Girls Paddle Camp 2025
In early November, Ascot Kayak Club and Paddle WA proudly hosted the Girls Paddling Development Camp, an initiative designed to upskill young female athletes across multiple paddling disciplines.
Led by an exceptional team of female coaches and specialists, participants were treated to a weekend of learning, teamwork, and inspiration.
Day 1: Paddle by the stars
The camp opened on Friday afternoon with ice-breaker activities and a night-canoeing session led by Paddle WA coach Leo, where the girls worked in teams of 2 to navigate the Swan River lead only by the light of the stars.
Day 2: Skills, nutrition and training
Saturday began bright and early with a warm-up run before the first on-water session, which focused on marathon skills. Athletes were introduced to wash-riding technique, strategic positioning, turns, and defending the wash. Portaging skills followed, with the girls quickly mastering efficient boat entry and exit.
After a well-earned break, participants attended a Fuel to Go and Play nutrition seminar and a presentation on ultramarathon paddling, including insights into the iconic Murray Marathon.
The afternoon featured K4 sprint work, where athletes learned each seat’s role and experimented with different crew combinations.
The day concluded with video analysis of short course/5 km races from previous world competitions, breaking down elite marathon tactics and reinforcing lessons learned on the water earlier in the day.
Day 3: Working out your program
Sunday began with technique filming, balance work, and further portage practice, followed by individual video review to identify personalised training cues.
Strength coach Selma then delivered an introduction to gym programming for the paddlers, helping the group understand how to build power, strength, and confidence in their training.
The final seminar, presented by ocean racer Kathy Lowry, offered an engaging overview of ocean racing history and pathways into the sport—perfectly timed ahead of Perth’s major race week.
To finish the camp on a fun note, the girls took to SUP boards for a completely new challenge, rounding out the weekend with balance drills and friendly races.
Thank you to everyone involved
The camp was a resounding success, showcasing the talent, enthusiasm, and potential of the next generation of paddlers.
We would like to extend our thanks to all coaches and contributors who helped make the weekend such a valuable experience for the athletes.
Bronwyn and Lily
