Bow Valley Kayak Club

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Coaches and instructors!

Hello paddlers of the internet!

My name is Robbie. I come from sunny Scotland. I am looking forward to returning as the club coach for the 2023 boating season.

I have enjoyed kayaking from a young age and began professionally coaching in my teenage years.  I started my coaching career at 16 years old working for local youth organizations, getting people out in boats once a week in the evenings. From there I built a career in the industry working in Europe, the UK, and now Canada. I feel very privileged to be where I am right now and I am passionate about introducing as many people as possible to the different opportunities that our sport, and learning in the outdoors, provides. I am excited to deliver our programs and courses this season and I hope to give as many people the boating bug as I can.

I look forward to seeing everybody on the water!

All the best.

Robbie

I’m Elissa and I’ve been hooked on kayaking since 2004 when I joined my university’s kayak polo club.

A few years later, while on vacation in Chile, I tried whitewater kayaking for the first time and fell in love with the sport. I dabbled in whitewater kayaking for several years but didn’t get really confident until after I moved to Canmore and became involved with the Bow Valley Kayak Club. 

BVKC coaches mentored, encouraged, and rescued me and then taught me to do the same with new members.


I was a BVKC board member and the BVKC Adult Program Coordinator for several years. 

I am a certified River Kayak Instructor  and I have been assisting and teaching BVKC’s adult programs for several years.

My focus is on retaining and advancing women in whitewater, which is why I’m involved in teaching women’s programs for the BVKC.