Surfski Coaching Courses
Our Next Scheduled Course will be
IMPROVERS-INTERMEDIATE
1-2nd APRIL 2023!
Next Course
1-2nd April 2023
at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.
Level: IMPROVERS – INTERMEDIATE
Whether you’re a paddler who’s new to surfski or you’d like to get a proper grounding on how to get the best out of your ski with all it’s unique excitement, strengths, quirks and safety considerations – this is the course for you.
Four practical on-water sessions with plenty of theory, ergo analysis, handouts and fun for you to take home and play with.
Just sign up here and / or ask for a more detailed course plan, cost, etc. Please say which course you’d like to join.
Sign Up or Ask for More Info
Background
Despite Ocean Ski paddling’s explosive growth in popularity here, this discipline has only just been recognised by British Canoeing and there is, as yet, no formal coaching structure set up. There are still very few tailored training and coaching courses for beginners, improvers and intermediates – although occasional elite clinics offered by such outstanding paddlers as Sean Rice, Oscar Chalupski and Ivan Lawler are available.
Effective Ocean Ski paddling incorporates elements from several other disciplines, including sprint, marathon, white water racing, wave ski and, of course, sea kayaking. Most ski paddlers have entered from other aspects of canoe and kayak sport and find that applying their existing skills can provide a great start in their ski adventures.
On the other hand, some of those well established habits that work fine in other canoe-kayaking disciplines often lead to serious limitations when applied to ski. Even a sea kayak coach’s decades of knowledge about wind, tide and weather wont necessarily help him/her to consistently catch and work runners in a much these lighter, faster and more responsive boats.
Surfski course dates for the 2022 Season
Course levels can be arranged to suit what you want – so book ahead!
APRIL 2023
1-2nd – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
17-20th – 4 DAY INTENSIVE
29-30th – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
MAY
27-28th – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
JUNE
24-25th – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
JULY
8-9th – FBOR’23
22-23rd – LEVEL TBC
AUGUST
5-6th – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
26-27th – LEVEL TBC
SEPTEMBER
2-3rd – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
23-24th – LEVEL TBC
OCTOBER
7-8th – IMPROVER > INTERMEDIATE
21-22nd – LEVEL TBC
The Coach
Ben Edom has a lifetime of experience in kayak and canoe paddling, coaching and competition, including GB Sprint Team and a national championship win and 10 years of Ski paddling in Australia on Queesland’s Sunshine Coast and Sydney’s Northern Beaches. This breadth of experience, and often daily playing on those big Pacific swells, enables Ben to communication simple, clear key insights, valuable hints and subtle techniques, all personally tested with serious sea time.
Now back in training, and one of the team riders for Stellar UK and Rough Water Gear, Ben has earned a string of podium places in 2018, 2019 and 2020 races. And bringing his coaching skills right up to date in 2020 Benjamin has qualified as a British Canoeing Race Coach.
“I love the sea and want to help anyone who takes on the thrills and challenges of wind and wave on a ski to be more effective and aware so you can enjoy every trip all the more. If that means you can beat me – all the better!”
The Courses
There are three tiers of day, weekend, or longer courses to suit everyone except ocean ski experts:
Improver>Intermediate
A general, practical introduction to surfski paddling for people with some experience of canoe or kayak who want to understand how to apply that to ski. Offers a sound foundation of principles, safety considerations and plenty of practical techniques to take home and work on.
Intermediate>Advanced
For paddlers with canoe-kayak and at some ski experience who are ready to up their game on their ski. We cover a wide range of vital ski-specific seamanship and paddling techniques, while working towards a focused and proactive attitude to your paddling, the ocean, and racing.
Race Ready
When you’re ready to take your performance to the next level, build on your established experience on surfski and/or other paddling disciplines. Weak points will be targeted, solutions offered, and you’ll take away lots of new ways to achieve and enjoy more power, speed, and efficiency every time you go out on the sea – and race! This course expects a disciplined and competitive participant attitude.
Benjamin Edom is a British Canoeing qualified Race Coach and has full Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance through Canoe Wales.