoedd gwersylla diogel a chyfforddus.
Ymhlith uchafbwyntiau’r daith roedd y machlud a’r wawr drawiadol, a’r tanau gwersyll rhynglanwol gyda’r nos—tasg a gafodd ei neilltuo i Jake! Cafodd y grŵp bedair noson wersylla mewn lleoliadau ysblennydd, gan gynnwys Ynysoedd anghysbell Garvellach, gyda golygfeydd pell i Fwll, Colonsay, Jura ac Islay. Roedd yn brofiad llawn cyflawniad ac ysbrydoliaeth.
Yn ôl yn Ynys Môn, parhaodd Jake i fireinio ei sgiliau hanfodol mewn caiacio, gan ganolbwyntio ar reoli grwpiau, arweinyddiaeth, a thechnegau hyfforddi wedi’u cynllunio i ysbrydoli, herio, a chefnogi eraill. Fe’i syfrdanwyd gan y llwybrau caiacio môr clasurol o amgylch y Sstack Deheuol a'r Sstack Gogleddol, Y Fenai, Rhoscolyn, a’r arfordir gogleddol - pob un yn cynnig ei gyffro a’i gyfleoedd dysgu unigryw ei hun.
ANTUR ARCTIG – SENJA A KVALØYA, NORWY
Yn dilyn hyfforddi pellach ym Môn, daeth yr her fawr nesaf - taith 11 diwrnod ar draws ynysoedd Arctig Senja a Kvaløya yn Norwy. Roedd Jake yn rhan o dîm arbennig, gan badlo ochr yn ochr
“ROEDD Y DAITH HON YN AGORIAD LLYGAD I JAKE—GAN BROFI CROESIADAU DŴR AGORED HERIOL, AWYRGYLCH GWYLLT, UNDOD TÎM, A’R TEIMLAD O RANNU NOD CYFFREDIN. ”
ALLDAITH ARCTIG NORWY
ALLDAITH ARCTIG NORWY
“ERS DYCHWELYD O NORWY, MAE JAKE WEDI
PARHAU I HYFFORDDI
AC MAE WEDI DOD YN
AELOD ALLWEDDOL O’N
TÎM - YN CYNORTHWYO
CLEIENTIAID AC YN
HELPU I SEFYDLU
EIN CARTREF
BUSNES NEWYDD, CANOLFAN SKW.”
â’n harweinwyr Mirco Goldhausen, Ed Loffill, Tim Vanhoutteghem, a chriw brwdfrydig o gyfranogwyr.
Roedd y daith hon yn brofiad epigmynyddoedd serth, croesiadau môr mawr, dyfroedd clir grisial, traethau tywod gwyn, a’r awyr ffres Arctig. Y peth mwyaf trawiadol?
Padlo o dan haul canol nos - heb orfod defnyddio fflachlampau o gwbl!
Dysgodd Jake sgiliau newydd: gwersylla uwch, fforio am fwyd, gofalu am gwsmeriaid, a defnyddio maeth araf-ryddhau - fel briwgig, ffrwythau sych, cnau a physgod tun - i gadw lefelau egni’n gyson. Roedd dwy o’r diwrnodau padlo yn ymestyn dros 40 km, gan brofi dygnwch y tîm. Y wobr? Diwrnodau mwy hamddenol yn aros mewn gwersylloedd anhygoel i adfyfyrio a mwynhau’r golygfeydd.
MENTORIAID
Yn SKW, rydym yn ffodus i gael tîm amrywiol o hyfforddwyr yn darparu ein cyrsiau, gyda phob un yn dod â’u safbwynt a’u steil hyfforddi unigryw eu hunain. Wrth fyfyrio ar ei brofiadau, sylweddolodd Jake sut y lluniodd pob mentor ei ddysgu: Rhoddodd Pete ymagwedd dawel, ymwybodol o ddiogelwch ac ystyriol gydag arddull ysgafn; roedd brwdfrydedd diderfyn
a dawn adrodd straeon Mirco yn gwneud pob sesiwn yn hynod ddiddorol; roedd cyflwyniad llyfn a chain Stuart yn cyfuno elfennau o arddulliau Pete a Mirco; llwyddodd Helen i integreiddio gemau creadigol i’w dull hyfforddi, gan wneud dysgu sgiliau’n hwyl ac yn reddfol; roedd Kathy yn canolbwyntio ar feithrin gwaith tîm ac ysbrydoli cyfranogwyr; tra bod Tim ac Ed, gwir arbenigwyr anturiaethau, yn rhannu eu brwdfrydedd dwfn dros ofalu am gyfranogwyr mewn amgylcheddau anghysbell a gwyllt.
BETH NESAF I JAKE?
Ers dychwelyd o Norwy, mae Jake wedi parhau i hyfforddi ac mae wedi dod yn aelod allweddol o’n tîm - yn cynorthwyo cleientiaid ac yn helpu i sefydlu ein cartref busnes newydd, Canolfan SKW yn Uned 34a, Ystâd Ddiwydiannol Penrhos, Caergybi.
Yn ystod y tymor tawel, mae Jake wedi bod yn dysgu atgyweirio canŵod môr yn ffatri SKUK yn Holyhead, ac yn cynnal a thrwsio ein hoffer ar gyfer tymor 2025. Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd yn cymryd y camau nesaf tuag at ennill cymwysterau Arweinydd Canŵ Môr.
Mae grant Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050, ynghyd â’r cyfleoedd hyfforddi gyda Sea Kayaking Wales, wedi bod yn newid bywyd i Jake. Mae wedi
JAKE AR ALLDAITH YN YR ALBAN
GARVELLACHS
ALLDAITH ARCTIG NORWY
tyfu’n aruthrol fel canŵydd môr, arweinydd ac anturiaethwr. Mae ei daith ond megis dechrau, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld ble fydd ei her nesaf yn ei arwain!
BETH NESAF I CEUFADIO MÔR
CYMRU/SEA KAYAKING WALES?
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i ddatblygu cymuned geufadio môr y DU a’r byd - yn enwedig drwy gefnogi pobl ifanc i adeiladu gyrfaoedd mewn chwaraeon dŵr antur. Anglesey eisoes yn ganolfan fyd-eang ar gyfer hyfforddiant ceufadio môr, a’n nod yw cryfhau’r statws hwn ymhellach.
Byddwn yn parhau i gydweithio gyda Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050, Mon CF, Paddle Cymru, busnesau ceufadio Môn, ffatrïoedd canŵ môr lleol ac ysgolion addysg i greu rhagor o lwybrau i’r diwydiant.
Mae Ynys Môn eisoes yn ganolfan hanfodol o fewn rhwydwaith caiacio môr byd-eang, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i'w datblygu ymhellach fel cyrchfan hyfforddi flaenllaw. Drwy feithrin cyfleoedd hyfforddi a chyflogaeth, cefnogi gweithgynhyrchwyr caiac môr lleol, a chyfrannu at yr economi ehangach, ein nod yw atgyfnerthu enw da Ynys Môn fel canolfan caiacio môr o safon fyd-eang.
Wrth edrych i’r dyfodol, rydym wedi ymrwymo
i ehangu ein hymdrechion i greu cyfleoedd gyrfa i bobl ifanc drwy gydweithio ymhellach gyda Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050, Môn CF, Paddle Cymru, busnesau caiacio môr eraill Ynys Môn, gweithgynhyrchwyr caiac môr lleol, a sefydliadau addysgol. Gyda’n gilydd, ein nod yw creu mwy o lwybrau i mewn i’r diwydiant, gan roi’r hyfforddiant a’r cyfleoedd sydd eu hangen ar weithwyr proffesiynol uchelgeisiol i adeiladu gyrfaoedd llwyddiannus mewn chwaraeon dŵr anturus. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn dechrau neu ddatblygu gyrfa ym maes ceufadio môr, cysylltwch â ni - byddem wrth ein bodd yn helpu!
YNGLŶN
Â
Mae Sea Kayaking Wales wedi’i leoli yng Nghaergybi ac yn darparu hyfforddiant caiac môr ac arwain trwy gyrsiau ac anturiaethau wedi’u teilwra. Er bod hyn yn bennaf ar Ynys Môn maent hefyd yn cynnig cyrsiau, gwyliau a theithiau yn Sir Benfro, yr Alban, Norwy a Chroatia. Geth@seakayakingwales.com www.seakayakingwales.com Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050 i ddarganfod mwy am hyn a rhaglen ARFOR: www.llwyddonlleol2050.cymru
“MAE WEDI TYFU’N ARUTHROL FEL CANŴYDD MÔR, ARWEINYDD AC
ANTURIAETHWR. MAE EI DAITH OND MEGIS DECHRAU, AC EDRYCHWN YMLAEN AT WELD BLE FYDD EI HER NESAF YN EI ARWAIN! ”
JAKE AR ALLDAITH YN YR ALBAN
HYFFORDDI AR YNYS MON
KIRSTY A GETH ROBERTS YN CANOLFAN SKW CAERGYBI
The story of a sea kayaking career JAKE'S JOURNEY
At the start of 2024, we were thrilled to secure a career training grant from Llwyddo'n Lleol 2050, a project under the ARFOR Programme dedicated to showcasing the exciting career opportunities and bright future available in Wales' western regions. This grant was specifically aimed at supporting a Welsh-speaking young person (under 30) originally from western Wales. We also needed the candidate to have a keen interest in the adventure industry and kayaking.
After an extensive search for the right candidate, our friends at Mon CF – a community-owned charity in Anglesey that helps individuals upskill and find employment – assisted us in recruiting Jake Hall-Beal. Jake, 26, grew up in rural Anglesey and has valuable experience in the water sports adventure sector, having trained and worked with Camp America, an adventure holiday provider in Greece, Plas Menai, and the Sea Cadets. However, following the closure of the chicken processing plant in Llangefni in 2023, he faced challenges in re-entering the workforce. Thanks to this grant, Jake now could reignite his career in the outdoor adventure industry.
FIRST MEETING — TESTING OUR SKILLS ON THE WATER
I first met Jake in April 2024 on a stunning spring day – warm sunshine, light winds, and a gentle neap tide. Naturally, we set off from Porthdafarch for a progressive sea kayaking journey to Penrhyn Mawr tiderace. My initial impression of Jake was overwhelmingly positive: he was eager to work in the outdoors, personable, and clearly a competent paddler, albeit with some rust to shake off. His enthusiasm was evident as he launched into the Penrhyn Mawr rapids, playing in the surf. Before long, he capsized and swam –embracing the experience with comfort and joy.
WORDS: GETH ROBERTS,CO-OWNER OF SEA KAYAKING WALES
PHOTOS: GETH ROBERTS, PAUL MUIR, MIRCO GOLDHAUSEN, ED LOFFILL
It was clear that with some focused coaching, he would thrive in dynamic conditions and become an asset to our team.
FIRST EXPEDITION — THE SLATE ISLES, SCOTLAND
Jake quickly immersed himself in our Anglesey training courses before embarking on his first sea kayaking expedition to the Slate Isles, Scotland. Led by Pete Jones, the trip included three other participants, and Pete proved to be the ideal first expedition mentor – combining mindfulness, safety awareness, positivity, and a "can-do" attitude. This journey introduced Jake to the magic of sea kayak expeditions: committing open-water crossings, the wilderness atmosphere, the bond of teamwork, and the shared sense of purpose. He also encountered valuable challenges, such as packing too much gear, making smart nutrition choices, trimming his kayak for stability and control, navigating in poor visibility, and selecting routes and campsites that balanced both enjoyment and safety.
Among the expedition’s many highlights were
the breath-taking sunrises and sunsets, as well as the evening intertidal campfires – important responsibility delegated to Jake. The journey took them through four different camping locations, including the remote and beautiful Garvellach Islands, with distant views of Mull, Colonsay, Jura, and Islay. By the end of the trip, Jake had gained a deep sense of achievement and a newfound appreciation for expedition life.
Back in Anglesey, Jake continued refining his core kayaking skills, diving into group management, leadership, and coaching techniques designed to inspire, challenge, and support others. He was blown away by the classic sea kayak routes around South and North Stack, the Menai Straits, Rhoscolyn, and the North Coast – each offering its own unique thrills and learning opportunities.
ARCTIC ADVENTURE – SENJA TO KVALØYA, NORWAY
The next big adventure with Sea Kayaking Wales (SKW) took Jake even further: an 11-day expedition across the Arctic islands of Senja and
“THIS JOURNEY INTRODUCED JAKE TO THE MAGIC OF SEA KAYAK EXPEDITIONS: COMMITTING OPENWATER CROSSINGS, THE WILDERNESS ATMOSPHERE, THE BOND OF TEAMWORK, AND THE SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE. ”
ARCTIC NORWAY EXPEDITION
ARCTIC NORWAY EXPEDITION
“SINCE RETURNING FROM NORWAY, JAKE HAS CONTINUED HIS TRAINING AND HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY USEFUL MEMBER OF OUR TEAM – SUPPORTING OUR CLIENTS AND PLAYING A ROLE IN SETTING UP OUR NEW BUSINESS HOME, THE CANOLFAN SKW CENTRE.”
Kvaløya in Norway. Accompanied by SKW leaders Mirco Goldhausen, Ed Loffill, Tim Vanhoutteghem, and an incredible team of participants, Jake embarked on his first international kayaking adventure. Excitement mixed with trepidation as he prepared for the journey, but with Ed and Mirco’s support, the transition from North Wales to the starting point on Senja – via Oslo and Tromsø – went smoothly.
The expedition was nothing short of extraordinary. Towering jagged mountains, big sea crossings, crystal-clear coastal waters, white sandy beaches, and the fresh Arctic air created an unforgettable setting. The most surreal experience was paddling under the midnight sun –where the sun dipped towards the horizon only to rise again, making torches entirely unnecessary.
Adventure travel on this trip brought new lessons for Jake: advanced campcraft, foraging, and client care from Tim; mindful, present-moment paddling from Neil; and slow-energy nutrition strategies shared by the group – porridge, dried fruit, nuts, and tinned fish became expedition staples. The team tackled two long 40km paddling days with open crossings, pushing their endurance and resilience. The reward? Restful layovers at well-chosen camp spots, where they stayed for consecutive nights to soak in the beauty and reflect on their achievements.
MENTORS
At SKW, we’re fortunate to have a diverse team of coaches delivering our courses, each bringing their own unique perspective and coaching style. Jake reflected on how each mentor shaped his learning: Pete instilled a calm, safety-conscious, and mindful approach with a light touch; Mirco’s boundless enthusiasm and storytelling made every session engaging; Stuart’s smooth and polished delivery blended elements of both Pete and Mirco’s styles; Helen infused her coaching with creative games, making skill development fun and intuitive; Kathy focused on fostering teamwork and empowering participants; while Tim and Ed, true expedition gurus, shared their deep passion for participant care in remote and wild environments.
WHAT NEXT FOR JAKE?
Since returning from Norway, Jake has continued his training and has become an increasingly useful member of our team – supporting our clients and playing a role in setting up our new business home, the Canolfan SKW Centre at Unit 34a, Penrhos Industrial Estate, Holyhead. During the off-season, Jake has been honing his kayaking skills and learning sea kayak repairs at the SKUK Sea Kayak factory in Holyhead, as well as maintaining and repairing our equipment in preparation for the 2025 season. Looking ahead,
ARCTIC NORWAY EXPEDITION JAKE ON EXPEDITION IN SCOTLAND
GARVELLACHS
we hope to see him take the next steps toward achieving Sea Kayak Leader qualifications.
The Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050 grant, combined with the training opportunities at Sea Kayaking Wales, have been truly life-changing for Jake – equipping him with invaluable skills for a future career in adventure tourism in North West Wales. With each experience, he has grown immensely as a sea kayaker, leader, and adventurer. His journey is only just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where the next challenge takes him!
WHAT NEXT FOR SEA KAYAKING WALES?
At Sea Kayaking Wales, we are dedicated to growing, supporting, and strengthening both the UK and international sea kayaking communities. A key part of our mission is to help young people forge careers in the adventure watersports industry, providing them with the skills, experience, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Anglesey is already a vital hub within the global sea kayaking network, and we are committed to further developing it as a premier training destination. By fostering coaching and employment opportunities, supporting local sea kayak manufacturers, and contributing to the wider economy, we aim to solidify Anglesey’s reputation as a world-class centre for sea kayaking.
Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our youth career opportunity efforts by further collaborating with Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050, Mon CF, Paddle Cymru, Anglesey’s other sea kayaking businesses, local sea kayak manufacturers, and educational institutions. Together, we aim to create more pathways into the industry, providing aspiring professionals with the training and opportunities needed to build successful careers in adventure watersports.
If you're looking to start or advance your career in sea kayaking or help the associated Anglesey sea kayak training consortium, we’d love to hear from you – get in touch and let’s explore how we can help.
ABOUTSea Kayaking Wales are based in Holyhead and provide sea kayak coaching and guiding through courses and tailor made adventures. Although this is mainly on Anglesey they also offer courses, holidays and expeditions in Pembrokeshire, Scotland, Norway and Croatia.
Geth@seakayakingwales.com www.seakayakingwales.com
Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050 to find out more about this and the AFOR programme: www.llwyddonlleol2050.cymru/en/
“WITH EACH EXPERIENCE, HE HAS GROWN IMMENSELY AS A SEA KAYAKER, LEADER, AND ADVENTURER. HIS JOURNEY IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING, AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHERE THE NEXT CHALLENGE TAKES HIM!”
JAKE ON EXPEDITION IN SCOTLAND
TRAINING ON ANGLESEY
KIRSTY AND GETH ROBERTS OUTSIDE THE NEW CANOLFAN SKW CENTRE
Q&A Cardiff Canoe Club Club of the Year
“NEWCOMERS CAN EXPECT A SUPPORTIVE, EXPERIENCED AND ENCOURAGING COACHING AND LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ARE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING PADDLESPORT RELATED AND HELP SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE.”
Cardiff Canoe Club was established in 1973 and since then has grown into one of the largest clubs in Wales, with around 140 members. They are also one of the most active, offering a host of activities, from beginner’s pool sessions to regular trips to Cosmeston Lake, CIWW and local rivers, plus weekends on the sea and ww trips to the Alps. A family-friendly club with paddlers from a range of disciplines, ages and abilities, they cater to the diverse interests and preferences of their members, no matter what type of paddlesport they are interested in. So it's no surprise they were named the Club of the Year at last year's Canoe Wales Awards. Ceufad dropped them a line to find out more ...
What is the club’s main focus and what does it offer paddlers and newcomers to the sport?
Cardiff Canoe Club is all about building a community of paddlers who want to get on the water, irrespective of backgrounds and abilities. We’re more intune with the adventurous side of the sport rather than the competition side. So, our offering is based on giving people a place to learn and improve, whilst taking them to cool places to do it. Outside of our weekly sessions our calendar is made up of whitewater and sea kayaking trips that allow us to do just this.
Newcomers can expect a supportive, experienced and encouraging coaching and leadership team who are excited to talk about anything paddlesport related and help share the knowledge they have. Experienced paddlers will get access to our trips and network of paddlers who are looking to get out at every opportunity. When the rain comes, we’re all out paddling, when it isn’t we’re watching the forecast and planning for when it does.
Anyone that wants to get in a boat in South Wales would get a lot from our offering. To help support this, we’ve set up a cheaper long distance membership option for those that live a little further away, but want to join the club for weekend trips and make the most of what South Wales has to give!
You offer a great route into the sport for newcomers; a 3-week beginners’ course in Cardiff International Pool. How popular is this and how many paddlers stay with the club? We’ve seen a growing interest in paddlesports and we see around 50 to 70 people attend our beginners’ sessions each year. These are mostly people coming to the sport for the first time, and occasionally people who have had an extended break from the sport and want to start again with a strong foundation. Many participants go on to become members, with some of our leaders coming into the sport through this avenue. Not everyone joins the club afterwards, but we aim to give them a safe and fun glimpse of what the club offers, as well as a decent foundation of skills that they can build on, no matter their chosen path.
You run a lot of activities; pool and lake sessions, trips on rivers and the sea, BBQs and camping trips … How do you schedule and organise your club’s activities, calendar, transport and kit? Yes, we do! The 2024 calendar contained 78 formal events, alongside all the ad hoc trips and peer paddles that our members organise. The majority of these are the club’s weekly sessions hosted at Cardiff International Pool over the winter, and Radyr and Cosmeston Lakes over the summer; and our river trips that see club paddles of all difficulties twice a month. These
are backed up with weekend trips such as Pembrokeshire sea kayaking and Llandysul and Dartmoor for whitewater.
We’ve got pretty good at scheduling, with apps, website and calendar tools. And we rely heavily on our dedicated committee and our tireless group of leaders, who have a lot of experience and local knowledge. As so many of our sessions are on the rivers, there are often last-minute scrambles to find the right fit for the group on the day. The organisation and kit needs differ based on the events, we’re lucky to have boat storage in the pool for our fleet of pool boats and we store our river/sea boats, paddleboards and canoes between a container and a trailer. So much of the kit organisation comes down to our key members who take it on themselves to tow the trailer and bring kit along. We really couldn’t do it without them! As the club is for our members, the kit is theirs, so we also work to instil a culture of them taking ownership to transport and dry and return kit where they can.
What are your most popular activities/sessions?
The honest answer is, all of them! We’ve always had a strong whitewater and sea kayaking element to our club and our weekly sessions are always popular, but we pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of paddling experiences, and our members embrace that variety. A particularly
“WE’VE ALWAYS HAD A STRONG WHITEWATER AND SEA KAYAKING ELEMENT TO OUR CLUB AND OUR WEEKLY SESSIONS ARE ALWAYS POPULAR, BUT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OFFERING A DIVERSE RANGE OF PADDLING EXPERIENCES, AND OUR MEMBERS EMBRACE THAT VARIETY. ”
busy day a year ago showcased the breadth of our activities, with members enjoying a sea kayaking trip, a whitewater peer paddle, a session at CIWW, and others out on SUPs – all on the same day! In a club like ours, catering to diverse interests is key, so we continually strive to build capacity and offer something for everyone.
Running regular sessions and trips must require a fair number of coaches and leaders – how do you ensure you have coaches and leaders?
It certainly does, and with the growth in the sport in recent years we’ve only seen the demand increase. We have developed a culture of recognising and nurturing talent within our paddlers and helping them through qualifications and certifications. This results in a consistent throughput of instructors, coaches, and leaders. At the time of writing, we have 15 Paddlesport Instructors (over 10% of our membership!) and 4 BCAB-qualified leaders. With many more in the pipeline. To this end, we rarely have a shortage of qualified members to run beginner trips, meet our ratios for club nights, or to run river trips. The best part is that almost all our training costs have been covered by grants or partnerships, meaning the cost to our members is minimal!
Developing coaches and leaders and providing equipment, transport etc, comes at a cost; how do you fund this?
It does indeed, and without the support of the governing body and various community groups and organisation, a club like ours wouldn’t be possible. We’re really lucky that we have some keen contributors who are great at identifying the needs of the club, trends of the sport and applying for outside grants and funding to help build the club capacity. We’ve been able to make great use of the SportsWales funding alongside a few others to buy equipment and cover the cost of training. The majority of our members won’t have to pay anything towards the costs of their BC/PUK training!
We also have a few key players when it comes to maintaining kit, meaning we can make the kit we do have last and get the most life out of it!
You also support other organisations and events; organising a Big Paddle Clean Up on the Taff, fundraising for Western Beacons MRT and helping with safety cover at the Cardiff Bay Triathlon. Is this an important aspect of the club?
We recognise that as a club we play a part in the community, and the public will see us out and about on our local rivers. With that in mind we want to help create a positive image of paddlesports. Helping with events like the triathlon gives good exposure and a chance to show the value of our sport in a popular event.
When looking for a suitable charitable cause, selecting WBMRT was a no-brainer. Some of our members are also part of MRT and other rescue services, and they all volunteer their time and risk their lives to rescue people in our patch. It seemed logical to recognise and support their work.
River clean-ups are important to us as well, the amount of rubbish that ends up in our waterways is tragic and, for us, it is up close and personal. There are already some great local groups that are actively cleaning up the banks, like Cardiff Rivers Group, so we want to do our part and clean the areas of the river they can’t reach as easily. The South Wales valleys watershed and the Taff in particular are our ‘Afonydd Cartref’ (Home Rivers), so it’s the least we can do to make them a little better, cleaner, and safer.
The club does a lot – both for its members and within the community, which requires time and effort. How do you manage this?
Like every club, it all comes down to the key people that help it run, without them none of this would happen. Our volunteer coaches and leaders aren’t heavily rewarded for the time and effort they put in, they just do it for the passion they have in the sport and the enjoyment that they get from sharing that passion. At the committee level, we do our best to ensure the load is balanced out and those that help feel recognised for the hard work they put in. We’re very fortunate as a club to have great members.
In the fifty years since the club was established paddlesport has developed considerably. Have you noticed how paddlesport interests have changed and how does the club respond to this? Paddlesports have seen a dramatic evolution over the past half-century, driven by technological advancements and shifting interests. As a club, the most significant of these have been: equipment, access, and craft.
Fifty years ago, a single four-metre fiberglass kayak had to do everything — white water, slalom, surfing, and sea paddling — all with inherent limitations. Now, specialized thermoplastic kayaks designed for specific disciplines have shattered those limits, pushing the boundaries of what's possible (and thankfully, eliminating the need for weekly repairs!). Coupled with advancements in drysuits, personal flotation devices (PFDs), and other personal gear, the entire landscape of the sport has been transformed. Accessibility of information has made a big difference to our ability to access paddlesports. Whether that is beta, weather forecasts or river gauges; access to information about where to find the best conditions for paddling has transformed our ability to be in the right place at the right time to catch the ideal conditions for a great day on the water. There is far less guesswork or driving around to check water levels or conditions! Planning club trips and matching paddlers to
“WE RECOGNISE THAT AS A CLUB WE PLAY A PART IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PUBLIC WILL SEE US OUT AND ABOUT ON OUR LOCAL RIVERS. WITH THAT IN MIND WE WANT TO HELP CREATE A POSITIVE IMAGE OF PADDLESPORTS.”
“OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS THE LACK OF A PERMANENT BASE OR CLUBHOUSE. THIS NOMADIC EXISTENCE PUTS A STRAIN ON OUR DEDICATED COACHES AND ORGANISERS, WHO MUST CONSTANTLY COORDINATE EQUIPMENT STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND MEETING LOCATIONS.”
suitable trips is now significantly easier. We've also seen a diversification of interests with the introduction of open canoes, sit-on-top kayaks (SOTs), and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), broadening the sport's appeal. Recognizing that equipment advancements have driven many of these changes, the club maintains a diverse fleet of craft for members to try and use.
Paddlesports are a dynamic pursuit and things are constantly evolving. To remain relevant and continue to provide adventure to our members, we need to be a bit dynamic and evolve with the sport. We’re lucky we have the members and flexibility to do that.
The requirements from NGBs have developed considerably over 50 years too, how does the club manage this?
We have a good relationship with Paddle Cymru and hope that we are seen as supportive of the broader sport and not just seeking to serve our own needs as a club. The most notable change is the Standard for Deployment expectations. There has been a fair bit of work to do here, but we have been fortunate that the new expectations are not a million miles away from where we have been before. We’re pleased to see there is an opportunity to have volunteers at times able to act outside their remit (with appropriate
risk assessment and considerations given of course). We’re definitely a believer that whilst qualifications may be the clearest indicator of capability, they should not be considered the only indicator of capability.
It would be good to further a discussion with Paddle Cymru and other home nation NGBs to understand if the qualification framework could better suit clubs and volunteers in a more tailored way.
Beyond the erratic nature of paddlesport, what are the biggest challenges for the club?
Our biggest challenge is the lack of a permanent base or clubhouse. This nomadic existence puts a strain on our dedicated coaches and organisers, who must constantly coordinate equipment storage, transportation, and meeting locations. Without a central hub, simple tasks like distributing information, holding meetings, or even just storing club gear become logistically complex and time-consuming. This added burden often falls on the shoulders of volunteers who are already giving generously of their time, making their efforts even more commendable and highlighting the need for a more permanent solution. It also limits our ability to develop a stronger sense of community and hinders some of the social aspects of club life.
IAN JENNINGS
Given the success and popularity of the club it’s no wonder you were named the Club of the Year. How does it feel to win the award?
There are so many great clubs in Wales, it feels humbling to be recognised among these. For us, the award is a testament to our great members, the dedicated committee and our tireless volunteers that keep the club ticking. We hope they feel pride in the award and are motivated to keep up the good work!
What are your plans for 2025 and beyond? Ultimately, more good days on the water, that's what this is all about. To achieve this, we're committed to continuous improvement, both internally for our members and externally in terms of our connections and influence. Strengthening ties with the local community and further integrating with the wider paddling scene are also key priorities for us this year. We would love to see a strong network of clubs in South Wales and beyond. So, if any clubs out there are
interested in paddling together or holding any joint events, let us know!
Behind the scenes, we're also working towards some exciting long-term goals that we believe will take the club to the next level. Watch this space!
ABOUTCCC is predominantly paddlers from Cardiff and the local region, but it offers a great value Long Distance membership, available to people who live outside the region but want to find people to paddle with in South Wales. The Club has members from around the UK and even into Europe and the US.
The club runs regular sessions at Cardiff International Pool, Cosmeston Lake and Radyr, as well as river and sea trips. They are a family-friendly club and welcome all ages and abilities. For more info: www.cardiffcanoeclub.com
“ULTIMATELY, MORE GOOD DAYS ON THE WATER, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, BOTH INTERNALLY FOR OUR MEMBERS AND EXTERNALLY IN TERMS OF OUR CONNECTIONS AND INFLUENCE.”
