By Peter Tranter

‘Our special sixth year’

I only pop up once in a while, in fact the last time was to celebrate the Paddler’s third year anniversary when I last penned a foreword for the magazine… and thank God for that I hear you say! So what’s so special this time? Well, quite a lot actually.

A few weeks after the Paddler’s fifth birthday in October last year, we sat down with British Canoeing to discuss a new partnership. The result, is as you see in this issue, BC’s Canoe Focus has now been incorporated into the Paddler as a 24-page insert. It means the free to read digital version of the Paddler will now be made available to all British Canoeing members.

Perhaps more significantly, is the decision to produce a litho printed, perfect bound issue, where two will be posted to each BC affiliated club and centre in the UK, plus over 1,000 for current and new subscribers. This figure we expect to grow rapidly as BC market the printed version to their membership at a reduced cost.

This is as a direct result of members input, where a significant number indicated they would like to see the return of a printed publication. It seems that some paddlers just prefer the feel of paper, that you can take anywhere, anytime. The printed copy will not affect the digital ezine issue, that will remain free for now and in the future – guaranteed.

So here you have it and hopefully it will be what members and non-members would all wish to see. What you will read are captivating stories from the high seas to wild rivers and scenic lakes – all the ingredients that paddlers in all forms truly relish. What you will see, is stunning photography, taken in sometimes difficult conditions but always conveying the characters, the exploits, atmosphere and professionalism that embodies paddling.

Aside from the stories of courage and persistence from Peru, Chile, Nepal, United States, Scotland, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Greece and Albania, we have a great coaching piece on entering surf, the lost art of kayak outfitting, finished off with an interview with Sarah Outen and a Young Gun feature on 10-year old freestyler Oliver Bunn.

Add to that British Canoeing’s 24-page Canoe Focus and you have a truly eclectic publication to kick off what will be a new era for the Paddler magazine. Past Paddler’s have divided the contents into ‘canoe’, ‘kayak’, and ‘salty’ sections – that’s no longer going to be the case as we are receiving many queries and future articles on SUP and rafting – so we’re going to mix it all up, after all our call sign has always been, “If you can paddle it, then we’ll feature it.”

We have been truly inspired by you paddlers out there who are ever-willing, generously, without hesitation and with always the very best of intent, to share your fantastic stories of your paddles and wanderings in the most stunning of locations and that in turn inspires us to do our very best to make that feature stand off the page.

Going now into our sixth year, it only seems appropriate to extend our thanks and deepest appreciation to all you fantastic paddlers, for providing us with your beautiful, insightful stories with stunning photography to boot!. A big thank you too for British Canoeing, who also shared our vision of a publication for every type of paddler out there.

So wherever you may be, please keep paddling, keep sharing and we’ll do all we can to spread your tales, recollections, advice and experience to fellow paddlers here, there and everywhere…

The printed edition of the Paddler is for those who prefer paper to screens. A minimum of 132 pages, incorporating the new 24-page Canoe Focus and delivered direct to your door every two months. Available for purchase at: https://thepaddlermag.com/subs-print-paddler/

English-based BC members can now subscribe for the print edition of the Paddler at the BC member reduced cost of £3.99 per single issue or £20.99 for the annual six-issue subscription: www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/membership/
benefits/communications/