BCAB Coaching Podcast

S6 Ep.9 Coaching White Water Kayaking - Refining your Technique with Ian Adey

Ian Adey is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching white water kayaking.

Ian is a Level 5 Kayak Coach and Advanced Canoe Coach who runs Kinetic Paddlesports based in the Lake District. He got hooked on watersports in his early teens and is still obsessed.

Ian is passionate about passing on the most up to date technical knowledge and modern techniques.  His focus is on explaining paddling with simple terms, free of jargon. He is a firm believer that what we coach beginner and intermediate paddlers should still work in advanced conditions, and continue to work wherever people take their paddling.

The topics discussed by Chris and Ian include:

• Common misconceptions for white water paddling
• Edging vs leaning
• Vertical paddle strokes
• Self-analysis and use of video when coaching
• Evolution of white water techniques
• Remembering to play on the river

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.8 The Complex Role of the Race Coach with Hannah Brown - Maximising Performance in Paddling

Hannah Brown is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching racing.

Hannah currently works as a Podium Technical Coach within the Great British Paranoe team in Nottingham, recently returned from the most successful Paralympic Games in Paris. Previous to this she has spent nearly two decades enjoying a range of racing disciplines in paddlesport, ranging from winning World Championships in Wild Water Racing to being a long standing member of the Sprint Canoe Women's Kayak Team. Still coaching across the pathways in Wild Water racing, she brings a naturally analytic view of coaching from her background in Performance Analysis, alongside a range of coaching skills from different experiences within race disciplines. 

The topics discussed by Chris and Hannah include:

• The complex role of a race coach
• Identifying areas for small competitive gains
• The balance of technical and physical aspects of paddling race craft
• Using modern tools and data to enhance coaching
• Life long performance in race paddling

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

 

S6 Ep.7 Thrilling Adventures - Coaching Sea Kayaking, SUP, Packrafting and Expedition Canoeing with Matt Haydock and Dave Janes Jnr.

Matt Haydock and Dave Janes are the guests for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching sea kayaking, SUP, packrafting and expedition canoeing!

Matt Haydock and Dave Janes are the founders and lead coaches/guides for Paddle International. As well as being best friends, they are two highly experienced and qualified paddlesport professionals, who have both worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, including both national centres. They are multi-disciplined paddlers and coaches - working and playing in sea kayaks, white water kayaks, open canoe, SUP and packraft. They also both work as National Trainers for Paddle UK - not only working as leadership and coach educators, but also training/assessing other providers.  Matt (based in Scotland) and Dave (based in North Wales) are also experienced and practiced expeditioners, passionate about, and driven by, adventure. They have undertaken and led expeditions in the far corners of the world, from the Nepalese Himalaya, most of Europe, and North America; and love sharing and supporting challenging wilderness experiences with others.

The topics discussed include:

• Changing gears in a sea kayak
• Crossing over from white water to tide races
• Coaching packrafting
• Expedition paddling in canoes
• Exploring decision making with students

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

 

S6 Ep.6 Canoe Twister: Playful approaches to Canoe coaching with Beth Wallis

Beth Wallis  is the guest for this episode of the podcast, talking about introducing beginners to canoe paddling.

Beth is an active paddlesports coach based in Scotland and runs her own business Explore-Connect-Enjoy.  In all of her coaching she incorporates the values of integrity, inclusion, excellence, safety, treading lightly, play and curiosity.  She is a performance coach, loves to introduce beginners to the water and brings people together to enjoy adventures in a wonderful environment.

The topics discussed by Chris and Beth include:

• Making a canoe go
• Canoe twister
• Exploring simple canoe skills and concepts with beginners
• Teaching canoeing through exploration and play

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.5 Mastering loops, spins, and cartwheels in Freestyle with Tamsyn McConchie

Tamsyn McConchie is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching freestyle.

Tamsyn is an active freestyle, white water and polo coach who is exceptionally active on the water coaching, as well as competing for Team GB.  She runs her own business called Wetrock, running regular freestyle coaching sessions for paddlers at all levels and abilities.  

In this episode, the topics discussed by Chris and Tamsyn include:

• Physical fundamentals for freestyle
• Learning to loop, cartwheel and spin
• Technical tips for coaching freestyle
• Breaking freestyle moves down into different phases

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.4 How Slalom can make you a better coach with Gareth Wilson

Gareth Wilson is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching slalom.

Gareth holds a Level 4 Coach Award and works full time at Lee Valley in his role as Podium Technical Coach. He has a broad experience of paddlesport, from running rivers in the South Alps, jumping in C2s at National Sprint Regattas to raft racing in Costa Rica and canoe touring the Dordogne. However, he has spent the last 28 years learning, competing and coaching canoe slalom in the UK and across the world. 

The topics discussed by Chris and Gareth include:

• Coaching slalom using creative challenges
• Developing adaptability in a paddler’s technique
• How to encourage longevity in the sport by developing the whole paddler
• Developing novice and elite level paddlers
• Using flat water as a training tool

If you have any questions for Gareth, please message: gareth.wilson@paddleuk.org.uk.

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.3 Coaching Canoeing with Sarah Keight

Sarah Keight is a canoe coach who enjoys sharing her passion for one blade and big boats, tapping into her sport science and educational background to support her learners. Sarah runs her own business – SKapades, providing a range of training, development and adventurous experiences.

The topics discussed by Chris and Sarah include:

• Ways coaches can introduce beginners to trad canoe
• Is the J Stroke an over coached technique?
• Exploring river skills such breaking in and out and how to coach them
• Coaching skills such as poling, tracking and sailing

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.2 TALENT Helping paddlers to understand their why with Ciara Sampson

This podcast episode is brought to you by the England Talent Programme where Daniel Thompson (Slalom Foundations and Support Lead) and Ciara Sampson (Volunteer Psychologist for the England Slalom Talent Programme) discuss the topic of purpose.

In this podcast episode we'll discuss the importance of having a purpose, how this can help to set goals, the importance of having an athletic identity and the role that a coach and parent can play in this. 

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S6 Ep.1 White Water Kayaking with Jamie Greenhalgh

In this episode, Chris Brain and Jamie Greenhalgh discuss what are the most important skills that a coach could develop with a new, novice white water paddler. If you're a seasoned paddler looking for new ideas or a coach seeking fresh perspectives, you won't want to miss this episode!

Jamie is a white water kayaking coach and is on the BCAB White Water Tech Group. His business, Paddle365, delivers white water skills courses throughout the year as well as white water leadership and safety training for Paddle UK. His approach to coaching prioritises learning through adventure and challenge, and helping paddlers to feel the joy of skillful movement in a boat.

To download the transcript for this episode click here.

S5 Ep.14 Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Height Management with Adam Burns and Anthony Ing

On today's podcast with Lee Pooley, Adam Burns and Anthony Ing share their knowledge and experience of white water SUP height management and how we can improve our stability and safety on the board.

Adam has worked in paddlesport since 2008 and is a qualified Coach up to Advanced level. He is an active paddleboarder and kayaker, which led him to becoming a course provider and national trainer.  Adam has recently taken up the role of Development Manager with Paddle Scotland.

Anthony is a specialist in white water with a wealth of river experience.  An accomplished instructor dedicated to unlocking the potential in everyone, Anthony navigated his way up the coaching ladder to become the youngest to achieve the highest BCU qualification, the Level 5 Coach. Anthony is currently a technical advisor for Paddle UK and coach educator in white water SUP. 

To download the transcript for this episode click here.