Canoe

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 Steve|November 1st, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

Cumbria 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 Steve|October 26th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

Canoe Leader Open Water training

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 Steve|October 18th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

Canoe Leader Award

With the new BC Canoe Leader Award structure now implemented candidates are coming forward for the newly separated open water and white water elements. Steve ran an Open Water assessment last week in the Lakes which went very well. It’s become quickly apparent that the majority of individuals seeking these awards are predominantly interested in the Open Water award as it tends to fit best with situations in which they will be leading e.g. outdoor centres and clubs. The training and assessment for both elements now permit greater coverage of the required skills and knowledge to be an effective leader in these environments – this is a clear benefit of the new system.

The ability to focus on either discipline in isolation is proving popular, as the numbers enrolling on the specific training days has increased significantly. If you are keen to further your qualifications to lead in either moderate or advanced open or white water in canoe Steve will be pleased to help you: his next Canoe Leader training courses are Oct 16th & 17th for open water and white water respectively, with further courses on the 6th & 7th Nov. Get in touch for a discussion at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 22nd, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

Where Eagles Dare

We are just returned from a spectacular, remote and committing trip to the Hebrides where Steve ran a six day canoe journey into the loch-ridden interior of Lewis. For five straight days we did not encounter another human being – that’s difficult to do even on our Canadian trips – and provides an insight into just how little visited an area it is. There are reasons for this of course: it’s challenging with long paddling days on exposed open water; variable and rapidly changing weather; difficult ground for camping and, of course, it’s not without its portages. Notwithstanding this, and bearing in mind the famous Canadian canoeist Bill Mason and his quote “… you get a better class of paddler after the first portage”, we endeavoured to live up to his ideals ensuring we left no trace of our passing through, save for a few footprints in the sand. Our reward was a unique trip in a fantastic landscape full of wonderful views and amazing wildlife: we had regular encounters with sandpipers, cuckoos, grouse, snipe and divers, though these were upstaged by the almost constant presence of eagles above our tents – at one point we had four circling overhead, then landing and taking off again close by to soar with a backdrop of the snow capped peaks of Harris’s mountains.

This trip will live long in the memory. Thank you to everyone who came to join us on the journey.

By Steve|May 26th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

Hebridean canoe trip May 2021

Steve’s Hebridean canoe trip is definitely running, barring a reversal in the easing of lockdown. This adventure canoeing holiday is from the 17th to 21st May and is a wild camping, self-sufficient journey in the spectacular wild lands of Harris and Lewis. As with Steve’s Assynt expedition, we will build in a day to explore the surrounding mountains and abundant local wildlife, or to just laze in camp reading or absorbing the experience. The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to fit in with client needs and the weather and conditions at the time.

The ferries are filling up fast but there are a few places remaining on this trip, so if you’re interested in coming along please get in touch as soon as possible.

By Steve|March 20th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

BC Canoe Leader award changes

In addition to the BC leadership award assessment changes listed in the previous post, their Canoe Leader and Advanced Canoe leader awards will now be divided into open water and white water. This means that individuals wishing to specialise in only one environment will be able to gain the specific award they require following a single day assessment – or single day plus night exercise for advanced candidates on open water. Anyone wishing to lead on white water and open water will need to take both assessments, though they do not need to be done on consecutive days as was previously the case. It will also be possible to mix and match levels so, for example, an advanced open water test could be matched with a moderate water WW assessment.

Steve is able to run all these courses and will continue to offer training courses for canoeing leadership awards. Please contact him to discuss your requirements.

By Steve|February 19th, 2021|Canoe|Comments Off

British Canoeing leadership assessment courses

From January 4th 2021 British Canoeing have changed the format of their professional paddlesport leadership assessments to reduce the assessment time, though they have also reduced the ratio so that only 2 people maximum may be assessed at once – and they are encouraging 1:1. The new system allows a more bespoke approach so that assessments can be arranged with and tailored to candidate’s requirements and diaries. Whilst Steve will advertise available dates for moderate water and advanced water assessments in canoeing, sea kayaking and white water kayaking, you can also contact him for alternatives that are more suitable for you.

Most courses can be run anywhere there are suitable conditions, though travel and necessary accommodation outside of Steve’s local area is likely to incur extra cost unless he advertises assessments at specific non-local venues e.g. for Advanced Sea Leader the assessment may be available immediately after a training course run further afield where conditions are more consistently available. Advanced canoe and sea leader assessments will still include a night exercise, advanced sea will further require a theory examination.

By Steve|February 19th, 2021|Canoe, Sea Kayak, White Water Kayak|Comments Off

Canoe Leader assessment

We managed to run the Canoe Leader assessment for three candidates last weekend and, thanks to high water levels and some windy conditions, found excellent venues at the top of the remit. This will be the last moderate or advanced water leader assessment run in this format as, from January 4th, British Canoeing are splitting canoeing into white water and open water disciplines. BC are also moving to single day assessments with 2 candidates maximum. For those specifically interested in canoeing, this will enable candidates to work on only the discipline they need or prefer, or to work towards both separately. I’ll publish a further post in the New Year when the scheme is up and running, I’ll also put up information on the various updated courses.

If anyone has any questions about the upcoming changes please get in touch and I’ll do my best to assist.

By Steve|December 23rd, 2020|Canoe|Comments Off

Canoe Leader assessment

We are still aiming to run our Canoe Leader assessment on the 19th & 20th December in Cumbria with all required Covid-19 precautions in place. There is currently one place available for anyone interested in joining the course – possibly the last one to be run in the UK under the present BC scheme. Please get in touch if you’re looking for this assessment and we’ll do our best to help.

By Steve|December 4th, 2020|Canoe|Comments Off