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Our regular coaching team include outdoor sports professionals with a wide range of experience, qualifications and awards. They like nothing better than getting out in the outdoors and enjoying the open spaces of the British Isles whether they're coaching groups or just doing their own thing.
Many of our coaches compete in their sports at a National or International level so you may see a few familiar faces amongst them.
To help you get to know your coaches a little better, we've collected some profiles and photos of our regular coaching team.
Kevin has been working in the outdoors for 17 years starting out as a kayak instructor during which time he kayaked in most areas of the UK and also on expeditions in the Himalayas, India, Norway, Greece and The Alps.
He became interested in mountaineering and climbing seven years ago and has since summited most of the 'Nuttalls' (mountains of England & Wales over 610m) and is well into climbing all 262 of the Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet). He has also traveled extensively to places such as Crete, Morocco, Ireland, The Dolomites and the Alps. This year Kevin plans an attempt on the GR20 in Corsica.
Loves - Being outdoors
Hates - Sitting at a desk
Guilty Pleasure - Wine gums and Percy pigs
Kevin holds the following qualifications and awards:
Kevin is also an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader and Single Pitch Award rock climbing instructor.
Rob lives in Brighton at the foot of the South Downs, so naturally his teenage years were spent riding with friends around the South Downs and the South Downs Way. He took the step of becoming a Mountain Bike Guide in 2005 and completed his CTC mountain bike guiding qualifications in Switzerland last year.
Rob has guided clients at most of the famous European resorts - Verbier, Crans Montana, Chatel, Pila and many more. He has also ridden extensively in the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Rob loves riding singletrack and is a regular rider at his local trails at Friston Forest and Stanmer Park in Sussex and also in the beautiful Surrey Hills.
Loves - Chocolate milk
Hates - Bad manners
Guilty Pleasure - 80's power ballads and murder mystery programmes!
Rob holds the following qualifications and awards:
Rob is also an aspirant British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor
A resident of Ambleside in the heart of Cumbria, Faye is well placed to make the most of her passion; walking, climbing and mountaineering her way through the fells of The Lake District.
She has also travelled extensively including trekking around South America and overland from Turkey to India via Iran and Pakistan. Faye loves being in the big mountains and has trekked up to 5700m in Iran. Last winter she spent time trekking in Patagonia and travelling through the wilds of Bolivia.
Her second love, next to her beloved Lake District, are the wild areas and mountains of Scotland.
Loves - Snow
Hates - Midges
Guilty Pleasure - Chocolate (the big bars)
Faye holds the following qualifications and awards:
Faye is also an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader and Single Pitch Award rock climbing instructor.
Nick is one of the UK’s most experienced and successful adventure racers. He started racing 12 years ago as a novice and after 10 years of hard training and racing he became Adventure Racing World Champion in 2009 with his team adidas TERREX.
He has taken part in over 20 expedition length races all over the world and competed in 4 world championships cumulating in last year's win.
Nick's primary focus is on the soft skills that make him one of the world's leading adventure sport athletes. He is an expert on training, kit, strategy, teamwork and dealing with the physical and mental sides of this very demanding sport.
Loves - My family
Hates - Coronation Street
Guilty Pleasure - White chocolate ice cream
Nick holds the following qualifications and awards:
Nick is also an aspirant Mountain Leader.
A friend introduced Aidan to mountain biking 10 years ago. The friend was later heard to comment that he had "Created a monster". Aidan is a regular rider in the West of London haunts (Chiltern Hills, Surrey Hills, Bracknell) and specialises in self-supported ultra-endurance racing. He has competed in the Alaska Ultrasport on the Iditarod Trail, and in 2010 took the white jersey as the fastest rookie in the Tour Divide. He rides for Singular Cycles, but usually only races multi-day events.
Aside from mountain biking, Aidan enjoys open water swimming; but not getting up early for it. His completed swims include Gozo to Malta, Switzerland to France across Lake Geneva, and the Finnish ice-swimming championships. Other sports he dips a toe in include rock climbing, ice climbing, hill walking, and sea kayaking.
Loves - Waking up in wilderness
Hates - Being stuck behind a computer
Guilty Pleasure - Coffee and muffins (note the plural)
Aiden holds the following qualifications and awards:
Aiden is also an aspirant British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor
Helen Howe lives and works in Snowdonia and is a qualified First Aid Trainer and Mountain Leader. She is at home in any mountain terrain and lives for the hills.
Helen taught A level Geography at a Grammar school for thirteen years. She has also worked as a Senior Tutor for the Field studies Council for the past five years. As a result she has a keen interest and detailed knowledge in the Natural History and Geomorphology of the outdoors.
In her spare time she is an active member of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team and SARDA Wales. Helen is one of the most qualified female Mountain Rescue Search Dog handlers in the UK.
In whatever spare time is left, Helen climbs, backpacks, walks, ski tours and enjoys canoe trips with her husband Steve, a qualified Mountain Instructor, and their two dogs both at home and abroad. In 2009 she completed the Munros.
Helen holds the following qualifications and awards:
Helen is also an aspirant International Mountain Leader Award (winter)
Andy leads an active outdoor life around Surrey where he lives. As a personal trainer he runs circuit training, leads spinning classes and gets his clients outside as much as possible. Andy regularly mountain bikes for pleasure as well as XC races at events in the South East. He's also frequently seen out road biking where he guides on corporate and charity rides.
As a qualified Trail Cycle Leader and Bike Mechanic, Andy holds all the ingredients for a fun day out in the hills. Besides biking Andy is a keen runner, accomplished sailor and enjoys time on the slopes skiing.
Loves - Discovering new singletrack
Hates - Crowds
Guilty Pleasure - Real Ale
Andy holds the following qualifications and awards:
Andy is an aspirant Mountain Bike Leader and British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor
Throughout the year Adam can be found hiking through out in the Lake District and coaching adventure sports in the hills, on the crags, in the water or even down caves. He also regularly leads expeditions abroad.
Recently he led a 21 people to the summit of Kilimanjaro, completed his second successful ascent of Aconcagua (6962m), the highest mountain in South America, summited Island Peak in Nepal (6189m) and completed two visits to Everest Base Camp.
He has also completed 10 marathons with a best time of 3h 14m.
Loves - Balancing random objects on my face!
Hates - Libraries and offices
Guilty Pleasure - McDonald's Milkshakes
Adam holds the following qualifications and awards:
Adam is also an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader.
Rob leads a fitness and sport specific life competing in National BMX events claiming 3rd in his Rookie year. His focus for cycling is being fast, powerful and smooth; taking jumps and drops with effortless style.
As a day job Rob develops cycling in the PE National Curriculum and coordinates the 'Bikeability' scheme in the South-East. Rob regularly mountain bikes for pleasur e as well as stints on his road bike in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.
As a qualified MTB Skills Leader and with 15 years experience riding BMX freestyle, Rob holds all the ingredients for a fun day out learning smooth jumps, drops and hops with style. Besides biking Rob is a keen basketball player, accomplished hiker and enjoys time on the slopes snowboarding.
Loves - Messing around on one wheel
Hates - Horror films
Guilty Pleasure - Chicken nuggets
Rob holds the following qualifications and awards:
Rob is an aspirant GoRide Level II BMX Coach and High Altitude Mountain Bike Leader.
Danielle has been enjoying the freedom of the hills since she was a teenager, initially as a mountaineer but latterly as a mountain biker, and has climbed and biked her way around Europe, North Africa and the Far East.
She is a fully qualified mountaineering, rock climbing and mountain bike coach specialising in getting beginners started on their way to become independent in the mountains and moors of the British Isles.
When not working in the hills, Danielle can be found nailing some singletrack in The Surrey Hills or competing in adventure races throughout the UK with her team EnduroAR.
Loves - Flowing singletrack, wild camping and alpine peaks
Hates - Intolerance and bullies
Guilty Pleasure - Formula 1
Danielle holds the following qualifications and awards:
Danielle is also an aspirant International Mountain Leader and British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor
Louise is a highly experienced rock climber and holder of the Mountain Instructor Award. She is also an extremely experienced BCU 3 Star canoe, kayak and sea kayak coach.
Louise has traveled extensively throughout the Northern and Southern hemisphere and is always on the look out for her next adventure. She lives in North Wales ready at a moments notice to take on the challenge of the outdoors.
Loves - Surfing
Hates - People just out for themselves
Guilty Pleasure - Cake, and lots of it!
Louise holds the following qualifications and awards:
Louise is also an aspirant British Mountain Guide
Gary has a love of the active outdoors that is matched only by his enthusiasm for sharing his extensive knowledge of mountain bike and fitness skills. When not mucking about on bikes he has had some success as an adventure racer and ultra-runner, as well as having a wealth of good times kayaking, climbing, hiking and surfing around the world.
When not coaching Gary's time is shared between planning adventure sports events and with heading up Rat Race Urban Gym; a city centre fitness initiative that brings new meaning to the phrase 'street circuits'.
Loves - New kit
Hates - Nanny culture
Guilty Pleasure - Urban wild camping
Gary holds the following qualifications and awards:
Gary is also an aspirant Single Pitch Award rock climbing instructor.
Barry lives and works in the Snowdonia National Park and specialises in teaching navigation skills. He is a qualified International Mountain Leader and is also a member of the Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team
Barry leads walking groups throughout Europe and has worked in the Austrian, Swiss and French Alps as well as Andalucía and Mallorca in Spain. Nearer to home he can also be seen leading groups in the Scottish highlands including Glen Coe and the beautiful Isle of Arran.
He is also an enthusiastic outdoor photographer and keen on Flora and Fauna as well as Industrial archaeology.
Loves - Mountains!
Hates - Being idle and shopping
Guilty Pleasure - Tunnocks chocolate bars
Barry holds the following qualifications and awards:
Barry is also an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader.
Having spent much of her youth spinning road wheels in her native Yorkshire, Jessica made the jump to mountain bikes 15 years ago and has been an active participant in the sport ever since. She is a familiar face at trail centres around the UK, Europe and beyond and loves the challenge of fresh singletrack.
Occasionally it's possible to tempt her from her saddle with the right combination of alpine peaks, Welsh rock or even sea kayaking! As a member of Team EnduroAR she is also a whiz with map and compass and has often pulled a race victory from the jaws of defeat with a deft bearing or two. Jessica also races XC for Dirt Divas.
Loves - Her border collies Twig and Flint
Hates - Bike thieves
Guilty Pleasure - Chocolate
Jessica holds the following qualifications and awards:
Jessica is also an aspirant Single Pitch Award rock climbing instructor and British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor.
As a former member of the Brecon Beacons Mountain Rescue Team Paul's knowledge of hill and mountain skills is excellent. Based in the beautiful Brecon Beacons he has been an Instructor for over 20 years and his specialities are teaching Navigation and leading Bird Watching walks.
Loves - Marzipan - in copious amounts!
Hates - Arrogance
Guilty Pleasure - Pork pies
Paul holds the following qualifications and awards:
Paul is also an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader
In addition to our regular staff we also employ a number of fully qualified freelancer coaches and guides many of whom started out as friends and gradually transitioned to being part of our extended family.
Jim Barrow - Mountain Bike GuideJim, Jimbo or Hummerlicious depending on how well you know him, is mountain bike mad and runs our guided rides in Sussex and The South Downs. When not riding his bikes he indulges in his other two passions; cake and pointy guitars.
Jimbo has ridden BMX's and mountain bikes since he was a teenager and has taken his passion on the road around most of Western Europe and even as far as South-East Asia.
Gerald Davison - Mountain Skills CoachGerald is an expert in coaching navigation and has been coaching and assessing the National Navigation Award Scheme for many years. He is also a qualified Winter Mountain Leader and International Mountain Leader.
In his spare time Gerald is a member of the North-East Wales Search & Rescue Team cover the counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Wrexham, Powys and parts of Wirral and Cheshire with occasional call-ups to back up their Snowdonia National Park counterparts.
Paul Fleming - Mountain Bike GuidePaul has been riding for most of his life - having raced competitively on both the road and the velodrome. For the last fifteen years he has switched his attention to mountain biking giving him an extensive knowledge of the Surrey countryside as well as many other destinations further afield.
Paul's other outdoor hobby is Civil War battle re-enactments; often wishing he kept his armour on for his fights with the trails!
Paul is an aspirant British Cycling Level II Mountain Bike Instructor.
Fiona Graham - Mountain Skills CoachFiona is in love the outdoors, spending time with her friends and trying out new activities. She has a passion for traveling and has traveled extensively around the world mountaineering, climbing and pursuing a wide range of other outdoor sports.
Fiona is a qualified Mountain Leader and an aspirant Single Pitch Rock Climbing Instructor. She lives in North Wales within a stone's throw of her beloved Welsh mountains.
Michelle Harris - Mountain Skills, Kayak & Rock Climbing CoachMichelle has been living an working in North Wales for the past five years at a variety of outdoor centres. She is a qualified Mountain Leader, Single Pitch Rock Climbing Coach, BCU Canoe and Kayak Coach and is an aspirant Cave Leader.
When not working she likes to travel; climbing around Europe and beyond. She spends her summers climbing the 4000m peaks of The Alps.
Paul Pickering - Orienteering Coach & Adventure Racing ExpertPaul's background in orienteering goes a goes a long way back. After competing for the British Military Pentathlon team in 2006, 2007 and 2008, he stumbled across a Questars race in his backyard (The New Forest) and has been racing ever since.
Paul is the former editor of UK Adventure Sport Magazine as is an expert in all things AR.
Simon Weston - Mountain Skills & Mountain Bike CoachYorkshire born Simon Weston likes to split his time between mountain biking and, his first love, mountaineering. Whether he's bagging Munros, ice climbing in Norway or mountain biking in Morocco, he's always looking for a new adventure.
He still lives in his native Yorkshire and can be seen riding around Dalby Forest on his bike or hiking around the moors when he's not setting his sights on adventures further afield.
Do you need help choosing a skills course or guided adventure?
Call our team on 0333 12 12 125 for expert advice or send us a quick question online.
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