Q&A with Clare ‘Rutz’ Rutter

An Inspirational Journey from Brain Injury to Paddlesports Instructor

Interview: Peter Tranter
Photos: Clare Rutter, Mike Blanshard 

Clare is a SUP, canoe, kayak instructor and leader, an RNLI Ambassador for Water Safety and a guest speaker ‘From Stick to SUP: Clare’s Journey’ – An Inspirational Journey from Brain Injury to Paddlesports Instructor, amongst many, many other roles. Where do you find the time we asked? Take it away Clare…

Before we start, Clare, please tell our readers a little about yourself, your background, your family, etc. 
I’m Clare Rutter; I’m 43 years young, an avid paddler since I was six years old, raised on the west coast of Wales and have always been a keen outdoors and sports person through country living, which was further encouraged and facilitated through the Girl Guides and the Scouts. Enjoying all that the outdoors has to offer runs through my family’s veins with my parents, aunties, uncles and grandparents who also enjoyed paddling, camping, hiking, cycling and youth hostelling.

Outside of paddling, the main outdoor activities I enjoy are camping, wild camping (always permitted), geocaching, mountain biking and club archery. I work for the British Red Cross, for whom I also volunteer as a UK wide Emergency Responder and events team, as well as volunteering for Paddle UK on the #ShePaddles programme and other collaborative projects, the Scouts as a Scout Leader, the RNLI as a Water Safety Ambassador, Archery GB for safeguarding and first aid, community LGBTQ+ as coordinator and more recently, for AquaPaddle as part of the support crew. Through work and volunteering, I can be anywhere from the west coast of Wales to South Wales and the west of England and beyond, depending on requirements and demand! They all certainly keep me on my toes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Volunteering is just a way of life for me, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it since I was 14.

Tell us about the start of your SUP journey.  
I started SUP in 2019. I honestly wasn’t very taken with it, having paddled kayaks and canoes from a very young age, which seemed like the norm to me, so I took a bit of convincing! My first experience was volunteering at an outdoor activities centre after my brain injury rehabilitation. Having had plenty of prior paddling experience, I found it pretty easy, and skills and knowledge easily transferred. The more I did, the more I found myself really enjoying it and getting an ever-increasing adrenaline kick out of it each time!

The first Covid lockdown got me heavily into it with a huge passion. When we were on a ‘stay at home’ lockdown, I decided to invest in a SUP and focus on SUP as a skill to build and boost my associated knowledge. At the time, we were able to travel up to five miles for exercise in Wales, and I was really fortunate to have both the coast and the local river to practice within that zone. It was a great opportunity that ultimately led me on an incredible and exciting adventure full of opportunities and fantastic experiences, most notably with Paddle UK through to where I am now in the wonderful world of paddlesport, sharing my adventures and pursuits, raising the profile of paddlesport and raising awareness of key paddling related matters. 

You’re heavily involved in the safety side of SUP paddling; how did that come about?  
Having grown up on the coast and near rivers, water safety awareness was just very normal from a young age, from seeing lifeguarded beaches, seeing the RNLI and Coastguard out and about on operations and through TV adverts and guest talks throughout primary and secondary school. Having paddled from age six, I remember that water safety was always just a very normal part of canoeing and kayaking. I was lucky to have some great instructors who rightly prioritised it over those years.

As I went through childhood and into my teen years, I became repeatedly aware of multiple news reports of people getting into difficulty in various bodies of water with some unfortunately not making it out the other side. From my early experiences, I always wanted to encourage fun but safe water use as I realised that not everyone had had those same water safety awareness sessions and experiences and that it wasn’t just the norm for others as it had been for me. Each water-based accident or news report I ever saw gave me and still motivates me to keep campaigning and raising awareness of the risks of being in, on or near water.

Through my role as a Paddle UK #ShePaddles Ambassador, I had a platform to focus on promoting water safety. This topic meant so much to me, and I felt that through my work with Paddle UK if my promotional messaging could save even one life, it would be worth it. From a young age, I’ve personally known people who have had either a dice with death or have sadly passed from a water-based incident, so it has also been a very personal subject close to my heart with the aim to try to prevent it for others. I’ve always believed that as an island nation with plenty of blue spaces further inland, we should all be super aware of water-based risks, but as we know, many continue to hit the news with reported incidents.

I continue to work with Paddle UK to raise awareness. I do so through my own social media and chat with people in water-based environments, pointing them towards useful resources such as those produced by Paddle UK, the Coastguard, and the RNLI.

How did you become a #ShePaddles Ambassador for Paddle UK, and what did you take from the experience?
I saw an advert for the role online and saw it as an excellent opportunity to help bring women and girls into and stay in the sport, promote water safety, promote health and wellbeing benefits, and raise awareness of environmental issues through paddlesport. The women and girls in sports aspect, in particular, was important to me growing up in the 80s and 90s as I found that it was the men and boys that were directed more towards sporting endeavours than women and girls and personally endured a great deal of bullying through primary and secondary school due to being a Girl Guide and later a Scout. I obviously stuck to it, though, as I enjoyed it so much, and that’s how you’re reading this today! On becoming a successful #ShePaddles Ambassador applicant, I gave everything I had to the role, living and breathing #ShePaddles. I gained so much more knowledge, skills, qualifications, contacts, colleagues, friends and acquaintances through doing so.

Four years later, I’m still out there doing my thing – paddling, raising awareness of all these matters that were and are important to me, promoting the outdoors, collaborating with brands and media channels, guest speaking, and through the internet, TV, radio, podcasts, and written articles.

Having sustained a brain injury in 2017, I thought at the time that my life was over, but paddlesport and most notably through becoming a #ShePaddles Ambassador, gave me the best life I’ve ever had and much more active than I ever thought possible than when I was laying on a trolley in hospital, on my own in a foreign country seriously injured, dazed, confused and scared. The role helped build my fitness, skills and knowledge, but most of all, my confidence, self-esteem and self-worth as a person, now post-injury with multiple disabilities. It still seems crazy to think that sustaining a brain injury was the best thing that ever happened to me! It’s no joke, though, and I still struggle a lot, but I count my blessings and never take anything for granted, seizing every day that I am blessed to open my eyes once again.

You are an incredibly busy woman within and outside of paddling. How do you manage to balance all your activities?
I honestly have no idea, haha! Well, it’s said that if you want something done, ask a busy person! I get asked this question a lot, though. It comes down to the fact that everything I do brings me so much joy and leads me to many wonderful opportunities that fill me to the brim with happiness. My injury on that fateful day could have been ‘game over’, so every day, hour, minute and second is a second chance. With my post-injury, functional neurological disabilities, I definitely have to keep a diary and write lists upon lists (upon lists!) of things that I want or need to do. I love being busy and actually struggle when I have nothing to do – crazy,

I know, but it’s my way, and I adore giving back to people and organisations that have invested time, money, effort, and trust in me. It’s who I am and what I believe I was put on this earth for having been given that second chance.

There is tremendous enthusiasm amongst women for SUP – why do you think that is?
For many women, SUP is accessible, sociable, and great for health and fitness. A big draw is not having to lug big and heavy kit around or relying on others to help make it happen. Many only paddle in the warmer months, so the fact that typical comfortable, gym-style clothing can be worn instead is a bonus without having to invest in extra, expensive gear that many women may find uncomfortable and restrictive. Budget can also be a factor, especially as the cost of living steadily increases, where following initial outlay, it can be an inexpensive sport. It also appeals greatly to women wishing to participate in something with their children or friends while they are at school. I think online social media and online support sources are also a huge factor, especially for those who may not have as much confidence in person. I’m sure celebrity endorsement also helps. In the online SUP groups, I’m a part of and manage (Facebook – All Wales SUP Paddle Boarders and Paddle UK Members Group), females outnumber males, and it keeps growing yearly! The ladies are most definitely leading the way!

How do you keep the SUP stoke going and motivate others to get involved?
Personally, I share all my paddles online along with various safety and knowledge messaging to help people to clue themselves up, know where to find the right sources of information, knowledge and training and feel inspired for their own paddle plans and desires. Wherever possible, I take part in online discussions, share photos and stories, and comment on where people are looking for support or answers to questions. It’s all about being friendly and supportive and keeping the conversations going. Online platforms can be notorious for negativity, which doesn’t help anyone – we all began somewhere with little to no knowledge, and there is never a stupid or pointless question. We should always look to help and support people on their own journeys but also be mindful that there are always things that we can learn too! Learning never ends!

Which brands do you work with, and how do they specifically help you?
This year, on the paddling side of things,  I’ve mainly worked collaboratively with Paddle UK and the RNLI on summer safety messaging and with Paddle UK and LifeJacket Skin Protection. Water safety is a topic very close to my heart, so working with Paddle UK and the RNLI has really helped both in general and for me to push vital information out, not just to paddlers or those new to the sport but to people from all walks of life and leisure pursuits through various community groups and online channels. Through Paddle UK and LifeJacket Skin Protection, I’ve been able to raise awareness of the very real issue of Melanoma Skin Cancer, the deadliest of all skin cancers and as paddlers we’re at real risk of it and need to protect ourselves. With this collaboration, I’ve had access to LifeJacket’s range of products that have helped protect me from (hopefully!) another dose of Melanoma Skin Cancer, a very scary time in my life that I do not wish to repeat! I already used their creams anyway but had the opportunity to try others that I haven’t used before but certainly will from now on! Having tried and tested these products, I can highly recommend their rash vest, daily SPF moisturiser and chafe bar! Paddle UK members also get a 10% discount.

What’s the one interesting, non-SUP-related fact that we might not know about you? 
I have a collection of model toy cars and other vehicles; some vintage, some sporty, and some somewhere in between and most have a story behind them. I also have two remote controlled cars that I love to take to the beach or on a forest track! I’m just a big kid, really!

Which paddling locations in the world would be on your bucket list?
Having just returned from a six-day paddling expedition and wild camping in Sweden, I feel this country is on my bucket list! Norwegian fjords are another ‘must do’ adventure. Greece is definitely on my list; the paddling looks absolutely idyllic there! Staying closer to home, having done two paddle expeditions in Scotland this year, I really want to paddle more there and I would love to finally hit the Norfolk Broads and some more of the River Thames.

In general, anywhere and everywhere, as long as there are no Crocs or anything else that will eat me whole, then I’m there! Having done the River Spey Descent this year by canoe, I would definitely snap up further opportunities for whitewater fun! Multi-day expeditions are where it’s at for me, so any linear route with quiet and beautiful natural scenery and amazing wildlife spotting opportunities is a win-win! Answers on a postcard, please!

Besides SUP, what else do you paddle, and do you have a favourite?
I paddle kayak and canoe as well as SUP. It’s a difficult choice to have a favourite, though! For expeditions, the canoe is the one and only choice for me! Canoeing grabs my attention like nothing else; I think it’s the one that I feel the most independent and adventurous using, and I love the fact that there are all manner of seating positions and paddle strokes that can be used to get to where you’re going or achieve an aim and of course great to easily carry all the gear you want or need. I particularly love SUP for coastal paddling; for me, the magic of this is standing and seeing into the water below for all its wildlife when conditions are flat and calm; these paddles mesmerise and enchant me! Oh, and sea caves! I love a good sea cave!

Name just one thing we can do as paddlers to improve our environment.
Paddle pick-ups! When paddling on your local river or canal, take a bag and a grabber. Retrieve some litter – even just a little, it all helps! It shouldn’t be there, and whether it’s been dumped or blown in, it’s contributing negatively to the water quality, wildlife and ecosystems, as well as visually. If we can each play our part, we can help protect these areas just a little more. I know the problem is bigger than this, but it’s a good start!

What’s the most enjoyable encounter with wildlife that you’ve had whilst paddling?
I was paddleboarding on the coast during the most beautiful West Wales sunset and saw dolphins! It was a truly incredible, unforgettable experience! The sea state was pretty flat, and a mother and her calf surfaced for around 30 minutes just before me. I just floated on my board with my heart full of wonder and happiness. It was during the first Covid lockdown when we still had restrictive measures, so it was even more remarkable considering we had been unable to be out in nature for so long to appreciate it and have these moments! Fortunately, I can relive this experience over and over again as I filmed it; it’s a very cherished memory in my life.

Quickies

Who would it be if you could paddle with anyone, dead or alive?
I would love to go paddling with Dawn French. I love her wit and intelligence, but I’m sure I’d cry with laughter most of the time!

Pick two celebrities to be your parents.
Again, Dawn French for the comedy, conversation, and life lessons and Bear Grylls for the outdoors and survival skills aspect!

Which famous person would you like to see play you in a film?
Heather Peace from her London’s Burning and Ultimate Force days!

Do you have a mentor?
Unfortunately, my best mate Neil passed away suddenly six years ago when he was 33, but some things he said to me will stay with me forever. Whenever I feel like I need some words of wisdom, I think about some of the things he said to me, and it always gets me through whenever I feel there’s an issue, unsure about something or I’m going off track or even needing some positivity. He was a great soul and friend even beyond the grave! Thanks, Neil!

An ideal night out for you is?
Pub grub and a pint (or two!). A mixed grill or a steak with all the trimmings and some real ale, thank you very much!

What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
My survival knife – the tool of all tools which brings and gives so much more!

What would I find in your fridge right now?
Welsh mature cheddar – cheese is life!
What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?
Garlic and chilli prawns starter with buttered herb ciabatta, sirloin steak with all the extras and homemade peppercorn sauce for the main and homemade sticky toffee pudding with Joe’s Welsh ice cream for dessert. Beverages – Montepulciano red wine / Brains SA Gold ale followed by a cup of Taylor’s ground filter coffee. Yum!

Who are your paddling buddies?
Craig Jackson and Denyse Lane (SUP Shropshire), Mike Blanshard (SUP Yorkshire), Nigel Startin (Snow and Paddles) and Jo Moseley.

If you could be a wild animal – what would it be?
An eagle – would love to be able to fly and have superb eyesight!

Any final shoutouts?
Big up to Paddle UK for all the amazing collaboration and media opportunities once again this year and to Nigel Startin of Snow and Paddles for four incredible canoe expeditions this year, paddling the Great Glen Canoe Trail, River Spey Descent, River Wye and central Sweden lakes and rivers! There has been so much fantastic travel, fun, laughter, learning, and skills development. Also, I want to thank my uncle, Ben Edom, who I promise I will return to the Fishguard Bay Ocean Race next year. Sorry – canoeing expeditions got in the way this year!

What’s next for 2025?
More paddling (obviously!), expeditions, adventure, guest speaking and more volunteering. I am currently confirmed to be heading back to Scotland for a five-day multi-craft expedition from Loch Awe to Oban via the River Awe, Loch Etive and the famed Falls of Lora. The rest remains to be determined. Open to offers and suggestions!

Anything else?
I’m now taking Winter 2024/Spring 2025 bookings for my guest speaking spot – ‘From Stick to SUP: Clare’s Journey – An Inspirational Journey from Brain Injury to Paddlesports Instructor’. Contact me via any of my social media channels for further details:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/clarerutter.DBA
Instagram: clare_rutter.ba.hons
X: clare_rutter
TikTok: clarerutzrutter
YouTube: clarerutzrutter
#clarerutterwherenextadventures