Q&A with Jess Phillip

Jess is a highly accomplished WW SUP paddler and Ambassador for Hala.

Interview: Emma Love
Photos: Richard Taylor Photography, Jon Fish, Niamh Lee, Cameron Hopkin & Jess Phillip

I sat down with her, accompanied by her lovely dog Max, to chat about her work as a SUP Leader Provider, Mentor, and Coach. www.dipperpaddleboarding.com 

Can you describe your typical working week? 
There is a lot of variety – coaching, mentoring, freelancing, and working at a university. No two weeks look the same, and this is what keeps it interesting. One day, I’m running an instructor training session; the next, I’m prepping students for a pack-rafting expedition; somewhere in between, I’m trying to keep up with my qualifications and develop my paddling. And then there’s Max, my young Labrador who thinks every Zoom call is an invitation to demand attention! 

Talk me through what keeps you curious about coaching SUP.  
For me, coaching is not just about passing on technical skills – it’s about building confidence, independence, and problem-solving. Anyone can teach a paddle stroke, but if you can help someone figure things out for themselves, that’s where the real learning happens.

I think everyone should feel emotionally supported to get through the messy feelings of learning, whether it’s a beginner on their first SUP session or a more experienced paddler getting ready for their leadership qualifications.  But, creating a learning environment tailored to the individual is not easy because not everyone learns in the same way, so it’s about finding what clicks for each paddler. Sometimes, this means stepping back and letting them work it out. Other times, I may choose to break things down into smaller pieces. There’s no one way to coach, and it is this that keeps me curious and means I am constantly learning too. 

And if your curiosity stops? 
The moment I stop being curious, reflecting, exploring different methodologies, and thinking about how people learn, I stop being an effective coach, provider, and tutor. That’s why I love working with other providers of awards and qualifications. It is a chance for us to collaborate and develop new ideas, and it gives me a lot to reflect on how I continue to evolve my coaching style.

Have you always planned to go down the trainer/assessor route? 
I never set out thinking, I’m going to be a provider or a tutor. It just wasn’t on my radar. I thought I’d continue working on my paddling, building up experience, and maybe progressing in leadership, but certainly not stepping into the world of training and assessing.

It was Lara Cooper (Development Manager at Paddle Scotland) who gave me the nudge. I remember her sending me a message saying, “Jess, you’d be brilliant at this. You should apply.” This one prompt set me off on this provider pathway. I think this is a very common theme, especially for women, because we often don’t see ourselves in certain roles until someone else points it out and gives us a little push.

Would you describe the journey to becoming a tutor and provider easy?
No, it isn’t easy.  People don’t always realise how expensive (and time-consuming) it is to achieve the various qualifications. This includes the training days, the amount of study we have to do, and completing our sign-offs, especially when juggling it with work, personal commitments and keeping your paddling progressing. 

Provider and tutor training opportunities and assessments don’t come around very often in Scotland. When they do, they’re usually at the mercy of the weather. For example, I had a Coastal Leader sign-off planned, but then there was not enough wind, and the whole thing was cancelled! It is very much a case of being persistent and grabbing opportunities when they come up.

What value do you place on having a mentor? 
Encouragement is so important, and I have been lucky to have Lara Cooper, Adam Burns, and Jim Gibson, who’ve all supported me at the right moments – whether it was applying for a provider role, pushing for another qualification, or stepping up to new coaching challenges.

Sometimes, you just need someone to say, “You’re ready.” A lot of women second-guess themselves; I know I did. I try to be that voice of reassurance with the students I formally mentor because I see so much of myself in them. Including the same doubts and the same struggles to believe they’re ready. I love giving that reassurance to help them figure out their pathway and realise they’re capable of so much more than they think.

Do you have any plans to continue to develop your coaching practice formally? 
Long term, I’m curious about doing the Performance Coach Award, probably in whitewater SUP. I am focusing on how I coach in my own way for now because currently this award is not financially in my reach. 

Final thoughts: what’s your advice for aspirants?
If you’re thinking about coaching, becoming a provider, or becoming a tutor, my biggest advice is to don’t wait until you feel 100% ready – because you probably already are.

Shadow coaches, ask questions, and surround yourself with people who will encourage and push you forward. Sometimes, all it takes is one person saying, “You’d be brilliant at this,” to change everything.