Stuart Woodward
Stuart Woodward brings with him many years experience of boating in Europe and around the world, having taken part in Expeditions and trips to the Himalayas, North America and North Africa. However Stuart’s first boating experiences were far from the mountains. For many years he paddled in racing K1 and K2. He completed the Devices to Westminster race three times, plus a whole host of other races such as the Exe Descent and the Waterside Series before discovering the fast flowing rivers of Dartmoor and North Wales.
After many trips to the French Alps he set up his own alpine kayak school -Canoe Control. Along with Rob Hind, Dave Mamby and Mike Hewlett he helped train the British Youth Team (innovated by Ben Love) for their trip to the Colorado Grand Canyon in 1992. He gained professional Alpine Guide status in 1995 and became a BCU Level 5 coach and Level 5 Assessor in 1999. In 2001 he was pleased to be invited to become a member of the AKC (Alpine Kayak Club). All together he has racked up some 20+ years of coaching experience. He says his greatest kayaking adventure to date was the first complete descent of the Tuhli Berhi and Berhi River in Nepal in 1996.
His favourite rivers in the world are the Guil (French Alps), Karnali (Nepal), Karli Sadha (India) and the Upper Dart (UK). His most favorite place in the world still is the Southern French Alps, where he has spent the last 17 summers.