George Shaw
Coach
George Shaw has lived in the Isle of Man for over 10 years,
originally from Bromley, Kent. He is rightly proud to be a Sea
kayaking UK sponsored paddler.
He first met the coaches at Adventurous experiences in April
2009.
After a few paddles with the group he became an Adventure Club
member and that was it! Every spare moment he had, he would paddle!
With limited kayaking experience over the years before he met
Keirron, George knew this was the start of his addiction.
Swimming and surfing are a large part of his sporting life. George
has always been a strong swimmer and at least once a year heading
down Cornwall for some surf. He is also an active qualified
Swimming Coach.
At the age of 20 he competed at club and amateur level Thai boxing.
His interest in Thai boxing continued for 14 years before a
football injury to his knee made him call it a day. After
recovering from the injury which took about 2 years he discovered
Kayaking and has never looked back.
A qualified Pool Lifeguard (not his day job) he trains with the
life guards once a month, and is focused on progressing and
achieving the Surf Lifeguard Award.
Personal achievements is this area include winning the Swimming
section of the 2011 Isle of Man Adventure Race, and then winning
the sea kayaking section consecutively!
He has paddled to Scotland and back in a day, twice, the second
time in a double kayak with Keirron's 15 year old sister, Katia
Tastagh.
George regularly coaches and leads others along the Isle of Man
coastline, and holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation by
touring sea kayak - completing the 115km in 13 hours 33 mins.
When conditions permit he enjoys surf kayaking on the Isle of Man
and getting involved in any fast flowing tidal races.
Immediate goals
• To complete a successful extended paddle in the Aleutian Islands
2012 to record and photograph as much as he can.
• Swim round the Calf of Man, progress through the BCU and Swimming
Level 2 coaching awards, and paddle from the Isle of man around
Ireland and back again in 2013.
With his progress and ambition in kayaking, he can see himself
leading and coaching increasingly in the future.
Hobbies
• Road and mountain biking
• Spending money
• Having time with his daughter
Adventurous Experiences coaches are highly trained,
motivated and qualified to run the activities we offer. All coaches
hold national governing body coaching awards, have certified First
Aid training, complete continuous coach development and personal
skills acquisition, have the full support of Adventurous
Experiences and have the customer as their primary
focus.