Ross and Cromarty Army cadets boost paddleboarding skills on adventure course

Two army cadets from Ross and Cromarty took to the water recently to help increase their skill base and potentially further opportunities for other young people in the future.

Sergeant Instructor Nicola Ross (29) and Cadet Colour Sergeant Kai Greig (17), from 1st Battalion The Highlanders took part in a Stand-Up Paddleboarding Foundation Course held at Halton Training Centre in Lancaster earlier last month..

The course, run by the Army Cadets’ own adventure training centre, the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training, is open to adults and cadets aged 16 or over from across the Army Cadet Force.

The five-day course covers an introduction to paddleboarding allowing students to experience their first session on the water, as well as learning useful skills for an enjoyable paddling experience in a very sheltered water environment.

The £50 cost of the course covered all clothing and equipment required as well as access and conservation, weather, lifting, carrying and launching the paddleboard, efficient forward and reverse paddling, turning, moving sideways, manoeuvring the paddleboard in confined spaces, self and group rescues and participating in a journey.

At the end of the course both Kai and Nicola were awarded a British Canoeing Paddle Explore Awards Stand-Up Paddleboarding Safer Qualification, allowing them to expand their skills in paddleboarding.

After taking part in more advanced courses and logging their time on the water they may become qualified paddleboarding instructors able to leadin groups of cadets out on the water as part of the adventure training section of the cadet syllabus.

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