Interview: Peter Tranter

Photos: Pete Astles, Paul Ramsdale and Peak UK

Pete Astles has been paddling since 1979 and, during those early stages, had a promising career competing at the national junior level. However, fate intervened in 1990, when glandular fever stopped all training for six months. During that time in Nottingham, when I was first introduced to him in the ‘No Limits’ shop by the then editor of Canoe Focus, Kevin Danforth, Pete spotted a gap in the paddlesport clothing market for paddlers. Kit that not only did the job at the top level of the sport technically but something that also looked fashionable to wear. With borrowed money from his dad and a sewing machine, Pete started Peak UK. Over a quarter of a century later, we are with Peak UK supplying not only Team GB with their Olympic kit but the majority of the other international canoeing teams too. Over to Pete…

Pete Astles

An interview with… Pete Astles
At the peak of his powers

When did you first start paddling? Who provided the motivation, and who with?
I started in 1979 where I grew up in the Lake District. Colin Mortlock, a very good sea kayaker and head of Charlotte Mason College in Ambleside, started an adventure association for local kids. I tried kayaking and have never looked back. Thanks, Colin! I’m keen to start a similar thing in the Derwent Valley for local kids.

What were those early days in Nottingham like as one of the first young slalomers at HP?
As soon as the slalom course was built, I went to live in Nottingham. It was great to get on international class whitewater every day and train with the likes of Richard Fox and Gareth Marriott.

When and why did you start Peak UK, and what was your big break that got Peak UK on the road to where it is now?
In 1990 in Nottingham, to pay the bills so that I could train, I worked in the local paddling shop called No Limits on Trent Boulevard. I became sick with glandular fever and could not train for six months. I became bored and soon started playing with gear ideas along with some friends who could sew. We made up a prototype jacket and PFD, and all my mates, who were top-level slalom athletes, wanted to wear the gear. I borrowed some cash from my father, purchased some fabric, foam and a sewing machine and began making PEAK gear myself in my friends back room!

Peak UK was instrumental in the explosion of freestyle in the UK, was that planned and what were those early days of playboating like?
In 1997 we opened up the Peak Shop at HPP. We couldn’t get any UK WW boat accounts as Desperate Measures down the road had them all. So I started to look for boats to sell.

It would be an understatement to say you’ve crossed paths with Corran Addison a few times. We’ve come to know Corran well; how did you start your business relationship with him?
Leading on from the previous question… I stumbled across Riot Kayaks from Montreal. Corran sent me a video of his new boat, the Hammer. Watching them spinning and sliding down waves sideways blew us away. Within a week, I was picking up the first UK batch of Riot Hammers from Manchester airport. We were instantly hooked, and the evolution of playboating began. Every few months, we had new toys to test on the whitewater course at HPP. The boats sold like hotcakes. We also imported Necky, another cutting edge brand from the other side of Canada. Great times. I’m still in contact with Corran. Paddling is a great way to make life-long friends.

How did working with Team GB come about and, subsequently, most of the other Olympic canoeing teams?
For the London Olympics in 2012, we developed our full-colour custom printed gear. We witnessed our friends and Team GB members Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott take the gold medal. For 2016 we wanted to do something really special. Athletes nagged us for thinner, more streamlined PFDs. So in secret, with Team GB we developed the Racer ST, a three in one garment that puts half the PFDs foam in your spray deck, reducing the foam thickness from 50-20mm on the upper torso, giving a considerable performance advantage. Joe Clarke went on to win gold at Rio in the Racer ST. For Tokyo, we supply the majority of slalom athletes from 20 teams and hope to return with several gold medals, fingers crossed.

What do you see as the primary key to Peak UK’s success within the paddlesport industry?
We’ve followed our hearts and own interests from slalom in the ’90s, through playboating, into sea kayaking and more recently, after becoming parents making kit for kids. Luckily people have liked what we do, and we’ve grown to be a very successful business off the back of our love of paddlesport and enhancing peoples enjoyment by making great gear.

Peak UK are one of the official partners to British Canoeing, and you manufacture the clothing and buoyancy aids for Team GB – how important is that to the future success of both Peak UK and BC?
We have an ongoing partnership with the BC World Class program, where we’ve supported the team as a whole for around ten years; subsequently, we have a great relationship and see the athletes, coaches and management as our family and friends. We have a great involvement too with BC’s access campaign Clear Access Clear Waters and Ben Seal.

Does Joe Clarke ring and thank you every day for the new buoyancy device you designed for the Rio GB Olympic team?
Joe is a great ambassador for us and our sport. He truly appreciates our hard work. He supports us wholeheartedly, coming to our factory with his medal and attending as a speaker at the launch of our local access project Paddle Peak.

Business and being environmentally friendly are sometimes a difficult balance – what’s Peak UK doing to make itself eco-friendly?
Sadly paddlesports equipment (gear, boats and paddles) is almost entirely made from plastics, which isn’t great for sustainability, although we are doing our utmost to be as sustainable as possible. We try to make products that last for many years and that are repairable. We have removed all plastic packaging from our products, eliminating up to 50,000 polybags per year. Our new jacket and base layer ranges are made from recycled textiles and treated with non CFC weather repellence. One problem now is the demand for recycled textiles is so high that it is in short supply. We are beginning to use more environmentally friendly neoprene and are working with Derby University to find a use for our garments at the end of their usable lives.

How has the pandemic affected you and your business?
What a roller coaster!! We closed our doors and went home on March 23rd 2020, not knowing how long we’d be gone for. We started back slowly in May but were absolutely run off our feet, and by June, we were all back working in our newly laid out Covid secure premises where every member of our team has plenty of space. Everyone was so keen to do things outdoors. Month after month, we broke sales records and on it continues.

You’ve recently opened Peak EU – has that made the Brexit transition easier for you?
January and Brexit were dire. Our trade deal is worthless when the goods we sell are mainly of China origin. Shipping boxes into the EU became more complicated than sending them to Nepal. Some took up to twelve weeks, some never arrived, and often cartons were damaged. Our European customers received large none transparent bills for duties, additional fees and taxes. Delivery drivers were often demanding cash before handing the goods over. Brexit is unworkable for small UK companies. The hassle the customers have to receive the goods makes it a nightmare. So we began Peak EU, based out of my friend’s farm in the Republic of Ireland. We consolidate all our EU shipments into Ireland, pay the duties, taxes and fees, then the goods get delivered around the single market hassle-free. We’re back operational, and our customers are once again delighted. Costs are up, and things take a lot longer to be delivered now, but we have a workable solution. We’ve taken back control!

Would it be fair to say that paddlesports is riding a wave at the moment, and do you see any drawbacks?
Times are crazy at the moment with Covid, Brexit, shortages of shipping containers and more. I’d say we’re currently surfing in the foam pile… I hope some calm returns soon… I think the popularity of paddlesports and the outdoors will continue. Once people start, they generally want to do more.

Any plans to tap into the booming SUP market?
SUP is so accessible and easy to take up. We’ll definitely consider paddleboarding in our future development of new products. We’ve just launched a great SUP PFD/leash system which there’s considerable interest in. Watch this space…

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
Great things take time… Sometimes, we launch a product, and sales are slow for several years, then all of a sudden, just as we’re planning to scrap them boom, they become best sellers!! We’ve had this with two PFDs this year.

You’re the father to two boys – how has that changed you?
I’m tired! Just joking. I’m the same, just beginning to start enjoying it all again as the boys grow up and explore the outdoors. I hope they like paddling as much as I do. They’re pretty keen bike riders at the moment; that’s cool too; we’ll support whatever they get into.

So you’re involved with river clean ups, the environment, access issues – what do you see as the biggest threat to rivers both in the UK and the wider world?
Sadly our rivers are unseen waste highways to the sea. No one takes responsibility for them. Sewage pollution is terrible, as is agricultural waste and litter. The water companies and farmers get away with polluting the rivers, and no one seems to care. We’re trying to inspire change here on the Derwent. We’re highlighting the problems and trying to work with the local authorities, shop owners, the EA and Severn Trent to find workable solutions.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Paddling. It’s me…

What do you do to relax away from the world of paddlesports?
I love skiing. I can’t wait to go again once the world returns to normal.

If you could head anywhere in the world to paddle, where would it be, and what appeals about that location?
Nepal is my favourite place to paddle. I have had many great adventures there and made so many amazing friends.

What’s the most enjoyable encounter with wildlife that you’ve had whilst paddling?
I once did the Three Peaks Challenge but kayaked and biked between the mountains. I was paddling solo up towards Arran, through large areas of jellyfish, when suddenly a massive basking sharks fin appeared two metres in front of me – so close I nearly hit it! That made me jump for sure! Pretty awesome and memorable, especially as I was on my own. Watching Whales in Greenland was amazing, and I remember a brown bear fishing by the sea close to the Skookumchuck tide race back in the Riot days.

What projects are you currently working on, and if it’s hush, hush, we won’t mention it to anyone;)?
We’ve just finished speccing our 2022 paddling wear range: improved construction and more sustainable than before. Looking forward to showing it off at the Paddle Sports Show in Lyon in October, fingers crossed, Covid permitting.

Is there any issue that stops you from sleeping at night?
I’m a terrible sleeper. I have feature film crazy dreams every night. A mixture of gold trousers, Corran Addison, winning Olympic medals, in Nepal, made from recycled textiles, all covered in hay bale wrapping, smelling of sewage, being chased by angry anglers and being stuck in customs trying to get into the EU but having the wrong paperwork. Quite tiring!

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Telling everyone what my dreams are like!

Quickies…

If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Friends Sanu Babu Sunuwar and Nim Magar from Nepal.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents…
Bob and Beryl. My real mum and dad are perfect, thanks.

Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
I’ll play myself and direct too!

Are you a bathroom/shower singer, and if so, what do you sing?
Not really, but I may try a rendition of Vaseline by Burdock next time I’m in there! Find it on one of our old id10t videos – they’re all on Youtube.

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
I’m not a big social mediaer – although Facebook is pretty useful for promotion and keeping up with what my friends around the globe are up to.

An ideal night out for you is?
After a paddle, have a nice spicy curry, a few pints of good ale and see one of my favourite bands play, usually something miserable from Manchester! The Chameleons are my favourite.

What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
A set of sea kayaking equipment (or some kind of desalination filter)!

What would I find in your fridge right now?
Brewdog beers. They’re good value online – 48 cans for £47.99!

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Dahl Bhat. Traditional Nepalese cuisine!

If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?
Teleporting would be useful. I could go for a paddle in Nepal with Nim and Babu and be back for my boy’s bedtime.

Favourite beer?
I make my own – the best beer in our village during the lockdown. I like pale and hoppy beers best – rye is pretty tasty too.

Who are your paddlesport buddies?
Right now, the Paddle Peak crew. Ben Seal, Snakey, Pedro, Sam and the rest of the Derwent crew that tirelessly come out and clean the relentless piles of rubbish out of our beautiful river.

What three words describe yourself?
Skinny Indie Kid

Any final shout outs?
Thanks, Corran, for sending me the Riot Hammer Video. It was a defining moment in paddling for me and many others. Thanks to my family, friends and staff team for supporting and believing in me.