Why I joined #ShePaddles Cymru

Helen Sterry is the #SPC lead for Llandysul paddlers & her daughter, Sadie, is part of the Welsh Squad. Read on on how she fell in love with paddling!

I am involved with the #She paddles Cymru programme because I want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved with paddle sport!

I kayak and I think paddling is a great thing to do, it keeps you fit, you’re out in the fresh air and it’s a great way to socialise with all ages. There are always new challenges to achieve, when we moved to Llandysul and started paddling we decided to also go to the pool sessions to learn how to roll. Rolling took me several months to get, as there are so many things to do all at once! With a little persistence and 5 months later, I was able to do it! I still don’t always achieve it on the river however as all the great coaches tell me we are all between swims!

We then got in to slalom as I remember thinking how hard can it be…..little did I know slalom was much harder than I had ever thought! At our first Div. 3 race in Bala, I came 2^nd from last (12^th) with a time of 593.9 which means I missed a few gates! However, on the 2^nd day I had managed to improve this time to 294.1 which was a massive improvement from the day before. 

I didn’t start paddling until I was 36 and I love it, one of my happy places is in my boat, and I will continue to keep paddling and see how far I can keep improving until I am unable to get in the boat anymore……but by then I will just get someone to help me get in it!



I train regularly and every time I am in the boat, I feel like I am improving.  However, my daughter, Sadie, has improved massively.  Being part of the Welsh squad and ranked the highest Welsh paddler in C1 prem women in the UK and currently the highest ranked Div 1 women K1 paddler close to promotion.  She is totally committed to paddling, determined to continue doing well and hopefully one day make it into the GB team.

I would encourage anyone to do it, even at times when you think you’re not good enough and when you think you’ll just get in the way on the river, as trust me…I have felt like that a number of times!  You have to take the positive things out of it though, such as, I spend loads of time with daughter, we are outdoors and if you’re enjoying yourself whatever your ability you should keep it up because it is all about the enjoyment, smiles and making incredible memories. 😊

Helen will be coaching the Introduction to Slalom at the ShePaddles Summer Celebration 15th July 2023.