YOUNG AMBASSADORS

I am currently based in East Dunbartonshire, but I am originally from Belgium.

My first time on a river was sometime during the 2nd year of my undergrad, but I didn’t actually start paddling properly until I was 20 (which surprises a lot of people). So almost 3 years, though it feels a lot longer!

I think (young) women are quite underrepresented in paddling – especially the types that I do, like steep creeking and the different freestyle disciplines. I am hoping that being a young ambassador can somehow be that representation (and maybe inspiration?) for other girls out there. I also think it will be fun to meet new people through the programme, and get more involved with Paddle Scotland.

There are a lot of clubs that have made great efforts at making the sport more accessible for young people, though there are still many logistical and financial barriers that young people face. I think increasing funding towards qualifications or equipment for younger people would be a good step in the right direction. I also think having more events aimed at young people will help popularise the sport, for example, it would be amazing if we can get the Youth Freestyle Series to Scotland!

My name is Ava and I am from a wee village just outside of Dundee. I do predominantly sea kayaking but am happy paddling in whatever craft and location I am put in. I started paddling 10 years ago in canoes but then moved into kayaks after that. Mainly through paddling with my dad I developed into the paddler I am today. I was in the first cohort of Young Ambassadors and decided to reapply as I gained so much out of the first programme and wanted to see it continue and develop. I think there is so much young people can do in the paddlesports community and I want to see and help it happen along with some other amazing young people.

I’m from Chippenham, and I live in Glasgow. I started whitewater kayaking in September 2022, and have been around watersports my whole life.

Joining the Young Ambassadors seemed like a good opportunity to complete some qualifications, make new friends and get more time boating.

I’d like to try to minimise some of the barriers to entry for young people, and give more opportunities to young people to access budget-friendly paddlesport and ways to complete qualifications. Also to get more young people as course providers.

I'm from Glasgow. I started paddling when on holiday in the Outer Hebrides in 2022 and fell in love with it straight away - especially paddle boarding - and have now completed my silver DofE paddle boarding. I wanted to become a Young Ambassador to develop my personal paddling skills and build confidence.

I'm from the beautiful Isle of Skye and started paddling when I was 12. My school ran activities at the end of term and I signed up to try kayaking. I loved that trip - who knew a spin around Plockton Bay could be life-changing!

Paddling has brought me so much joy over the years. I've explored incredible places and befriended incredible people. Certain paddlers have really supported me on my journey, and I'd love to help more young folk into the community. Being a young ambassador seemed like a good way to do this.

I love hearing about clubs that welcome and encourage young people to join. The more clubs welcoming new paddlers, the easier it is for young folk to get paddling.

I really appreciated the previous Young Ambassadors’ efforts in organising last year's Great Glen Canoe trip, which was open to young (and even inexperienced) canoeists. It was a great introduction to canoeing from a beginner’s perspective. Trips like these are a brilliant way to make paddling more accessible for young people.

I began my journey by joining my dad on canoeing trips across Scotland. During Covid I picked up kayaking as a 5 week course at Willowgate which progressed into joining their club and eventually working for them. Through that I gained my PSI and have been working towards my Sheltered Water Coach. I have continued with WW Kayaking and have been getting into Sea Kayaking and WW SUP. As soon as I saw all that the first group of Young Ambassadors achieved I knew it would be great to be involved and help paddling become more accessible for young people. I hope that we can encourage young people into a range of disciplines and advertise more opportunities.

Hi I am a Young Ambassador for Paddle Scotland and I am from Paisley which is a town outside of Glasgow. I started kayaking when I was 8 years old and I wanted to join the Young Ambassador programme to help get more young people in the sport as throughout my journey there have been limited young people kayaking within the club I have been a part of. More sea kayaking clubs are able to take young people on and still have all the trips and events that keep them involved within kayaking.

I am Innes Reid and I’m from Portobello in Edinburgh. I started paddling when I was seven between my dads legs in our sit-on-top. I wanted to be a Paddle Scotland Young Ambassador because I love paddling and want to try new disciplines.

I want to make paddling more accessible to young people by encouraging them to try paddling and advertising youth beginner sessions in school.

Hi, I'm Isla. I'm from a small rural village on the north east coast of Scotland. 

I started paddling properly when I was 11 in 2021, when Sutherland Adventure Company opened. 

I wanted to be a young ambassador so that I could meet young people that have the same passion for water sports that I do, to improve my skills and teaching techniques and boost my confidence on the water. I also really want to make it more accessible for people with additional needs. 

How I want to see paddling becoming more accessible for young people. 

I would really like to see more funded or half funded lessons and clubs for under 18 of all genders. To make it more accessible for people that are for example wheelchair users or people that have physical disabilities to be able to get on the water, as well as more training on how to deal with people with these disabilities. Also to have clubs for kayaking and other water sports especially up north as there are really not many opportunities to paddle with a club. I would also like to see talks about safety in the sea/river as quite a lot of people are not aware of what dangers there are. I’d also like there not to be a stigma around body image and fitness levels for these sports.

I'm Max, I'm 15 years old, and I live in Edinburgh. I started all kinds of paddling about five years ago with my dad, but I've only been paddling more regularly over the last three years. I decided to become a Young Ambassador because I'm passionate about helping people have fun on the water, not just through paddling, and about increasing opportunities for people from different backgrounds to experience the joy of being on the water. 

I believe paddling could become more accessible if more people who wouldn’t normally be exposed to the sport, for example those whose parents don’t paddle, had the chance to try it.

I’m from South Ayrshire in a coastline town called Ayr that has our local whitewater run the River Doon running through the town. I started paddling as from a young age it hurt when I couldn’t go paddling with my dad and brother and when I was finally old enough I never gave it up.

I wanted to be a Young Ambassador to try and help promote water sports as well as to have the opportunity to paddle with people who are more my own age.

I would like to see schools offering paddlesports as a part of their Physical Education curriculum. I hope to try and promote this in my final year at secondary school.

I’m from a small town south of Glasgow and about a 10 minutes’ drive from a nice section of the Clyde.

I started kayaking with the aim of improving my skills in roughly 2022-2023 in lockdown but my family has always loved watersports so I’ve been in canoes and kayaks since I was very young. 

I wanted to become a young ambassador to be able to ensure that other young people would be able to try out a sport that I’ve enjoyed so much. I also want to become a positive presence on the water and emphasise there are always more things to learn. 

I’d like for more clubs and groups to become more welcoming to young paddlers as it can be rather intimidating padding with adults whose skill levels are above your own. 

My name is Thomas Knight and I live in Edinburgh. I started paddling after a taster session at my youth group with Driftwood Adventure four years ago. I have been paddling ever since. I love being on the water in my kayak. I want to be a Young Ambassador to bring a greater awareness of paddling to young people to help them understand what paddlesports involve. I wasn't interested in more traditional sports and didn't think I could enjoy sports until I discovered kayaking. There is so much fun and enjoyment which can be had on the water and I want to let other people know that paddling may also be for them.

I am from Banchory, outside of Aberdeen and I started paddling 4 years ago. I wanted to be a Young Ambassador to meet people to go paddling with.

I hope to see paddling become more accessible for young people through more social paddling events for young people.

I am from a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh with the Union Canal running through it.

I have always done some paddling but I started constantly paddling around 3 years ago after doing some lockdown stuff in the pool we put up.

I wanted to become a Young Ambassador so that I could meet other young paddlers who also love the sport, learn new skills and try new crafts.

I would love to see more river races/competitions being made available for under 18s which is starting to happen with events such as the Garry Boater X and the Morriston Enduro. This would allow young people who don’t paddle slalom to experience the competitive atmosphere.