Chris is widely known on the paddling scene & it’s easy to see why! Chris’ passion for paddlesport is clear to see through his day to day work & leisure pursuits with humour & personality to match! I had the honour of being interviewed by Chris (& Cal Major!) live at Kendal Mountain Festival last year as a British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador which was a fantastic experience meeting one of the greats & one of my own paddling role models. Chris has great plans ahead (obviously!) & I’m sure you’ll find his interview as insightful, inspiring, genuine, warm & as humourous as I do!
I hope you enjoy Clare Rutter’s Paddle People: An interview with… Chris Brain!
So who is Chris Brain and what’s your paddling backstory?
I’m a paddler and coach and I love to kayak, SUP and canoe. I started paddling back in 1998 and haven’t stopped since, originally I paddled a lot of freestyle kayak and now more whitewater and SUP. I work with a lot of groups, leaders, clubs and other coaches helping them to progress and move forwards with their own paddling.
What’s your contribution to or stamp on paddlesport? How or why do (or should!) we know you? If you were nominated by a previous guest or invited by myself, why do you think they or I nominated you?
So I’ve been on and around the water for quite some time now and I’d like to think that through my work and paddling I’ve had some kind of impact on the paddling community and the people that coach and lead in this environment too. A few years ago, I produced a safety and rescue book aimed at helping people with the basics of whitewater safety, this can be freely downloaded from my website.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not paddling?
I’m running a lot currently and I’m also enjoying playing bass at the moment. I’m on the water really regularly so I don’t always feel like I have that much time for other things!
Your worst habit?
I’m pretty good at remembering wrong directions when trying to get to places!
Your happiest or proudest moment of adulthood?
I’m really proud to have written about paddling over the last few years and feel like I’ve produced some pieces of work which are really helpful for the paddling community. Finishing my safety and rescue book was a really proud moment.
Your biggest regret?
Not really realising how important my physical fitness was when I was younger.
Your favourite song?
I put a spell on you – Nina Simone.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you were older?
A magician! Or being a pro skateboarder would have been awesome.
Your chosen craft/s and brand/s?
Kayak, SUP and canoe! I paddle Pyranha Kayaks, Venture Canoes, Red Paddleboards and wear Palm Equipment kit all throughout. The boat that has been rocking my world at the moment is the new Scorch X from Pyranha, it’s outstanding.
Tell us more about your local areas blue spaces and why we would want to go there
So my local river is the Irwell in North Manchester. Whilst I haven’t been there for quite some time now, it was a really important river for me in my formative years when I was really getting into paddling. Some great paddlers have started out there and when the river is high it still has great waves to play on. The water quality isn’t typically very good though as it does flow through quite a few urban areas.
I’m always dreaming about my next #clarerutterwherenextadventures, if you could paddle anywhere in the world, where would your #wherenextadventures be and why?
The Zambesi! Hopefully it’s on the cards for 2022.
If you could paddle with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Living or not, past or present, paddler/non-paddler…there are no rules here!
I think The Beatles on a trip down the river Spey would be a good laugh!
Most memorable paddle?
I remember my first day getting onto the river Nile really clearly, I felt like I’d finally made it and I was in the big league.
Your silliest / funniest / unbelievable / strange/ bizarre / DOH! paddling faux pas or moment you’ve ever done, said or experienced?
I went out to Gambia a few years back and we decided to paddle down a narrow side creek off the main river, it felt like we were in our nature video with amazing monkeys and birds in the trees. One thing we were cautious of was trying not to surprise a hippo on the bank so we were keeping our eyes peeled and trying to keep our distance from the side. Safe to say we accidentally surprised a hippo and it dropped in the water from the bank and swam under the water towards us. We paddled away as fast as we could and thankfully never saw the hippo again. That felt pretty amazing and also pretty silly at the same time.
Many people paddle to aid their mental health and wellbeing, what does paddling do for you and what does it mean to you?
Over the years, I’ve realised how paddling ticks so many boxes for me in terms of my own wellbeing. Physically it’s great for me, it connects me to people and the environment, it’s challenging and encourages me to be focused and I still feel like I’m improving. I also think it’s really easy to make paddling as relaxed or as challenging as you want and there is still so much out there that I want to do.
Looking after the environment and playing our part as paddlers towards clean, healthy, thriving and beautiful blue spaces is really important to me, would you say that this is high on your agenda and, if so, why and how do you play a part yourself?
So I think this is on my agenda so much more than it used to be. I think as paddlers we do have a responsibility to contribute to clearing up and maintaining these spaces and I’ve realised that even the smallest action can make a difference.
What else do you do while paddling? Litterpicking? Fishing? Camping? Yoga? Etc.
So I love to write about paddling and typically do this around my time on the water. To do this I’ve realised that you need to get some good pics, so I’ve been making a point of getting more photos when Im out recently.
What lessons has paddling taught you?
That I’m probably more capable than I will ever fully realise.
What would be your advice to people thinking about getting into paddling, new paddlers and/or those with experience?
Go paddling! Get out as much as you can! Push yourself to visit new places, paddle with different people, paddle different craft, try different things and hang out with more experienced people.
If you could restart your paddling journey, what would you keep or change and why?
I wouldn’t wait “until I was good enough” to paddle abroad or go on a bigger trip.
What’s your top safety tip?
Being more skilled at paddling will help to stop you capsizing. If that doesn’t work, being able to roll will definitely be better than swimming. If you have to swim, be good at it get yourself to the side asap!
Top general paddling tip?
The physical element of paddling is almost certainly as important as the technical.
What do you pack in your dry bag?
I laid this all out in my safety and rescue book, for a full list check that out. The thing that I wouldn’t be without in my drybag though are my neoprene mittens over the winter!
Favourite paddling gadget/item/must have lucky pants etc!
I have a really small locator beacon that I take out on the water with me now. I havent had to push the “big red button” yet though!
Favourite paddling food/drink/snacks?
Malt loaf (obviously).
Favourite websites/apps relating to paddlesport or your participation in it?
The River app is great, so is the Windy app and I use the OS map app quite regularly too. Of course Google Maps and satellite view is just amazing when trying to do some planning for paddling.
When paddling, what makes you laugh and what makes you sad?
I love watching people get great lines on the river, sometimes you just see the magic happen for other people and that’s a great feeling. I’m never sad on the water!
Who inspires you and why?
I’m really inspired by the next generation of paddlers in whitewater and freestyle. I think Harry Price and Ottilie Robinson-Shaw are amazing freestyle paddlers at the moment and in whitewater I just love watching Dane Jackson’s style.
What’s your hope for the future of paddlesport?
That we will have less access issues in England and Wales.
Anything else you’d like to add or any last words of wisdom?
Go paddling!
And finally, where can paddlers follow you? What’s your social media and weblinks etc?
https://www.chrisbraincoaching.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisBrainCoaching
https://www.instagram.com/chrisbraincoaching
You can download my safety and rescue book for free from http://www.chrisbraincoaching.com/safety-and-rescue-essentials
Thanks Chris! Great to hear some of your experiences as a multi-craft paddler. I’m sure there’s many a story to be told from the time that you’ve been paddling, thank you for sharing just some of them with us.
Happy paddling and watch out for those hippos!
Photos: Palm Equipment & James Appleton Photography
If you are or know someone who would be ideal to be interviewed for Clare Rutter’s Paddle People: An Interview with… please send a brief and the best way of getting in touch to email@clarerutter.com.