About Steve

Steve has a background in recreational and competitive outdoor activities, combined with 30+ years of academic and professional training. This positions him uniquely within the ranks of UK outdoor activity providers. His extensive practical experience in all the major outdoor activities is underpinned by a specialist understanding of the theory behind the practice – it’s a rare combination. This guarantees an expert and personalised approach as well as a commitment to supporting everyone to realise their adventure sports ambitions.
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White Water Safety & Rescue Course, Cumbria

White Water Safety & Rescue

It is the season for white water kayakers and canoeists to get out and enjoy themselves – the rivers have certainly been at great paddling levels this Autumn.  Recent incidents and tragic accidents happening to people going paddling on rivers reminds us of the critical importance of having both a well developed understanding of the potential hazards on WW rivers coupled to a range of strategies to deploy appropriately should things not go to plan.

British Canoeing’s White Water Safety & Rescue course is aimed at those paddling canoes and kayaks on moderate white water (grade 1-3).  It is an attendance only course over two days which helps you identify issues whilst paddling, to make good judgments and decisions, to avoid getting into trouble and to sort things out if they do go wrong.  All WW kayakers and canoeists should take this course.

Steve’s next WWSR course is 24th – 25th Nov, he may also put an additional one on on the 8th & 9th Dec.  Please get in touch if you would like to join in or wish to know more about the content: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By |November 15th, 2021|Canoe, White Water Kayak|Comments Off on White Water Safety & Rescue Course, Cumbria
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Sea Kayak Leader training, Cumbria

Sea Kayak Leader training Cumbria

Come and join our Sea Kayak Leader training courses in Cumbria.  Our upcoming event on the 20th & 21st November is running and still has some space.  The following course is on the 4th & 5th of December and also has places available.  Both Sea Kayak Leader training courses are preceded the day before by the Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course (classroom based).

Whilst many people who take these courses are intending to work towards the assessment, it’s also the case that a good number use them to enhance their own knowledge and skills so they can make more informed decsions when paddling by themselves and with friends – doing the assessment is not required!  Steve can also take a view on your sea kayak competence against British Canoeing’s Personal Performance Awards in sea kayaking then issue them as appropriate if you meet the required standard over the 2 days.  This would save the cost of attending a standalone course to take these awards.

Steve’s Sea Kayak Leader training is based in Cumbria where we have the full range of coastline types to provide the best possible learning and development.  If you’d like to join please get in touch at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk or call on 07796 213817.  We’ll be delighted to hear from you and will do our best to support your sea kayaking development.

CURRENT DATES: Please check the Sea Kayak course page for our current course dates.

By |November 10th, 2021|Sea Kayak|Comments Off on Sea Kayak Leader training, Cumbria
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Sea Kayak Coastal Navigation course

Coastal Navigation course

Steve’s next course is a Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course for sea kayakers on Friday 19th November based near Keswick.  This is the one day classroom based, attendance only course for anyone going paddling on the sea in any craft.  It is a prerequisite for those wishing to take British Canoeing’s Sea Kayak Leader qualification.

The course covers marine weather and tides and their implications for paddlers.  It looks at sources of critical information and how to compute tidal heights, flow rates and sea states. Pilotage is included along with practical navigation exercises on both charts and maps.

If you venture onto the sea in or on paddlesports craft this is a very valuable course which is designed to help you make good decisions before setting forth.

Steve will also be running the Sea Kayak Leader training course on the succeeding two days (20th & 21st Nov) on the Cumbrian coast.  If either of these courses are of interest to you please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help. 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By |November 8th, 2021|Website|Comments Off on Sea Kayak Coastal Navigation course
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Translating Thoughts into Action

Steve’s most recent research has been cited by Professor Gabriele Wulf and Professor Rebecca Lewthwaite in the latest edition of Current Directions in Psychological Science .  Their paper, entitled Translating Thoughts Into Action: Optimizing Motor Performance and Learning Through Brief Motivational and Attentional Influences, explains the importance of critical motivational and attentional factors in optimising skill development and motor performance.  In particular, they point out the significance of maintaining enhanced expectancies for future performance, performer autonomy and an appropriate external focus of attention.  Steve’s work is cited as evidence of the beneficial effect of maintaining a distal external focus during performance.

Steve encourages anyone interested in developing their teaching, coaching, personal performance or competitive edge to engage with the most up to date scientific knowledge.  Steve runs Skill Acquisition and Motor Learning courses throughout the year which aim to distil the current research into an easily understandable and useable form.  His next two day course is December 20th – 21st and he’ll be pleased to hear from you if you would like to attend.

By |November 5th, 2021|Skill Acquisition|Comments Off on Translating Thoughts into Action
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Canadian canoe trip 2022

Canadian Canoe trip 2022

Come and join us on a trip of a lifetime canoe trip down the Wind River in Yukon, Canada, July, 2022!  We have enough people so far to run the trip but have some spaces still available.

The trip involves travel from Whitehorse and an incredible float plane flight to our start point.  We’ll then journey by tandem canoe northwards with all our gear for two weeks on the Wind River (image).  We’ll be picked up on the river by float plane at the end of the trip.  The Wind River is mainly grade 1 and 2 water and is suitable for competent canoeists and those with little experience paddling with a more experienced partner – we’re focused on providing an amazing and accessible journey by canoe through unspoilt and wild northern Canada.

This amazing adventure will be run by Steve Banks and Martin McCarthy who have combined canoe expedition experience of over 60 years.  Steve and Martin are both British Canoeing Guides and Guide trainers.  All Steve’s qualifications are available to view on this website.

The trip includes  the first and last night’s accommodation in Whitehorse, all land and float plane transportation, all canoe outfitting and all food during the trip.

If you’re interested in finding out more please get in touch with Steve who will be able to tell you all about it and provide a video of an earlier trip for you to watch: steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk and +44 07796 213817.  You can also check the webpage here: Canadian Canoe trip.

By |November 1st, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off on Canadian canoe trip 2022
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Cumbria Canoe Leader training

Canoe Leader training

Our next courses are British Canoeing’s Canoe Leader training for both the Open Water Canoe Leader Award and the White Water Canoe Leader Award.  These will take place on the 6th and 7th November and will be based in Cumbria, as close to Keswick as conditions allow.  If you’re interested in either or both of these training events please get in touch with Steve so he can brief you on the content, provide any information you need to prepare, as well as to answer any questions you may have.

CURRENT DATES: Check the Canoe course page for current dates.

steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk   07796 2132817

By |October 26th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off on Cumbria Canoe Leader training
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Advanced Sea Kayak Leader assessment

Advanced Sea Kayak Leader assessment

Strong NW winds provided big conditions at St Bees to complete an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader assessment.  Faced with difficult launching and landing, powerful surf, a distant break and some very big waves (which had our sea kayaks airborne and pointing skywards at times!), the candidate did a great job of managing two competent paddlers and providing an intense but very positive experience.  They also managed all the staged rescue situations and incidents with aplomb – very well done!

If you’re keen to develop your sea kayaking or sea kayak qualifications at any level from flat calm to as challenging as you want, Steve will be pleased to help you.  Get in touch for a chat about your paddling needs on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By |October 22nd, 2021|Sea Kayak|Comments Off on Advanced Sea Kayak Leader assessment
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Cave Leader training

Cave Leader training

Steve has just run a two day BCA Cave Leader training course in the Yorkshire Dales.  Using the Great Douk area, Long Churn, Borrin’s Moor and Wilson’s Caves we covered lots of relevant limestone geography, geology and geomorphology; environmental, historical and speleological issues as well as critical equipment, group management and ropework – and much more!  An enjoyable time was had by all.

If you are interested in trying caving, working towards caving awards or just moving your current caving forwards Steve will be pleased to help you.  He also runs a caving trip to Northern Spain in April which is appropriate for any suitably fit and interested individual – no significant caving experience is required as it is mainly trekking in vast and spectacular spaces.  Just call on 07796 213817 or email for a discussion about any of the above.

By |October 21st, 2021|Cave|Comments Off on Cave Leader training
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Canoe Leader Open Water training

Canoe Open Water Leader

Steve ran a Canoe Leader Open Water training course last weekend.  This newly separated (from WW) award permits more focus on open water skills and knowledge – an opportunity we took full advantage of.  An excellent day on Derwentwater was had building and using sailing rigs for solo boats as well as rafts, personal paddling on open water in waves and wind, group leadership on open water in more challenging conditions as well as the management of a variety of incidents requiring first aid, rescue, improvised craft and self rescue.  This award is already proving popular, particularly with those working in outdoor centres, as they are more likely to be leading on open water rather than rivers.

Special thanks go to Dave Crooks at Endless River in Worcester for so rapidly providing support and equipment to enable everyone’s solo sailing.  Endless River’s solo sailing rig (as in Steve’s boat in the image) is ideal for the task – Steve has no trouble sailing across the wind with this rig using his paddle as a leeboard.

If you’d like to advance your knowledge and understanding of open water canoeing, or to work towards British Canoeing’s qualifications in this environment, please get in touch with Steve – he’ll do his best to help.

By |October 18th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off on Canoe Leader Open Water training
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Sea Kayaking Cumbria: Barrow & St Bees

Barrow sea kayaking

Cumbria provides some great, though perhaps less well known, venues for sea kayaking.  This past weekend saw Steve taking private clients out round the North end of Walney Island following the fast flowing tide through the North channel past the nature reserve.  They were surprised by its unpopulated and wild nature despite being close to a large town.  Barrow provides many other excellent venues for a day out (image with Piel Castle) whilst Cumbria as a whole has plenty of good coast for sea kayaking:  St Bees has the only cliff coastline between the Great Orme and the Mull of Galloway and is festooned with cliff nesting birds in spring and summer; the huge sandy expanse of Morecambe Bay and the many river estuaries on the coast provide for fast tides and several tidal bores as the incoming water is concentrated in narrow spaces; the North Solway has 6 knot currents on spring tides to carry the adventurous northwards to return on the equally brisk ebb.  These and other Cumbrian paddling sites await those interested in broadening their kayaking horizons.  If this appeals to you Steve will be happy to advise and provide any support you need – just call 07796 213817 or email for a chat.

By |October 11th, 2021|Sea Kayak|Comments Off on Sea Kayaking Cumbria: Barrow & St Bees
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