Alice’s home patch is Edinburgh and her local paddling is around the Forth of Forth and the east coast of Scotland including the iconic bridges of the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock. She regularly paddles on the West Coast of Scotland, and her particular favourite places include Lismore, Bute and the Clyde, Skye, Arisaig, and she also loves the grandeur of Shetland and the North Coast of Scotland. Alice loves packing her kayak for an extended trip and getting to wild, remote camping spots. She’s a BC Advanced Sea Kayak Leader and coach and a founder of the Women’s Scottish Sea Kayak Festival, and runs seakayakalice.co.uk

Eila runs her own sea kayaking coaching and expedition centre in Holyhead, Anglesey.    Offering all manner of sea kayak courses, bespoke and British Canoeing and welcoming all paddlers frombeginner to advanced levels.As a Sea Kayaking U.K. approved expedition centre Eila is also now offering an additional element of quality convenience to participants with the option of a new fully outfitted expedition service.  Qualified and endorsed as - UKCC Advanced water coach- British Canoeing National Trainer (SKL/ CNTP)- Advanced  Sea Kayak Leader Assessor- Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning Provider (also now providing online endorsed courses)- PPA provider for sea kayak, coastal & advanced awards. - British Canoeing Delivery Partner approvedNew for 2021 Eila is opening a brand new Epic Surf ski centre in Holyhead.  Eila has been professionally coaching for over 10 years. Having completed circumnavigations of the Outer Hebrides, Ireland and has completed many first time expeditions in the Bahamas.  She also holds some speed circumnavs of Anglesey and IoM.

Eila Wilkinson

Eila Wilkinson

I have been passionate about paddling for years and paddle most things that float. I particularly love being out on the sea and helping others build their confidence to enjoy dynamic environments. I am also fascinated by the coaching process and coach development.

I have been paddling for over thirty years in most types of boats and have had lots of adventures exploring many parts of the world by boat. 

More recently I have developed my passion for sea kayaking and I am now an Advanced Water Sea Leader and Performance Coach, and advance water coach.  

I have worked on a number of women only sea kayak events and enjoy the atmosphere and dynamics of these events. I particularly like helping people to develop their confidence in the sea environment.

Natalie works as a teacher and has kayaking as one of her hobbies, although she spends more time in the boat than doing anything else. Natalie lives in London and considers The Tideway to be one of the most exciting paddling environments in Britain, she would know as she circumnavigated Britain in 2012.

Apart from journeys and long crossings Natalie enjoys most coaching others. She is a UKCC L3 coach with Moderate Water Endorsement, Advance Water Sea Kayak Coach, and Advance Water Leader.

Together with her husband Michal they set up Mad Coaching Project (Make a Difference), through which they raised £6000  for different charities.

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Anita Daimond offers guided sea kayak trips and coaching through her company Sea Môr Kayaking based in North Wales www.seamorkayaking.wales. 
She has over 20 years of experience of kayaking and working with people in various outdoor environments promoting connection with nature, landscape and heritage. She is an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader and Moderate Water Sea Kayak coach. She regularly kayaks in the tidal seas around Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula and has undertaken expeditions in Scotland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden.

Ann is a Sea Leader and a level 2 coach from Norfolk. She recently gave up her proper job and is trying to decide what she wants to do when she’s grown up. She mostly paddles the sleepy rivers of Norfolk, but regularly makes UK excursions, usually to the West coast of Scotland, but also other destinations from the Scillies to Shetland! She has been lucky enough to paddle in Lanzarote, Norway, Sardinia, Greece, Turkey, New Zealand and Canada. The destination wish list grows almost daily! Ann is almost as likely to be found on top of her kayak as in it, and enjoys using balancing challenges as part of her coaching.  She is particularly excited to be returning to this festival for the third time, but for the first time as a coach.            

For me, greenland rolling is a great joy in itself, both as a relaxation as well as a challenge. However, I also love that it enables me to play in dynamic water conditions, safe in the knowledge that I will be able to come up again! It will be great to work with you at the festival, and I’m looking forward to introducing you to the techniques to develop a roll of your own!

Zoe migrated into the world of sea kayaking from a love of the outdoors and backpacking, realising that sea kayaking allows longer expeditions and more wine to be carried.  Zoe spends most of her paddling time on the waters of Anglesey in North Wales, but also heads to Scotland at any opportunity (for sea or mountains). Zoe has also expedition-ed in Sweden and Norway, including a trip around Nordkapp, supposedly the most northern point of mainland Europe.

In 2019 Zoe completed a circumnavigation of Ireland in an all-woman team with Natalie. Zoe has a day job as a Professor of Sustainability Education and her passion for education extends into sea kayaking and coaching paddlers on the wonders of the salty world.  She's a 5* sea kayak leader, with the Advanced Water Endorsement for coaching in advanced waters, and a Performance Sea Kayak Coach.  

Zoe Robinson 

Julie discovered sea kayaking after moving to Devon 15 years ago. She enjoys the freedom to explore the diverse coastlines that the UK has to offer. Further afield she has enjoyed exploring Jersey, France, Norway and Western Greenland always with a sketchbook to hand to record the journey. 

Back at home in South Devon she is the Chair of Totnes Canoe Club, based on the River Dart. She can often be found leading groups and coaching at sea kayaking events but also enjoys white water kayaking, canoeing and has recently discovered surf skiing. Julie is a BC Advanced Sea Kayak Leader, Level 2 coach, working towards Performance coach, with Moderate Water Endorsement and a Sea Kayak Award Provider.

This year she is also a BC ⌗ShePaddles Ambassador encouraging women paddlers on the water

Sea kayaking frees my mind and connects me with nature.
I circumnavigated Ireland with Sonja Keaney and have paddled in Wales, Norway and Greece. When not sitting at a laptop editing, I work as a sea kayak instructor with Dublin based Shearwater Sea kayaking, and paddle as much as I can around the unbeatable Irish coastline. Having trained with and met some inspiring coaches, I began my own coaching journey and hope to pass the BC Moderate Water Coach award in July.  I am a firm supporter and promoter of women on the water and am thrilled to have been invited to be part of this symposium.