What's your story?

For a while I thought it was actually possible to be a pirate (the good kind, with a cutlass & an eyepatch), instead of a galleon I would roam the seas in a sea kayak plundering carbon fibre treasures & rum! ‘No, no’ they said waggling their fingers, but they did give me a real job, I get paid to go paddling so I can’t complain. When I am not working I am usually paddling or biking anyway.

I started paddling by competing in slalom at a little local club at the age of 9, since then my paddling & sailing career has taken me to some amazing countries & some pretty remote places but I love to explore places on my doorstep too, looking just past the beaten track & finding new gems; rivers, lakes, little swimming spots stuff like that.

My latest fascination is exploring with my daughter & dragging her out on the water with me, I always enjoy it more when I can share it with someone else, anyone in fact! I don’t really care where it is, or what it is; as long as it is outside & involves getting wet, sometimes I just go for a walk in the rain; no such thing as bad weather if you like weather!

Quick facts:

Favourite food: tapas, all night!

Favourite drink: rum or green tea or rum & green tea!

Favourite music: Bluegrass & modern folk

Ultimate paddling destination: Anywhere I haven’t already been, literally anywhere! But probably Tibet.

Motto: quitters never win & winners never quit.

Advice to newcomers: put sand inside your crocs, it feels like you are on the beach no matter where you are (even in the office!)