Words:
Devan Crawford
www.crawford
coaching.co.uk

Photos:
Taylored Outdoors &
Jim Miller

Dipper Paddleboarding:
www.dipperpaddleboarding.com

Nookie:
www.nookie.co.uk

Tambo SUP:
www.tambo-sup.com

Devan Crawford

About Devan

Devan’s journey began with a skateboard 15 years ago, leading him through a degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Management and a postgraduate certification focused on special education needs. These experiences shaped his personalised approach to coaching, where he’s dedicated to guiding both newcomers and experienced athletes to surpass their limits.

White water SUP for all

With the rise in diversity within white water paddling, I genuinely believe we have paddleboarding to thank. This could be due to the lack of ingrained cultures, behaviours and images from the longer-standing history of the more traditional paddlesports. I say this because, from personal experience, many paddleboarders have limited or no previous experience in canoeing or kayaking. This article delves into some of my magical experiences while white water paddleboarding this year.

Louise Royle
My 2024 kicked off with a trip to Uganda where whenever my paddleboard wasn’t under my feet, it was under the feet, bum, or belly of a local kid who wanted to experience their local river in a fun and exciting way. Since returning from the Nile, I have spent a lot of time with Louise Royle. Some describe Louise as an inspiration and role model; my views are no different. Mine and Louise’s friendship is a prime example of why white water paddleboarding is inclusive, diverse, and here to stay!

Two years ago, I met the legend that is Louise. Born in the Lake District, Louise is the mother of a sponsored kayaker. She’s a sponsored paddleboarder in her own right, and I’m sure she won’t mind anyone knowing; she’s old enough to be my Granny. I, a 28-year-old male of mixed ethnicity, mean that the two of us are as wide as the diversity spectrum comes. While our passion for white water paddleboarding brought us together, our age, gender and cultural upbringing may play a significant role in how and why we enjoy white water.

I have an energetic and playful approach that lends to me surfing every possible wave, tailing in every enticing eddy line and attempting to run challenging rapids whenever possible. In comparison, Louise is more selective on rapids that intrigue her. She prides herself in carrying the world’s heaviest ‘everything bag’ and a buoyancy aid filled with homemade brownies. This means navigating a trip where we both feel we have accomplished our goals whilst still being able to support others can be full of challenges. Please keep reading for some examples of how and why two exceptionally different paddlers have formed a solid and successful paddling partnership.

Paddle UK Personal Performance Award in White Water SUP
In April this year, Louise and I teamed up to lead a white water paddleboard coaching week in Scotland with a small crew of intermediate paddleboarders. Louise appreciates planning and organisation and always has safety at the forefront of her coaching. I knew this would complement my technical skills and analytical coaching style. Together, we managed to sign off all the paddlers with a Paddle UK Personal Performance Award in White Water SUP and see long-term development in the personal and leadership skills of our friends who attended the coaching week.

A fantastic effort for all involved. Our dynamic duo style and range of skills lead to a super holistic and well-rounded week of coaching in grade 1/2(3) white water. The following month, Louise and I paddled the infamous river Soca in Slovenia and met up with a group of 15 paddlers from around the world, who, in total, had ten different native languages. This meant our communication was limited between individuals, yet universal river signals, laughter and the passion for paddleboarding in white water successfully guided the team dynamic. This hit home about how white water SUP is a truly special sport to be a part of.

‘Top section’ of the Soca
One stand-out moment where my and Louise’s difference in experience came true was on the first rapid on the ‘top section’ of the Soca, which finishes by the Prijon shop. This rapid has some serious consequences for paddleboarders as there is a large undercut wall at the bottom of the rapid. With this in mind, I paddled down the rapid to help set up safety from the large beach eddy.

Paddlers came down one by one to regroup in the eddy, some of whom received a throw line to prevent them from swimming into the syphon. On Louise’s turn, she took a tumble and lost contact with her board. Defensively swimming calmly and collected, she soon started staring down the syphon. A line was thrown, yet Louise did not accept it; she pressed her feet onto the solid rock wall next to the syphon, pushed off, and ferry-gilded her body around the hazard and back to her board safety.

Feeling perplexed, I later asked why she didn’t accept the throw line. She explained that due to her limited dexterity and strength in gripping the throw rope, she opted to rely on her 40 years of experience to keep herself safe.

In November this year, we once again found each other in Scotland in a diverse group of individuals in the Spean Gorge. The seven paddlers’ ages covered every decade from their 20s to 60s, and while on this peer paddle, we all helped each other in very different ways. We took turns setting up safety, discussing lines down the rapids with different views, taking photos and videos, and coaching those who asked for guidance.

We all navigated the rapids the way we wanted to, and we all commemorated the day with smiles on our faces, repeatedly saying, “I can’t believe how good today was.” Paddling with peers of a similar age and with the same goals is excellent, and so much can be achieved. Conversely, paddling with people of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds this year has made me feel that so much more can be accomplished than simply running a hard waterfall or rapid.

Other developments
In other recent developments, the accomplished coach, trainer/assessor, and avid Scottish white water paddleboarder Jess Philip, has recently published her first paddleboard-specific river guide. Available on Patreon, Jess has outlined in great detail the main features and hazards of specific river journeys using geo-tagged images and an interactive map. This guide offers much greater beta than other white water guides I’ve come across, and we cannot wait to see the finished product. Jess does everything she can to support other paddlers accessing the Scottish rivers in a safer and more accessible way, all the way from coaching to researching and writing this guide.

Please support Jess and her company ‘Dipper Paddleboarding’ by subscribing to their Patreon page. A special mention to Nookie for supporting my journey this year. It means a tremendous amount to have this local, eco-focused paddlesport companies support.
Tambo SUP has also played a big role in my and Louise’s paddleboard journey, so thank you to them. If you would like to support either myself, Louise, or Jess, please contact us for coaching, whether you are simply intrigued by whitewater paddleboarding or wish to achieve new things in the sport.