4 Star White Water Training Course - North Wales 6 - 7th November 2010

8 candidates arrived well prepared for this course, with lots of varied experience and very different skills. I was working with Kevin Edwards on this course,always a great pleasure as he always adds real value to the courses.

We decided to use the Llugrwy on the first day, from Pont-cy- fan to the camp, really ideal to discover your students on day 1, work on Line of sight and student basic skills. Although a little "boney" on the second run down this proved an ideal lead into day 2 .

We spent the second day on the upper Conwy, again ideal conditions and challenging for the candidates on very different water. A successful weekend, with positive outcomes for all and varied action plans for all students. Thank you to the stray paddler - David who hitched a lift and a trip with the group down the river.

White Water Safety & Rescue Training 30 - 31st October 10

A full course of 12 candidates from Cadet Centre for Adventure Training CCAT, North Wales, i was working with Jules Burnard, a river safety legend with vast experience. The candidates were all very keen, and the water conditions suited the course fantastically.

We decided to stay local for the two days and Forestry Falls which is conveniently located right behind our accommodation for the weekend, so no travel time and loss of training time. A great spot, and fairly quiet on both days

BCU-UKCC Level 1 & FSRT - Rock and River - South Lakes - 25th - 29th October 10

 A really fantastic week spent at the Rock and River centre, always relaxed and very professional. We we housed in the newly refurbished bunk house which was very plesant and more than met our requirments. The candidates had a real fast track introduction to paddle sport and completed their new 2 star the day before we arrived to run the FSRT course.The weather was challenging , both for the students and the delivery team.

 We manged to get most of the syllabus completed ,and filtered the rest into the BCU-UKCC Level 1 course. The students were a real mixture, heavily subscribed with the Merseyside Police Force with the remainder being made up from local college lecturers. A great group with lots of banter, so thanks for the maintaining moral during some pretty hostile weather.

We decided to use the facilities on site for the majority of the course, but did venture out to the Leeds- Liverpool canal for a change of scenery, fish and chips and to introduce candidates to other level 1 venues and off site risk assessments controlled by higher level coaches of course...

Good luck with your coaching and hopefully see some of you back on future courses..

UKCC Level 2 training course - 23 -24th October 10

This course was organised through CCAT in north Wales. We managed to have only seven students on the course, but the best seven student you could wish for. Very enthusiastic and fielding lots of questions. Most even arrived with the full prerequisites and portfolios to hand, so a very positive start to the split course weekend. We spent most of the first weekend discovering, memory management, coaching styles, delivery methods, feedback and practice structures. A little heavy going for the candidates at times, but well balanced with the use of the lake at Llanberis.

We were blessed with fantastic weather for both weekends, especially considering the time of year and the fact we were operating over the border.Overall a great course with some really fantastic coaches in the making, you just need to get the hard bit done and chase up the coaching and portfolios, good luck to you all. Ans Stephan , no you can not do it all in the swimming pool !!!!!!