Pete and I went out on our new paddle boards on the Rothes Pond yesterday.  Look at how beautiful the weather is when a few minutes earlier we had a snow storm.  The boards are great fun and will take a bit of getting used to.  Certainly developing some new skills and my sense of balance.

SCA Coach Update Training Saturday 26 November 20111

We delivered a coach update training based at the Adventure Aberdeen premises on Saturday.  The day comprised of classroom work on Foundation Paddle Skills and workshops in the morning and practical application of these skills on the water at Inchgarth Reservoir in Aberdeen in the afternoon.

Lots of great ideas were discussed and explored and lots of coaching applications were challenged.

This training course allows coaches to be brought up to date with current coaching methods and current good practice.

We have been very busy of late, running a 3* training and assessment and White Water Safety and Rescue training  for Lochaber College, a coasteering day down at Bow Fiddle Rock and a staff training day on the Dorbach Burn.

Great success was had in all these events.  We have also sorted out our facebook page, now having a single Aquaplay Scotland business page which hopefully makes life easier for people to keep up with our news.

Season drawing to a close but we have an SCA coach update training to provide next weekend.

Busy weekend 21-22 October 2011

We have had a wonderful weekend, coasteering with a group of people from India but based in Aberdeen on Saturday. Down at Portknockie the team who were not great swimmers really stretched their comfort zones with the swimming and jumping challenges we set them. Great fun had by all and the day finished with huge grins and smiles all round.

Sunday saw us on the Middle Findhorn kayaking with Kelly and Roland. The river was high and challenging but the rapids were taken on head on and many squeals were heard in the bigger wave trains and drops.

It was great meeting all these new customers and we really hope to see them and their friends visit us again very soon.

Kayaking Spey 9 October 2011

A stag doo with no pics, sorry, on Saturday, with a days coasteering at Portknockie in a very big sea. A great challenge to the team and lots of group decision making to be done. Great feedback from the guys and well done to Jonathan, Callum and Pete for great leadership skills.

On Sunday we had our kayaking group out, booked through Living and Social, and had a great run down the River Spey from Knockando to Aberlour. A fantastic trip in sunshine and high water and the fishing season is over so the river was all ours.

The team seemed to enjoy themselves and were interested in the other activities we have lsted on our web site>

Have a look for yourself!

September Update

Despite the broken ankle I have been busy keeping the new web site updated. Have a look at our Carbon Zero status where we are supporting a very worthwhile project in Kenya.

I have recently worked on a BCU Level 1 Coach training and Assessment for Adventure Aberdeen. How far can you edge an open boat without getting wet?

Aquaplay are still getting a steady number of bookings. We have groups out over the next 2 weekends so the guys are all working hard supporting me.

I managed to pick up my new carbon frame road bike and have been out for a couple of short runs trying to get my ankle working again.

Gorge Walking with Mosstodloch Scouts

What a wonderful day gorge walking with Mosstodloch Scouts and their visitors from Denmark! Despite water levels being a bit low they still found the deep pools to jump into and generally have loads of fun. I was very impressed by the skills and effort everyone put into the activity and I learned a wee bit about Denmark. Its a pretty flat country with its highest hill being some 600 metres high. Apparently its called Sky Hill!!

Thanks to Mark and Louise for their excellent leadership support. I think you both enjoyed it as much as the kids.

Loads of kit washed and dried and put away tonight. The new van worked brilliantly, was able to hang the wetsuits, cags and ba's on bars across the van in their sizes. Made handing out kit so easy.

Two open boats and other bits of kit went out on hire on Monday and was returned tonight.

Hoping to get back to work on the bunkhouse over the weekend.

1st jump on the gorge walk

Girls out Gorge Walking

What a lovely day we had yesterday. New van got an outing as the old one is in the paint shop having new wings put on and rust fixed before a repaint job!

Gorge Walking with Emma, Abi, Sarah and Lisa at Bridge of Brown. Having never done anything like this before they were brilliant. In lovely weather they took on the challenges of duckings, splashing, climbing the twisting falls and shoots and doing the high jump at the top. Awesome!!

Finished of with some hot food in the bridge of Brown cafe, perfect end to a perfect outing.

Jul 14, 2011 playing on the Spey

Amy working out on the Spey

Had a great morning on the rivers Divie and Findhorn today with our hydro speeds/river bugs. Feedback was brilliant with everyone being very positive about the activity despite some knocks and bruises. We found the rivers in peach condition after the recent heavy rain.

James and his family arrived to stay in the bunkhouse this evening. Australians currently living in Shanghai visiting Scotland for a holiday!

Lovely family and brilliant just listening to their stories about the lifestyle in China.

Coaching session on the Rothes pond today caused a bit of a stir! The farmer is upset at me using his land and pond to be coaching paddle sports and threatened me with violence and the police.

I accepted his offer of getting the police but declined the violence bit. He declined then to get the police but continued his threatening behaviour towards and refused me access back onto the pond. After being called a number of obscenities I advised him that I was exercising my right under the access legislation and that if he obstructed me in any way I would most certainly calling the police. At this an uneasy truce was established and we got back on the pond for our afternoon session.

Despite this we had an excellent days paddling the open boats and kayaks.

Kayaking Spey 7 July 2011

A day to be spent on the bunkhouse extension. Work is progressing slowly as I have been so busy working on courses and activities. A wee bit disappointed with progress but cant't really complain when trying to do the work myself.

Getting it tidied and usable for our first visitors next week!

We have Matthew and Sandra's little one, Lucy's christening tomorrow.

Had a great paddle on the Spey last night, lowish level but that allowed lots of playing.

Bunkhouse is progressing, mainly just tidying things up from getting the roof done.

We have a family over from Australia staying next weekend. Still plastering and building but they are happy with that so all good. They can also use the annexe so its not as bad as it might sound!!

I have an introduction to paddle sports day next Saturday with 2 people booked on it. Another chance to use the little pond at the end of Rothes.

A day out in the van!

We used the new van on Sunday to travel through to the gorge at Cawdor.

We went on to explore the Cawdor Gorge to prepare for the Mosstodloch Scouts activity day in July.

It is quite a challenging gorge with no huge drops or falls but lots of fallen trees and some testing bits of water.

Check out our video on u tube

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=V4ihw1baEa4&feature=BFp&list=WLE4B737860590825C&index=1

New Arrival for Aquaplay Scotland

Arrived back from Manchester at 4.00am this morning. After a long drive I parked up our new shiny massive van. The van is just what we need to transport customers and equipment in the same vehicle. With its high roof top it can also be used as a very comfy changing room.

Update

Kayaking with our Thursday Group on the Spey at Knockando this evening. Jonathan out with some guys from Moray Youth Justice.

Tomorrow I fly down to Manchester from Edinburgh to pick up the new company van!!

Sunday we are off to do the gorge walk at Cawdor.

February 2011.

Been a while since I posted on here, been very busy but not directly with the activities over the last couple of months. we have had pv solar panels installed so now generating some of our own electricity!! Work is going ahead on the Bunkhouse. Concrete foundations poured and hope to start building work this weekend. We have a stand at the "Celebration of Life Fair" at the 8 Acres Hotel, Elgin on Sunday 27 March 2011 12noon-4.00pm. Hopefully some of you might get along to support this charity event and stop off for a chat with us.