Interview: Peter Tranter

Photos: Glenmore Lodge,
Ian Adey,
PeakPS,
Tim Hamlet,
Fiona Duff &
Georgina Maxwell

A chat with… Matt Haydock

Matt is one of a team of instructors based at Scotland’s National Outdoor Centre, Glenmore Lodge. As one of the UK’s premier learning centres for watersports, we asked Matt about his job, experiences and what makes him tick. Take it away Matt…

Tell us about the start of your paddling journey.
On Wednesday afternoons at school in Lancashire, there was an alternative option to football, rugby or cricket (never really my thing!) – which was kayaking. I was lucky to have a teacher that was really into their white water kayaking and took us to paddle on the River Irwell (a sometimes polluted tributary of the Mersey) at Burrs Country Park – a great section of class 2 and 3 rapids and big fun weir. These coaching sessions allowed me to get properly hooked on the sport, and I just loved being on the water right from the word go.

Do you have a local paddling spot?
Living in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, we have a wide array of lochs and rivers to enjoy in a variety of crafts, but my all-time favourite local paddling spot would have to be the River Findhorn, particularly its class 4 lower gorge section and especially in the autumn months. When levels are good with the sublime autumn colours, the quality of the white water is the perfect way to spend an afternoon with good pals.

What do you love about paddlesports?
I love paddlesports because of all the connections it can offer and the tremendous variety available. It allows for connections with wild places, like exploring a remote stretch of coastline you can only access by sea kayak or SUP. You can uniquely connect with the environment from a boat or board – seeing flora, fauna and landscapes from a unique perspective.

It allows for connections with others – there is a fantastic feeling to be gained from descending a challenging section of white water as a team and working as a close group to challenge and support each other and keep each other psyched. It allows for connection with learning and achievement, developing a skill and reaching a new level of performance you didn’t think was possible. You can choose to have a high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled experience or a mellow social paddle. The huge variety of craft available is also what excites me hugely. Paddling has it all!

What drives and inspires you to coach at Glenmore Lodge?
The opportunity to be on the water sharing my passion day-in-day-out, inspiring others and helping them achieve their goals. To do this job, you have to enjoy working with people – and I enjoy striving to understand what makes people tick, working together with them to achieve something, and the buzz you get when someone ‘gets it’. It’s often so much more than ‘just paddling’ to the people I work with, and I enjoy creating a quality experience for them which is meaningful to them as an individual.

Glenmore Lodge is a fantastic place to do this job. The facilities are excellent, which supports what we do on the water, and the team of people I work with at the centre are all fantastic. Sharing practice with other instructors and coaches happens daily, and that’s one of the superb benefits of working here.

Are there any latest developments, courses or initiatives at Glenmore Lodge we should know about?
We continuously strive to create a course programme that provides great experiences for paddlers at all levels. Our sea kayak expeditions programme to different parts of Scotland’s world-class coastline continues to grow. For the open canoeist, we offer a new ‘Scottish Rivers Tour’ week, which aims to take in some of the best rivers the Highlands offers. A new range of SUP courses which allow paddle boarders to explore a range of environments in one week – loch, sea and river – and gain the skills to be safe and make good decisions is also proving popular. Off the water, too, we are expanding our range of online courses, with tidal planning evening sessions being well attended.

We pride ourselves on being a high-quality institution for gaining training and assessment in the full range of British Canoeing leadership and coaching qualifications. We have an extensive range of training courses throughout the year and are now offering more bespoke booking options for assessments at a time to suit the candidate. Paddlers can now contact us and set up a qualification pathway to suit them.

We also work closely with the Scottish Canoe Association to produce new digital content webinars and facilitate large-scale events such as the Club and Volunteer Conference, Paddlers with Pride, and the Student Safety Weekend.

Are there any new sea kayak expeditions on the horizon?
There are still a few parts of the Scottish coastline I’ve yet to experience and visit – it just offers so much. High on the bucket list for Scotland is to paddle out to the Flannan Isles to visit the lighthouse, which has a mysterious story attached. The remote island of Foula, west of Shetland, is one of the most remote inhabited places in the UK, which I’d love to paddle out to as well. Further afield, Patagonia and Chile are top of the list.

What gives you the bigger buzz, ww kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing or SUP? Or is it just about being on the water?
I am often asked this question, and commonly reply – that it is like choosing my favourite family member – something I just can’t do! I love the variety of experiences you get in different crafts. Steep creeking in a white water kayak and tide race play in a sea kayak provide an adrenaline rush. Multi-day open canoe expeditions travelling between environments in remote locations, utilising traditional skills, is a unique experience. The perspective you get from a SUP as you navigate a coastline is also fantastic. As I’ve said earlier – paddling really does have it all.

What will the highlights for white water kayakers be in Scotland this autumn?
As I write this, the autumn rains have now started to arrive, and the rivers are filling up and coming to life again. This opens up a much wider variety of runs that are slightly off the beaten track. The higher tributaries and steeper creeks start to come to life, and you can have bigger days paddling multiple rivers. Lesser travelled areas away from the common destination of Lochaber start to come into play – the Northern Highlands offers super boating, with runs like the Averon, Carron, Blackwater, and Dundonnel (I could go on!) Local to here, the first release of the Laggan Dam for the Upper Spean is always a sign that autumn has arrived!

What advice would you give somebody thinking of becoming a successful paddlesport instructor?
You can do it, and don’t listen to the people who say you can’t! In previous roles working at outdoor centres and in schools – bosses and colleagues often said, “You can’t make a living out of paddling; you’ll have to do another activity as well.” That was basically a red rag to a bull for me! Paddling is my passion; I’m proud to have worked hard to make a living from it all year round.

If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within paddlesport – what would that be?
To wake up fired up for a day on the water as much as possible – whether that’s a day off going paddling with mates, getting up to go to work – coaching or guiding a new group of people to a new place, in a new craft, supporting with achieving new goals.

If you could capture just one ‘feel good’ moment in your times of paddling – which would it be and why?
Crossing the Pentland Firth with one of my closest friends. An intricate plan and adventure all coming together, filled with plenty of tides, adrenaline, excitement, wildlife, history, laughter, smiles and a glowing sense of achievement.

Tell us about a dream paddling destination you’ve never visited and why it flicks your switch.
Any of the great canoe destinations of Northern Canada – the Yukon, Bloodvein, Stoneknife, etc. Completing a committing multi-day trip in such remote wilderness and utilising traditional skills of open canoeing where they were invented would be a dream come true. I am desperate to go and try to persuade anyone who will listen to go there with me.

When preparing for a multi-day expedition or trip in challenging conditions, what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate paddler?
They have to be a good laugh and be a good communicator. I generally make a rule that I try not to go on a paddling trip with people I wouldn’t go for a pint with. They don’t necessarily need to think the same as me. For instance, I like being in teams with others who will push me and talk me into taking some chances. That said, our motivations for being on the trip need to align and cannot be wildly different – if we are on the trip for different reasons and have different goals, it will probably not be as fun!

Which brands do you work with, and how do they specifically help you?
I am a team paddler for Pyranha Kayaks, Venture Canoes and P&H Sea Kayaks – and here at Glenmore Lodge, we are supported as coaches by Peak PS, Hou Canoes and VE Paddles as well as boats to paddle, paddles to use, and kit to wear on the water – we get an opportunity to feed into the research, design and innovation process.

Where do you see your paddling going in the next 12 months?
I am submitting my annual leave for next year and would like a decent sea trip to a new part of Scotland and a white water trip back to the European Alps.

Finally, any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why?
Aniol Serrasolses – to discover what sparks his amazing creativity, how he can view the river in the way he does and what epics he’s had.

Quickfire questions:

If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Bill Mason on a trip through the Canadian Wilderness.

Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Probably James Buckley (Jay from the Inbetweeners).

Do you have a mentor?
I enjoy listening to Ray Goodwin’s stories of his adventures, with a pint to keep me going, though, as there are too many to mention!

An ideal night out for you is?
Traditional pub with a load of friends, good live Scottish trad music playing.

What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?
A really filthy Mac N Cheese.

Who are your paddling buddies?
Georgina Maxwell is an absolute hoot to be with on the river. Liam Green, but he’s starting to get too good now! Will Copestake for some sea adventures. Emy McLeod, the SUP queen. Dave Janes Jr. (brother from another mother) and Ollie Sandeman for a complete suffer-fest. Giles Trussell and George Fell – my illustrious colleagues!

Any nicknames?
I’m in a messenger group with some good mates, and all have paddling-related nicknames. I think my current one is ‘Bachelor of Breakouts’.

If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?
Flight definitely!

Any final shout-outs to friends, supporters and sponsors?
Shout out to everyone mad enough to pay me some money to coach or guide them on the water. Mat from Pyranha Kayaks for being a complete hero!