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“To help an individual discover their own physical, mental and spiritual potential.” With these words, Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, was established, starting a 70-year history, which has seen thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds, either start their outdoor adventures, or turn their passion into a career.
By Dan Gavere Photos: Toby Bromwich Paddling whitewater on a SUP has many challenges but the payoffs are big and we’re seeing growth in the whitewater part of the sport for several very easy to recognize reasons.
1. Compared to kayaking, SUP is much less intimidating when it comes to getting on the river, plus the barrier for entry is safer and generally easier to learn. When it comes to capsizing, being on a SUP is so much easier, safer and less disorientating than being upside down in a kayak, especially when paddling rocky rapids where striking your head and face is obviously a concern. On a SUP you flip it over, crawl back on and keep going. In a kayak when you flip over and cannot roll up or miss your roll, it can be a hard slog to get to the river bank and at times takes a rescue from others as well on the side. 2. Many paddling locations and outfits have embraced SUP with professional instruction making the beginner stages easier and more fun. 3. There are more and more experienced SUP paddlers looking to expand their SUP adventures each year. 4. There are so many great locations near urban areas, from purpose-built whitewater play parks to natural flowing rivers through towns all over the world, especially in mountain towns. It’s natural for the people who are watching and witnessing the fun paddlers are having to be saying to themselves, “That looks like fun, I can do that.”
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