Mike Shaw Kayak Coach

A fun day yesterday at the European Championships in Finland 🇫🇮

Competing for GB Freestyle Kayaking

My best ride was my 2nd ride at 1hr 59minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/live/tO3E1W-9pRE?t=7158&si=YSYgItEtz31vwok7

Now we're straight back to coaching 😎😎😎

London Kayak School Paddle UK

Well this is exciting, I'll be coaching and competing for the British team 🇬🇧 at the European Freestyle Kayaking Championships in Finland 🇫🇮!

Team training starts on 7 June with the first competition rounds starting on 10 June.

It will be a fun and busy couple of weeks!!!

Thanks to everyone who celebrated my Birthday week with me 🎂

All my friends old and new, many a surprise cake! It might not be the 40th celebration I thought it might be, but 🍹and 🌮 are always great!

Now we roll onto Finland. 🇫🇮

A photo dump of the last few weekends, lots of paddling across Wales and everywhere else!

White water Sup with .wahab691 courses and dogs with .fest with and .britz much fun and medals 🎖️ team training at Stanley with and the crew.

Roll on the European Champs....

Paddle UK Director (England)

Paddle UK specifically asked for those with experience in sport coaching, Elite sport and/or talent pathway development and recreational sport development.

I feel I cover all three of those requirements rather well!

You can vote for myself and read through the other candidates through the link here:

https://paddleuk.org.uk/england-director-application/

Here's a short whistle stop tour of my career.

“I've got a wide range of paddlesports experience and I'm involved in the sport in every way: as my job, as a volunteer, as the thing I choose to spend my free time doing. Paddling isn't something I dip in and out of; it's been a constant in my life for 25+ years.

“I started paddling through Scouts at 12, began helping coach at 14 and by 18 I'd decided to make it my career. I worked across clubs and centres in London, eventually becoming Head of Paddlesports at both Westminster Boating Base and Surrey Docks Watersports Centre. I've led teams of professional coaches and volunteers and continued volunteering within Scouting into my early twenties.

“In 2019 I took on the voluntary role of GB Freestyle Coach, which opened the door to high-performance coaching. I've been part of a team that has supported athletes to multiple successful World Championship results, including our most successful Worlds ever and the programme continues to grow.

“In 2023 I founded London Kayak School and now run it alongside our CIC, London Kayak School Access to Adventure. We deliver sessions across London and the UK, from beginner level to high-performance. A personal highlight is our monthly adult whitewater development programme, watching paddlers build confidence and skill month after month.

“I've developed a strong understanding of coach development, having led coaching workforces in both professional and voluntary settings, as well as supporting athletes on the performance pathway. I coach weekly from GB Freestyle athletes, complete beginners, SEND groups and everyone in between. Through LKS we partner with organisations across the sector, always with the aim of opening the sport to more people.

“My goal is simple: to help more people get into Paddlesports.

Congratulations Dr Ollard!

Yesterday this wonderful woman graduated from Cambridge, Proud of you Iso!! 💪🦪🎓😁😁😁

Summer is over, autumn is here and this post is long overdue 🤣

A phenomenal summer with wonderful people in amazing places!

🇩🇪🇫🇷🇦🇹🇮🇹🇨🇭