BCAB Coaching Podcast

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast your host, Georgina Maxwell, speaks with George Fell. George is a paddler first, but also a coach and coach educator. He's based in the Scottish Highlands and loves Sea Kayaks, Open Canoes, White Water Kayaks and the entertaining people who choose to sit inside them. Over the last thirty something years, he's had lots of adventures around the world, and he's...

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast your host, Georgina Maxwell, speaks with Jamie Greenhalgh. Jamie is a specialist, white water kayaking coach and is on the BCAB White Water Technical Group. His business, Paddle365 , delivers white water skills courses throughout the year as well as leadership, coaching and safety training for Paddle UK. His approach to coaching prioritises learning through...

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast your host, Georgina Maxwell, speaks with Will Copestake. Born in the north west Highlands of Scotland, Will is a passionate kayaker and general outdoors enthusiast. As the operator of Kayak Summer Isles, a small sea kayaking company in his hometown of Ullapool, Will spends most of his summers sharing adventures on the Scottish west coast by sea kayak. In the...

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast, Georgina speaks to Ken Hughes.  Ken is one of Europe's top canoeists, a Paddle UK national trainer, mountain climbing instructor, technical adviser, and ambassador. This is Ken's second Paddle UK podcast, having previously discussed coaching canoeing with Pete Catterall. Ken runs a wide variety of Paddle UK courses but significantly is wider known for his s...

Happy International Women’s Day 2026! In this special episode of the Coaching Podcast, Georgina talks all things Women’s Health with a focus on paddling with her guest Dr Jagruti Amin (Jag) who has been a white water kayaker since 2013 and is a member of Paddle UK. It’s an almost hour long whirlwind tour from the teenage years through to the menopause, with something in it for everyone. There’s a...

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast, your host Georgina Maxwell talks to Alex Littlechild about kayak progression, waterfall techniques and creek boating. Alex discusses his ‘trifecta’ theory of creek boating, which categorises paddlers into mathematicians, reactionists, and expressionists. He emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, explaining how he uses video analysis, peer feedback,...

Andy Kettlewell has been on the water since he was nine years old — one six-week intro course and he was hooked for life. From early days jumping into every boat he could find, to a decade of mastering slalom racing at the top level, Andy’s swapped racing gates for raw adventure. These days, Andy’s all about chasing the fun — big rivers, bigger drops, and even bigger adventures. Now a proud, spons...

In this episode of the Coaching Podcast, your host Georgina Maxwell discusses All Things Coaching with Lowri Davies.  Lowri has been working at the cutting edge of white water coaching and guiding around the world for almost 20 years. Her North Wales-based company, FlowFree, runs the full spectrum of white water and freestyle courses as well as some exciting overseas trips to places such as the Za...

Richard and Georgina discuss the importance of personal experience in coaching and leading expeditions, as well as risk management in remote locations and the necessity of contingency and repair kits due to the increased probability of equipment failure over time. Richard also distinguishes between the roles of a leader and a guide, and introduces the 1, 2, 3 Mentoring model to foster growth and s...

Doug Cooper has worked as an instructor, coaching and guiding for over 35 years, with a passion for sharing knowledge in a way that empowers others to develop their skills, experience and confidence to achieve their outdoor goals. For the last 25 years, a focus of Doug’s coaching has been paddlesport coach/leadership development where he provides training/assessment courses to support future instr...

Georgina Maxwell hosts the first episode of series 7 of the Coaching Podcast, chatting all things River Play with Chris Evans. Chris grew up paddling on the Thames where slalom and freestyle kayaking were all the rage, at the age of sixteen he was taken to a ‘real’ river and the rest is history. Twenty six years later and he’s not only keeping the slalom and freestyle in his river paddling but he’...

Chris is officially handing the podcast to Georgina Maxwell for the next 12 months! Georgina will be taking the microphone and interviewing a whole host of different guests focusing on the technical and tactical elements of coaching different paddlesport disciplines. Georgina lives in the north of Scotland and is predominantly a white water paddler but comes with a whole range of paddlesport exper...

Ray Goodwin is back for part two of his conversation with Chris, talking about his extensive experience of coaching paddlers. Ray Goodwin is a world-renowned canoeist, coach, and author. He has been paddling for over 50 years. Ray has coached paddlers of all ages and abilities and is known for his patient and encouraging approach and his ability to help paddlers overcome their fears and reach thei...

Ray Goodwin is the guest for this episode talking to Chris about his lifetime coaching paddlesport. Ray Goodwin is a world-renowned canoeist, coach, and author. He has been paddling for over 50 years. Ray has coached paddlers of all ages and abilities and is known for his patient and encouraging approach and his ability to help paddlers overcome their fears and reach their full potential.  Ray is...

Gareth Wilson is the guest for this episode talking to Chris Brain about Raft Coaching. Gareth Wilson is a Level 4 coach, has an MSc is Coaching from Loughborough University and the interim head of slalom operations. Whilst a majority of Gareth's coaching over the last 16 years has been in the world of canoe slalom, he has also coached white water rafting on the international stage. He's explored...

Caz Dawson is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching stand up paddleboarding. Caz delivers a broad range of SUP coaching and guided adventures through her business SUP Lass Paddle Adventures, based in Northeast Wales. From beginner sessions through to multi day trips, she caters for all levels and paddle abilities. She specialises in SUP, being bo...

Ian Adey is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching white water kayaking. Ian is a Level 5 Kayak Coach and Advanced Canoe Coach who runs Kinetic Paddlesports based in the Lake District. He got hooked on watersports in his early teens and is still obsessed. Ian is passionate about passing on the most up to date technical knowledge and modern techniq...

Hannah Brown is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching racing. Hannah currently works as a Podium Technical Coach within the Great British Paranoe team in Nottingham, recently returned from the most successful Paralympic Games in Paris. Previous to this she has spent nearly two decades enjoying a range of racing disciplines in paddlesport, ranging...

Matt Haydock and Dave Janes are the guests for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching sea kayaking, SUP, packrafting and expedition canoeing! Matt Haydock and Dave Janes are the founders and lead coaches/guides for Paddle International. As well as being best friends, they are two highly experienced and qualified paddlesport professionals, who have both worked i...

Beth Wallis  is the guest for this episode of the podcast, talking about introducing beginners to canoe paddling. Beth is an active paddlesports coach based in Scotland and runs her own business Explore-Connect-Enjoy.  In all of her coaching she incorporates the values of integrity, inclusion, excellence, safety, treading lightly, play and curiosity.  She is a performance coach, loves to introduce...

Tamsyn McConchie is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching freestyle. Tamsyn is an active freestyle, white water and polo coach who is exceptionally active on the water coaching, as well as competing for Team GB.  She runs her own business called Wetrock, running regular freestyle coaching sessions for paddlers at all levels and abilities.   In th...

Gareth Wilson is the guest for this episode of the coaching podcast, talking to Chris Brain about coaching slalom. Gareth holds a Level 4 Coach Award and works full time at Lee Valley in his role as Podium Technical Coach. He has a broad experience of paddlesport, from running rivers in the South Alps, jumping in C2s at National Sprint Regattas to raft racing in Costa Rica and canoe touring the Do...

Sarah Keight is a canoe coach who enjoys sharing her passion for one blade and big boats, tapping into her sport science and educational background to support her learners. Sarah runs her own business – SKapades, providing a range of training, development and adventurous experiences. The topics discussed by Chris and Sarah include: Ways coaches can introduce beginners to trad canoe Is the J Stroke...

This podcast episode is brought to you by the England Talent Programme where Daniel Thompson (Slalom Foundations and Support Lead) and Ciara Sampson (Volunteer Psychologist for the England Slalom Talent Programme) discuss the topic of purpose. In this podcast episode we'll discuss the importance of having a purpose, how this can help to set goals, the importance of having an athletic identity and...

In this episode, Chris Brain and Jamie Greenhalgh discuss what are the most important skills that a coach could develop with a new, novice white water paddler. If you're a seasoned paddler looking for new ideas or a coach seeking fresh perspectives, you won't want to miss this episode! Jamie is a white water kayaking coach and is on the BCAB White Water Tech Group. His business, Paddle365, deliver...