#ShePaddles Cymru 2023

Highlights from this year ShePaddles Cymru 

Three incredibly successful weekend events

We started with our festival at Plas y Brenin National Outdoor centre which is a stunning venue, with beautiful accommodation and fantastic food. This was a great start to our year and was supported by Peak Paddlesports who is always amazingly supportive of our programme. They gave a fantastic talk about the history of Peak and the developments made in kit design, which was incredibly interesting.

We then had our white-water festival, which saw loads of women tackling the Tryweryn River and showing it who is boss. Annette (NWWC) did a fantastic job planning this event and arranging the programme which included surfing, slalom, freestyle, tackling self-doubt, and many other workshops. This was a boiling hot weekend which always makes paddling more fun. River Legacy supplied a bar for us, which was great, but we had worn out the participants during the day so there was not much of a party in the evening! The highlight of this event was 75 females on the Tryweryn at once.

Then we had the Summer Celebration at the end of the season which was hosted at Llandysul Paddlers. Unfortunately, this event was very wet but the bonus of that was a needed increase in water level. This event had workshops including white water kayaking, river swimming, rolling, and paddleboarding. The Llandysul staff were all amazing, but the star of the weekend was Alix, who kept everyone well fed and fuelled up. We had loads of fun on and off the water with a quiz, fun slalom, gin tasting, and live music. 

All these events we were surrounded by inspirational women who were learning new skills, and pushing their boundaries, Friendships and memories were made, challenges were overcome, and confidence improved.

Quotes from participants of the events

"Great fun and built my confidence."

"Anxious at first but loved it by the end. The instructors were very supportive."

"Very good, thoroughly enjoyed it, learned a lot, and a fantastic atmosphere. "

#ShePaddles Cymru Champion Clubs

We now have 8 ShePaddles Cymru Champion Clubs that have been running some amazing sessions slalom, freestyle, white water sessions at Cardiff International White Water, Girl Guide badges, and lots more, leading to the increase of female members in the clubs.  

Leanne Bird Volunteer - Coastal Paddleboarder

'What is #SPC? To me, it’s about empowering women to have the confidence to try new things, push their boundaries, and find like-minded people. It’s helping women to discover more about themselves, giving them the space and support to help them overcome anxieties.'

'What does it mean to be involved? To give back to the community that supports me as a business and encourages more women to find the joy of being on the water (particularly SUP).'

Fran Bateman Volunteer - White Water Coach

'What is #SPC? For me, She Paddles Cymru is about getting people into a sport that I love, and has been an enormous help to me since I was introduced to it as a 16-year-old. I believe that unless you hate water there is something for everyone in our diverse sport. However, there are barriers for many women and girls in particular... which is shown in the imbalance of CW membership, it’s improving but not there yet. By addressing these barriers through #SPC we can improve our sport for everyone who participates.'

'What does it mean to be involved? I feel really privileged to be a member of the #SPC team. Being able to coach and facilitate women smash their goals and increase their self-belief whether on a beginner's session or with seasoned paddlers. It’s not only the privilege of working with such awesome people though... as in doing this, I am gaining similar benefits. I left full-time coaching after a life-changing accident 12 years ago... #SPC allows me to use my skills and experience in a way that’s supportive and we can work around my health in doing this I’ve been given the opportunity to feel like ‘me’ again.'

She Paddles Cymru 2023 Ambassadors

Hannah Cubie (QB) 2022- 2023 Ambassador

'To me being an Ambassador means being part of an inclusive, welcoming family of women who are all learning and growing together and striving to share the well-being benefits of being on the water.

Working with Canoe Wales as an Ambassador this year has been life-changing - really increasing my confidence, fitness, self-esteem, and ability to find my happy place when things get rough. Having a community of supportive women to share this with and a place where we in turn can help others increase their skill and resilience is an amazing gift.'

Hannah Vinner 2022- 2023 Ambassador

'#ShePaddles Cymru has kept me on the water and kept me (vaguely) sane this past couple of years! The entire team created such a supportive environment which has kept me paddling regularly despite chronic neurological disease, and the belonging I’ve found in our community really helped me to keep hold of my identity when I became a mum. I have a bee in my bonnet about making the outdoors and nature accessible for everyone, so the fact that I benefitted so much individually whilst also being trusted to represent female paddlers as a #ShePaddles Cymru Ambassador has meant the world to me. '

And now it is time to say goodbye to our 2022-2023 Ambassadors - Hannah, QB, and Dani have been awesome. They have been inspirational, motivational, and a lot of fun. They each have had their own struggles and turned them into positivity to help others. I am pleased to say they are all staying with us to join our volunteer team. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking them for all their hard work.

We can't wait to see you all on the water very soon.

Keep Paddling!

Lydia (Canoe Wales Development Officer)