August sees the return of the GB Freestyle Academy Camp which is a week long camp held in Nottingham. The camp is for junior paddlers aged 11-17 and this year 34 enthusiastic teenagers joined for the week. It was my fourth year helping to run the camp and honestl, I think it was the smoothest camp we have ever had!
I have already written a short write up for the camp on Kayak Session which you can read here, but I wanted to share a longer article on this blog so that I could include more of the personal stories and highlight moments of the week. Enjoy!
What is the GB Freestyle Academy Camp?
If you haven’t heard of the Academy Camp before – it is a week long camp run by GB Freestyle which focused on developing junior (11-17) paddlers in freestyle kayaking. The core purpose of the camp is simple: give young paddlers a brilliant week on the water, help them progress their freestyle and wider paddling skills, and send them home inspired to keep growing, both as individuals and as part of the freestyle community.
I’ve been involved as a pastoral lead every year since the camp first ran in August 2023. Each year it has evolved, grown, and strengthened, as have the volunteers who make it happen. This year, Lisa Dickinson, chair of GB Freestyle, kindly stepped in to organise the camp. She did a phenomenal job, and I genuinely think this was the smoothest camp we’ve ever had.
All of the young people who attended were nominated by their canoe clubs, and it was a wonderfully cohesive and supportive group. They had a great time and so did we volunteers. It’s a week that will hold a lot of happy memories for many of us for years to come.
Day 1
After a busy weekend of camp setup, everything was ready for arrivals on Monday morning. River Legacy had kindly loaned the marquees for the week, the GB Freestyle tents were up, and the site looked brilliant. It was set to be a hot week, starting at 28°C on Monday and climbing all the way to 37°C by Thursday.
The paddlers arrived in the sunshine, and the campsite quickly filled with playboats and excited teenagers. After a welcome talk from Lisa and introductions to the volunteers, we spent some time outfitting kayaks.
Many paddlers brought their own boats, while others borrowed from their clubs or GB Freestyle. Getting properly outfitted is a huge step towards feeling comfortable in a playboat, so the adults spent the best part of an hour helping everyone get set up.
Pyranha Kayaks had kindly donated a sponge to each paddler, extremely useful when draining a playboat with no bung. My own (slightly excessive) stash of hip pads and extra foam was happily raided by juniors and coaches alike.
Lunch was served by our wonderful catering team and then it was time for our first session on the water. The campsite is a short walk from Holme Pierrepont White Water course (HPP) and so we would get kitted up at the campsite and then walk over to the course.
My role for the week was pastoral/welfare lead during the day: making sure everyone got to and from the course safely, acting as first aider, sun‑cream supplier, water‑carrier, and general ‘person who has whatever the coaches suddenly need’. Often I wasn’t needed but I was always there just in case. This also meant I was able to become the designated photographer and social media rep, which the parents at home definitely appreciated. (‘My mum liked my surfing video you put on GB Freestyle Instagram page!’)
Because of the heat, everyone quickly got used to my pre‑session checklists, not just paddling kit, but water bottles and sun cream. Shoutout to Joey, who was always first to ask for sun cream and a great role model to everyone (including his dad Andy, who was on bank safety and needed a few reminders about putting it on).
For the first session, everyone warmed up together on the flat water above the course – quite a sight with 40+ playboats thrashing around. Coaches then split the paddlers into smaller groups.
With such a range of experience levels, the groups were organised by familiarity with HPP and freestyle. Some paddlers headed straight to Inlet or Muncher to work on specific moves; others started on gentler features like the back channels or bottom wave. Everyone spent the session finding their feet and getting used to the course.
After a couple of hours on the water, we walked back to camp for showers, gear sorting, and dinner. The catering team did an incredible job, feeding 50+ hungry people three times a day is no small feat, and the food was delicious (and plentiful, which is essential when feeding sporty teenagers).
This year, Lisa and Laura planned more structured evening activities, and Monday kicked off with a ‘mystery game’ created by Laura. The kids loved it! It was also a perfect icebreaker for those who didn’t know many people before arriving.
Day 2
After a hearty breakfast from the catering team, it was time for our first full day on the water. We walked over to the white water course, where Matt led a whole group warm up on the bank before everyone split into their smaller coaching groups.
The lead coaches for the week were Ottie Robinson‑Shaw, Matt Stephenson, Gav Barker, Tamsyn McConchie, Harry Price, Mike Shaw and Den Newton, supported by volunteer assistant coaches keen to develop their freestyle coaching skills. Each of the lead coaches is well known on the global freestyle stage, both for their personal achievements and their coaching expertise. It was lovely to see how excited the kids were to be coached by their heroes.
Every coach has a different style, shaped by the feature they’re using, the move they’re teaching, and the needs of their group. One of my favourite moments was listening to Gav’s theory session on the bank before his group even got on the water. Using his little toy kayak, he modelled movement and broke down concepts in a way that made everything click. Several coaches used this approach throughout the week, and it’s incredibly effective: sitting down removes distractions and gives paddlers the space to really absorb what’s being taught. I learned things just by listening in!
The morning session flew by, and soon it was time to head back for lunch. Thanks to HPP Canoe Club, we were able to leave kayaks in their compound for the week. This was a huge help that saved us carrying boats back and forth every day. The two hour break between sessions disappeared quickly between walking, changing, eating, and gearing up again.
The afternoon session was full of energy. Everyone was warmed up and ready to push themselves. One group launched off the pontoon at the bottom of the course; another encouraged hand‑surfing. There were first loops achieved, big improvements in surfs and spins, and plenty of cheering from coaches and paddlers alike.
My favourite moment was watching a group in Inlet attempt synchronised looping and hand‑looping. Let’s just say the synchronisation was… aspirational. Ottie kicked off the hand‑looping trend and was absolutely smashing it. She and George tried to time their loops together, they were close, but not quite!
Aistis and Olivia gave us a heart stopping moment when, after some paddle swapping antics, Olivia nearly looped onto Aistis. Thankfully only the backs of their boats connected, and they both came up laughing.
It was hard work dragging them off the water; everyone was having so much fun.
After dropping everyone back at camp, I headed to the course for a cool down paddle of my own. It was much needed after standing in 30+°C heat all day. I made it back just in time for dinner and the evening’s activity: a group quiz. I caught up with some of the coaches during the quiz but stayed long enough to hear one question that made me laugh:
‘If aliens invaded Earth and came to this campsite, who would you tell them the leader was – Gav, Lisa or Mike?’
The tables immediately erupted into fierce debate over Gav vs Lisa. Unfortunately for Mike, but luckily for planet Earth, he wasn’t even considered.
Day 3
It was already sweltering as we walked over to the course this morning. My role as ‘suncream lady’ intensified. No child (including Den) was allowed to leave camp without it. Thankfully everyone was brilliant about applying it, and I particularly loved the mineral‑stick war stripes across cheeks. A classic paddler look!
Wednesday is always ‘hump day’ where everyone feels a bit tired and it showed. The heat and tiredness were catching up with a few people, so I had plenty of pastoral jobs to juggle: forgotten kit, hydration reminders, and making sure coaches handed over their car keys instead of leaving them in their shorts pockets. Despite the fatigue, the heat meant everyone was keen to get on the water quickly.
The coaches swapped groups today, with Harry stepping in for Gav for the rest of the week. Harry’s first challenge to his group was a kickflip through Inlet as a warm up. Not many managed it, but several were close and everyone appreciated the roll‑up afterwards.
I spent much of Wednesday watching one group work on their surfing and spins on Twin Wave. Surfing a wave is one of the best feelings in the world, and it was lovely to see everyone’s consistency improve throughout the day. Many paddlers began catching the wave more reliably and then moved on to spins.
Taking photos gives you a unique vantage point: you can see the exact moment a paddler adjusts their timing or positioning and – boom – they’re on the wave! That’s when I press the shutter, capturing the huge grin that always follows. Wonderful.
After dropping everyone back at camp, I headed to the course for a cool down paddle. Standing in 30+°C heat all day meant I was more than ready for it. I made sure to be off the water promptly because tonight’s activity was a once in a lifetime event: watching the solar eclipse.
Lisa had the foresight to order eclipse glasses for everyone, and it ended up being one of the biggest highlights of the week. It wasn’t just the eclipse itself, though it was incredible, but the fact we all shared it together. When I arrived back at camp, the field was full of teenagers and adults wearing glasses and excitedly staring up at the sky. It was such a special moment.
When the eclipse ended, everyone headed over to Flow Kayaks, who had kindly agreed to host a movie night in the shop. A gentle, cosy finale to an unforgettable evening.
Day 4
Today was the peak of the heat wave and it topped out at 37/38°C! We had been discussing options for making sure everyone stayed cool and a special plan was made for the day.
Much to their delight, this morning’s session started with a group swim so that everyone could cool off from their walk over! Matt led a safety briefing of course and practisting safe swimming is always a useful skill and everyone loved it!
Once cooled down, the energy levels were right back up. Yesterday’s hump had passed, and everyone threw themselves into the day with full enthusiasm. There was even enough energy for a mass party surf on Fairy Wave, which caused great amusement for everyone watching.
To help reduce overheating, lunch was brought directly to the course so nobody had to walk back in the midday heat. The catering team kindly carried drove over and served lunch in the shade. It was hugely appreciated, and the extra effort did not go unnoticed – thank you, catering team!
It was over lunch that I realised just how hot I was. I geared up and sat in an eddy for five minutes to cool off, which worked instantly. I was then ready to take photos of the next group swim that kicked off the afternoon session.
I also enjoyed watching a couple of groups do wall and pontoon launches into the river. There were some successful loops and some spectacular faceplants – both made for excellent photos.
In the evening, the camp activity was a series of workshops that the paddlers could choose from. Huge thank you to Ibbo, Sam, Neil and Matt for running these. Ibbo’s seminar on judging freestyle kayaking was particularly well attended, but my favourite spot was Matt’s ‘tug of war’ demonstration to teach good rescue practice with a throwline. The kids absolutely loved it.
Day 5
The final day arrived, and nobody could quite believe how quickly the week had flown by. It was also Zoe’s birthday, so the whole camp sang her a very enthusiastic happy birthday at breakfast, which was a joyful way to start the day.
The last session of the week was brilliant. The paddlers were given complete freedom to choose where they wanted to paddle, and the coaches positioned themselves at different features so they could offer coaching on whatever was requested.
It was lovely watching everyone enjoy this final paddle in their own way. Some wanted to push their freestyle as far as they could; others simply wanted to have fun with their friends.
There here were so many standout moments:
Joshua practising getting in and out of Inlet with growing confidence.
Luca throwing a huge loop in Muncher.
Sophie getting a fantastic space in Muncher.
George having the best soul surf of his life on Fairy Wave.
Emilia determinedly paddling through every feature on the entire course.
And countless more. It was genuinely heart warming to watch.
Many parents arrived early to collect their children and were able to watch the final session. There were a lot of very proud parents on the bank. Their help made getting all the playboats back to the campsite much easier, with several offering to take extra boats on roofs or in vans. Somehow we managed to get every kayak back in a single trip. Huge thank you to all the parents and volunteers who helped.
Once everyone was back at camp, changed, and fed, it was time for goodbyes and final words. Lisa introduced ‘Academy Allstars’ this year: an anonymous box where paddlers could nominate someone who had been a star of camp. It had been well used all week, and hearing the final Allstars was incredibly touching. It really highlighted what a kind, supportive group of young paddlers we had this year. If this group represents the future of UK kayaking, we are a very lucky community.
Peak had kindly donated hats as spot prizes, as well as two buoyancy aids to recognise individuals who had shown great attitude, kindness, and community spirit throughout the week. It was no surprise to anyone when Isabella and James were awarded them. Huge congratulations to both, and thank you to Peak for such generous prizes.
After the goodbyes, it was time for camp pack down. With so many parents, volunteers, and willing teenagers, everything came down quickly. By 5pm, the site was clear and everyone had been collected. A brilliant team effort.
A small group of us then headed to the course for one final paddle before going out for a goodbye dinner together – a lovely way to end what had been a pretty perfect week!
Thank you & acknowledgement
Firstly, a huge thank you to Lisa and Laura for organising the camp. They did a fantastic job, and I am in genuine awe of Lisa’s organisational skills. Every possible detail was thought of in advance. They made the week run seamlessly.
Next, a massive thank you to the wider volunteer team (including me!). So many people put their hands up to help with catering, pastoral support, coaching, and general logistics. I can’t name everyone here because there were so many, but every single volunteer did an exceptional job.
We also want to acknowledge the organisations who provided practical support throughout the week: River Legacy, HPP Canoe Club, GB Freestyle, Pyranha Kayaks, and Peak Paddlesports. Your contributions made a huge difference so thank you.
Before we headed to the course on the final day, I gathered the paddlers and gave them a special mission: help me make a thank you video for the volunteers. They jumped at the challenge, and throughout the day so many came to find me to share their gratitude for individual staff members. It was incredibly sweet, and I’ve linked the video below so you can see just how much of an impact the volunteers had on these young people.
Finally, thank you to all the young paddlers who attended the camp. The group was so supportive, and encouraging of one another. Their attitudes were overwhelmingly positive, determined, and enthusiastic. They made the week so enjoyable, and I personally appreciate how much fun they all were.
What’s next?
If you’re reading this and feeling inspired to paddle more, there are some brilliant opportunities coming up.
On the 5th/6th September, GB Freestyle will host the Nottingham Summer Rodeo (previously known as Euro Open) at HPP. It’s the fun freestyle event of the year – relaxed, welcoming, and perfect for paddlers of all levels. Tickets are available here.
In October, the Palm and Pyranha Park Jam events will return. These are friendly jam‑style sessions at white water venues across the UK. They’re a fantastic way to meet other paddlers, try new moves, and enjoy the kayaking community in a low pressure environment.
Hopefully see you all soon! Happy paddling!
One reply on “The GB Freestyle Academy Camp 2026”
That’s fantastic to hear about the camp running so smoothly! It sounds like a really rewarding experience for both the coaches and the young paddlers.