Leo Hoare Profile
Leo got his addiction for paddling when he was nine, when he joined Proteus canoe club in Peterborough.
Back then slalom was the thing to do. Leo competed to a high level and represented Great Britain for 6 years. In those years he raced and trained all over the world, achieved a forth place in the junior worlds, a place in the squad for the Barcelona Olympics and many wins at junior internationals. He finished chasing sticks in 1992 after appearing on the programme "Paddles Up", and being ranked in the top 10 UK seniors. From 1992 to 1994 he coached the welsh junior and senior squads and the British intermediate slalom teams.
The seed had been planted to see and experience other places and cultures at an early age and discovering the open canoe and sea kayak has allowed him to go on some amazing adventures: A solo circumnavigation of Easter Island in a 10-year-old White water boat, the Rio Grande in Mexico, kayak safaris in Africa and expeditions to S.E Greenland, Norway and New Zealand is just some of the adventures he has had.
Leo loves people; That's why he feels that coaching is the best job in the world, and paddling is and always will be in his blood.
Leo has contributed chapters to the BCU Canoe Kayak Handbook and the BCU Coaching Handbook, and made smaller contributions to the books Top Tips for Coaches and Canoe Games. Recently Leo has been involved with the development of the new UKCC coaching awards, producing resources, running pilots and fine tuning the structure.
Leo co-directed and produced the DVD Sea Kayak Safety with paddling partner Olly Sanders.
Before setting up Getafix he worked for Plas Y Brenin for 7 years and freelanced for centres country wide providing staff training.
Qualifications
- BCU contracted course provider
- BCU level 5 inland kayak A5
- BCU aspirant level 5 Canoe and Sea kayak A4
- BCU White Water safety course provider
- BCU level 3 slalom coach
- REC Trainer
- RESCUE 3 INT. Swift water technician 1 instructor
- MLTUK Mountain leader (summer)
- MLTUK Single Pitch Award
Getafix runs courses at various locations near Corwen in North Wales, including Bala, Cerrigydrudion and Anglesey.
