Charlie Mitchell

Qualifications:

  Coaching: Core Coach

  Leadership: White Water Kayak Leader

I was introduced to paddling in 1971 with school and almost immediately joined Nottingham Kayak Club. As this was primarily a sprint and marathon club, as a Junior I competed in K1, K2 and K4 sprint kayak at national level. I also teamed up with a fellow club member and competed in C2 (canoe double) Slalom up to Division 2 for about one year. I then switched over to Men’s K1 Slalom and managed to get promoted to Division 1 in one season. The following season I moved into the newly-introduced Premier Division.

In 1978 I worked as the Canoeing instructor at Grafham Water Residential Centre, where I met Linda. We married in late 1979 and due to other commitments I stopped paddling at the end of that year. On moving to Devon in 2016 and noticing people paddling on the Dart, I decided I would like to paddle again. I joined Totnes CC that same year and went on the club’s annual white-water trip to the River Tryweryn in North Wales.

My main interest is white-water kayaking, although I have experience in a whole range of craft. I am also interested in doing more sea kayaking, after being introduced to it on a recent trip to New Zealand.

I’m interested in helping and teaching both adults and children, and coach Juniors and adults as a main instructor on both Mondays and Tuesdays. I have plans to install slalom gates over the river above the weir and look forward to introducing these into our sessions.