Canoe Focus Summer 2017 | Page 58

58 59 Kayaking At just two years old it’s fair to say that Jojo has been paddling before he could talk. The only way we could get Jojo to sleep was to put him in the bottom of our boat says his mum Christina. And now… Did you know that the number of households owning a canoe or kayak in the UK is at an all time high? Open Canoeing Looking for a new challenge and intrigued by her neighbours love for canoeing in his open boat, Pip Piper decided to give it a try and hasn’t looked back. Turn to page 60 to read about what inspired Pip to take up canoeing for the first time and her latest challenge, paddling a stretch of the Caledonian Canal. White water rafting Our Go Canoeing competition winners were all trying white water rafting for the first time so we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to grill them on their experiences hitting the white water. THE NUMBER OF FEMALES PARTICIPATING IN CANOEING HAS RISEN BY 75% Turn to page 64 to read all about how they got on, and how one winners fear of white water is conquered! IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND NOW REPRESENTS 42% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS THERE HAS BEEN A 40% INCREASE IN PEOPLE AGED 55+ TAKING PART IN CANOEING Head to our website or social media channels over the coming weeks as we will be covering more disciplines. Will you be trying a new discipline this National Go Canoeing Week? Let us know! There are over 10 different paddlesport disciplines! I started canoeing in October 2016 and the initial one hour paddles would leave me exhausted. Now I’m regularly completing five hour trips and proud to say I have become a competent paddler Turn to page 62 to find out more about Jojo’s padding journey so far. As part of National Go Canoeing Week we are speaking to people who are new to a paddlesport discipline or trying it for the first time to demonstrate that there really is something for everyone! No matter how late (or early) you start. More people are taking to the water than ever before with over 1.5 million of us taking part in canoeing over the last 12 months in the UK. (Find out more about the exciting research here) Jojo is one of British Canoeing’s youngest members and regularly paddles alone in his own kayak alongside his mum and dad, who are both coaches at Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club and Trent Lock Scout Activity Centre.