Q&A with Dan Willmore of CIWW centre

I first met Dan at Paddlefest in 2018 when we had just launched SUPjunkie – in one of my first interviews, I talked to him about an inspirational paddle he had just completed, raising money for Ashgrove School.

Interview: Sarah Thornely of SUPjunkie. 
Photos: SUPjunkie, Dan Willmore, Andy Kettlewell/Pistyll Productions & Sarah Marshall  

I first met Dan at Paddlefest in 2018 when we had just launched SUPjunkie – in one of my first interviews, I talked to him about an inspirational paddle he had just completed, raising money for Ashgrove School. Over the next few years, we got to know each other pretty well, both having a strong affiliation with the Water Skills Academy and, more recently, paddling together in Scotland. I thought it was time we had a chat! 

Hi Dan, can you tell us how you got into SUP and some of the highlights of your paddling journey? 
I started surfing quite late, in my mid-20s, which was my introduction to water sports outside of swimming. I was living in London and worked for the National Autistic Society.

I remember thinking it would be incredible for the kids to try, as I had personally felt the benefits. I eventually moved abroad, living in the Alps and Cyprus for a couple of years, and spent much time on the hill or in the water. Eventually, we decided to settle in Wales.

I started working at Ashgrove School, now Ysgol Y Deri (YYD) in Penarth, working with differently abled children, and because we were so close to the sea, I saw the opportunity to offer them a surf experience. This was how I started down the instructor route via ISA and SLSGB. 

I started SUP through a friend; like most people, it was something to do when it was flat. Again, I saw the opportunity to do something special for the kids at school and so set up more opportunities to get on the water. Over the years, working with the kids has been a life highlight, if I am honest.  
Through this desire to share the sport, I have had some amazing opportunities and experiences. Some of the highlights have been charity paddles. I paddled from The Mumbles, Swansea, to Cardiff in one go.

I paddled unsupported the length of South Wales coastline (White Sands to Cardiff). Along with some other bits, we raised around £18,000 for the school to fund the water sports programme, which I am happy to say is still going. 

Becoming a WSA expedition guide was a huge highlight. I have been lucky enough to guide in the Western Highlands, see some incredible places, and work with some truly inspiring people. I believe I was among the first to paddle (on a SUP) the Nova Varos, Uvac Serbia, their national park. Last year, as part of a new trip for WSA, I went to Sweden to review a trip and had an incredible experience.  

Generally, whenever I get to paddle, I consider myself lucky. It’s been a little tough to get out as much as I would like in the last couple of years, but I am working on changing that now. 

Do you do any other water sports? 
I recently started packrafting last year and have been lucky enough to have two friends, Jason and Marianne Taylor from Tirio, who are the two leading UK instructors as mentors. I was lucky enough to be invited on an expedition with Jason and some other friends, crossing Scotland last year, which was mind-blowing fun! I see this as a sport I would like to do much more of. It has huge potential for incredible adventures. I am also being led down the kayak pathway by the team at CIWW, so there are loads of opportunities for fun and learning.   
 
What is your favourite discipline of paddleboarding, and why? 
That’s a really difficult question. I suppose it depends on the time of year and conditions. I started SUP surfing and love it when I can get out. I am a bit fair weather these days and look for those perfect glassy days rather than going out in all conditions for eight-hour sessions. 

White water is a lot of fun. I have done a fair bit of guiding on expedition boards in terms of low-grade rapids as part of trips; however, I am getting into proper white water paddling, so watch this space. I have never been hugely outwardly competitive, so racing is something I have only dabbled with mixed results. I tend to gravitate towards adventure paddling. I love being out in new or familiar spaces. I would have to say this is my favourite part of SUP. Being out in nature and having that quiet interaction with the space around me. 

The most important thing is having fun so they will all take a top place at one point or another. 

Can you tell us more about your association with CIWW, both past and present? 
CIWW and Porthcawl Surf School were the first places to support YYD’s water sports program. CIWW was one of the first places to offer SUP in the UK, so it was a great place to be as the sport was starting to grow. It was where I became an ASI instructor and eventually became part of the WSA in its early days. I started working as a freelance instructor and developed from there. 

I had other opportunities to train and deliver other activities during my time at the centre. 
Most recently, I have been back in a full-time capacity as a duty manager (DM) and leading SUP at the centre. 

How have things changed there since you were last at the centre, if at all?  
Like all centres, people come and go. I am still in touch with a few and still get to go and paddle with them now and then. The centre itself still offers a huge range of recreational and professional activities and training opportunities, of which I have had firsthand experience since taking on the DM role.  
 
What are your day-to-day duties in your new role? 
It’s quite a varied role. There is the day-to-day stuff of running the centre: opening up, daily checks, staffing, etc. We will also still run sessions as it keeps us current, and getting out of the office is always nice. We offer lots of recreational qualifications and staff development training, which we will deliver as a DM team. CIWW is a Rescue 3 provider centre and delivers training to emergency services and other agencies working in and around swift water environments.  Working here can vary from day to day. 

Have you had to brush up on specific skills/learn new skills for this new role?  
The last six months have been a huge learning curve for me. My first month here was spent completing the pathway to becoming a Rescue 3 SRT instructor. It was a great experience but physically tough going, but we had two great trainers, Mark and Chris. It’s safe to say we were ruined come December!  

Other areas include learning the operational side of the flow rider and safety-critical areas in terms of equipment inspection. All in all, it was quite an intensive six months of training and assessment. Following the sad departure of the WSA, there will also be some time to move over to Paddle UK, but that will be an ongoing process.  

In terms of brushing up on skills, it has been a challenging couple of years with not a lot of opportunity to get out on the water. I am keen to dust off my skills, so I have been trying to paddle as much as I can.  

Can you also tell us the long-term plans for the white water centre and where it hopes to be in five years?  
The centre plans to continue delivering recreational and professional activities as it has always done to a high level.  

My personal goal for the centre is to make it the home of SUP in South Wales. I am keen to work with local clubs to develop grassroots paddling across the disciplines. I am also keen to offer more opportunities for training and adventure trips for paddlers looking to develop their skills and experience. Watch this space.

What do you think the CIWW centre can bring to the wider audience in the UK and not just in Wales? 
It’s a great place for all levels of paddlers to come and learn and play. For those looking to get into paddle sports, the centre is a good starting point. It’s a safe, controlled environment, clean, and with access to the river, enclosed flat water, and the white water course. The staff are experienced and super enthusiastic and can cater to all abilities. From here, people can build the confidence to explore other environments safely.

Are there others at the centre that you would like to highlight for their various roles?  
We have an experienced team of instructors and trainers at CIWW. Matthew (Pod), Mark (Blinky), and Jon (JC) are all IRF trainer assessors and accomplished paddlers. We are a Rescue 3 training provider. The DM team is all trainers at different levels, so there is a wealth of knowledge to draw from.
 
We know you have a regular group of paddleboarders at CIWW; what do you think the centre can offer stand-up paddleboarders, individually or as a club?  
The centre offers a safe, inclusive space for all paddlers to learn and enjoy the social aspects of paddling. Staff are always on hand to offer friendly advice, tricks, and tips.

We have a water sports retailer on site (Get On The Water UK) that can offer demo kits for all types of water sports equipment (SUPs and kayaks), allowing customers to try out different equipment and get sound advice from experienced people.  

The centre has always championed opportunities to come and learn. We like to support our clubs in any way we can. In the past, we have supported free training with other organisations, and we plan to work with our local race club to try and get funding to support grassroots youth racing.

Thank you, Dan! Having visited the CIWW centre many times, I can vouch for their professionalism and the fun they bring to SUP and other watersports. Please do visit them if you are in the area. 

Sarah Perkins helped set up a race training group at Cardiff International Whitewater – here are her thoughts on the centre: 
A secret SUP training ground. 

As Cardiff SUP racers, we practically hit the jackpot with Cardiff International Whitewater (CIWW) on our doorstep. CIWW has been a game-changer since day one. When we first started training as a group, they surprised us by buying a fleet of six race boards – talk about a supportive launch! The location is unbeatable. Need a quick after-work session? Grab a board and you can be on the water, paddling in minutes.