Stuart

Name

Stewart Rattray (38)

How long have you been a club member

2 years

Where do you stay ?

East Dunbartonshire

What made you start kayaking or canoeing?

So I’m a returnee to kayaking and canoeing … I came back to it after a long time away.  We had kayaks and canoes and sailing dinghies as kids – my father was a keen boater but I stopped ~17/18. I came back to kayaking in the autumn of Covid during the periods of limited movement simply because it was one of the few things we were still allowed to do. I was very lucky to get landed with Sandy Johnston as a coach who quickly put me to work (there was a LOT of work to do!). It went from there.

What do you enjoy about the sport?

I like to be challenged and I need some excitement to get my kicks. Whitewater paddling gives me that.  Big & scary or sedate & calm .. you make Kayaking into whatever you want it to be. As a whitewater paddler I see a similarity in the types of people who enjoy paddling whitewater – they’re often found up Munro’s, at the end of a rope or on a mountain bike. Aside from the safety stuff … there aren’t a lot of “rules”. You can largely do what you want. Realising that’s it’s actually a team sport is a nice addition. 

Kayaking is super inclusive. There is a place for everyone from performance focused paddlers through to social paddlers. Just as long as you paddle ….

Is it different to what you expected?

Not really … I think I knew what I was getting myself in for. I have a new found respect for some of the hard stuff I see being done. Some people make some very hard stuff look very easy. Maybe the fact that there is a lot of subtle movement and fine motor skills involved in “good” paddling and that’s it’s not all power.

Where all have you been kayaking?

Scottish rivers only. 

What’s been your favorite trip so far and why?

This year I squeezed in a Spey descent in the canoe. 3 days, 112km, steady g 1-2 drops and some camping. This is perhaps better thought of as mini expedition than a canoe trip. The paddling isn’t particularly difficult but the Spey is special in that it stays interesting right up until the very end. Long days in the boat and having all the kit for a comfortable camp is probably the biggest challenge here. Some really quite special places to be found on this river. Everyone should do at least once.

Have trips gone to plan?

No – and I think they’d be boring if they did.  The club does a good job of putting on safe trips for beginners before inviting them onto water more suited to intermediate/advanced paddlers. You want well organised trips (and fellow paddlers who are well organised and dependable!) but you don’t want there to be no challenges. Dynamic days out are a big part of the fun!

What is your most memorable “oh shit” moment?

Breaking a paddle upside down. I snapped a paddled while up side down on a drop (incompetence) on a river summer 2022 and got raked across the rocks. It took me a moment to realise that I was going to have to have a swim. Marked up in the “not to be repeated” category.  On the plus side … excuse for a new paddle.

What’s your funniest kayaking moment?

Hmm … not sure that I have a funniest moment … which makes it sound like I don’t have fun kayaking!!
I’ve certainly had a good laugh at the mess others have got themselves into and I’m sure they’ve had a good laugh at me (see above).
I think the greatest enjoyment is to be found at the bottom of a day out on the river when you recount all the things you and your friends have screwed up coming down. 
(We’ll need to work on the narrative above to come up with something printable. You can’t say I’ve had a good laugh at new paddlers!!)

Do you have a “special move”?

Learned to back-deck roll recently but tailee’s are my favourite move of the moment . #halfslice

What’s the one kayak skill you’d like to learn?

I keep find myself thinking about  a lower volume boat for Xmas this year – a play boat or a full slice. That only leads to more tricks.  The new dagger Super Nova looks super fun!! 

What does the ultimate kayak trip have for you?

I think I need to be stretched to get that feeling of achievement.  Too much and things can feel a little out of control … but too little is boring. I don’t get much out of repeating something I know I can achieve.  Maybe one of these big expeditions would be a good experience … a big river with all your kit in the boat.

Throw in some travel, lots of water and maybe some sun … probably got a good combo. 

What’s been the most challenging trip you’ve been on?

I recall being on a big, bouncy Nith after heavy rain once with the club. There was a few too many people all swimming at the same time with boats and paddles heading off down the river.

Would have made a good white paper for the whitewater river leader course.  😉

 Where else would you like to kayak?

I guess we need to prioritise paddling anything due to be flooded for hydro electric. White Nile is not as it once was, Zambezi is at risk. Maybe Pucon Chile would be cool. Club trip?