Meet the Coaching Team
Julie Perren
Julie is the co-organiser of the incredibly successful biennial 'Women's Sea Kayak Festival' based in Salcombe. The WSKF as it is known has influenced the creation of this event and Julie's support has helped make it a reality.
Julie discovered sea kayaking after moving to the South West 20 years ago. Until recently she was living in Cornwall. She enjoys guiding, coaching around the diverse coastlines of the UK and further afield in Jersey, France, Norway and Western Greenland. She also enjoys white water kayaking, canoeing, surf skiing and kayak racing and is a British Canoeing Advanced Sea Kayak Leader, Performance Coach, a Sea Kayak Coach and SK Award Provider.
Julie is a sponsored paddler for Sea Kayak UK and Celtic paddles and paddles the Echo with narrow shaft kinetic 600 paddle.
An essential item found in her kayak would be a sketchbook to record the journey which has inspired paintings capturing the energy of the sea!
Natalie Maderova
Natalie lives in London and considers the Tidal Thames to be her home water. Natalie started as an expedition sea paddler having accomplished many journeys and several
circumnavigations, around Britain (2012), Iceland (2017), Ireland (2019).
In the recent years Natalie is happy to paddle any craft, SUP, open canoe, white water, or surf kayak.
She is an advance water leader and coach, performance coach, provider of many personal sea kayak and stand up paddle boarding awards, coastal and tidal navigation award, and provider of paddlesport leader and SUP leader awards.
What Natalie likes best is to share blue space and paddling with others. She has done so in many places within the UK, France, Spain, Corsica, Alaska, and most recently in Antarctica.
Caoimhe Connor
Caoimhe is from Ireland Co. Down where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. Caoimhe’s passion is all things water from white water tidal races in a sea kayak to rivers in an open canoe.
She is an advanced sea leader and advanced water coach. There is no better way to see the world than from a sea kayak in Caoimhe’s opinion. She has travelled far and wide in her sea kayak, exploring, leading and coaching along the way.
She is looking forward to her first Women’s Sea Kayaking Festival and exploring the coasts of South Devon!!
Sue Couling
Coming soon...
Helen Bartlett
Helen fell in love with kayaking when she realised it fulfilled her need for exploration, escapism and time outdoors. However, the fact it also meant being active, getting a shot of adrenaline AND meeting amazing people, really sealed the deal!
Kayaking has been a major part of her life for the past 11 years and has taken her all over the UK as well as Sweden, Norway, Slovenia and Nepal. There is nothing Helen loves more than a multi-day expedition, living out of her kayak, wild camping in remote places and immersing herself in nature.
Having coached for a number of years on the side of her day job in marketing, Helen now spends her Summers coaching full-time and enjoys sharing her love of sea kayaking with the wider paddling community.
Hege Eian
I’m Hege Eian (42), based in Drammen, Southern Norway. I've been involved in kayaking and canoeing since childhood, being introduced to it through the family business, Eian Fritid, which I now run. I love introducing and sharing the experience of sea kayaking with others and I strive to create an environment where participants feel confident and inspired.
I have been coaching paddlers at different levels for several years around Norway and abroad. I hold the BCAB Advanced Sea Kayak Leader award and the Norwegian NGB seakayak coach award. I'm also involved in training other coaches with the Norwegian NGB.
To me, seakayaking is about freedom and connecting with nature — exploring coastlines, reading the water, and adapting the padling to the rhythm of the sea. I believe learning on the water should be enjoyable and confidence building. I employ a supportive coaching style, focusing on clients desires and goals to assist them in their progressive skill development, safety, and confidence in varied conditions.
At the festival, I really appreciate and look forward to offering encouragement and practical tips that help paddlers grow at their own pace. My aim is for participants to leave with useful skills, good memories, and a continued strong appreciation of the sea.
Ava Barton
Hi my name is Ava I have been paddling for the last 10 years starting at age 7 starting in canoes and happy in pretty much any craft but sea kayaking is my happy place. I love the freedom you get when you are on the water, the ability to go anywhere and the amazing view you can get from the water of architecture, the natural landscape and all the wildlife. I also love the all the friends you can make through paddlesport, whether it’s a small paddle or a bigger event or symposium. I also love getting to share my love for paddlesports with others through coaching and leading trips or even just helping out. I have my sea kayak leader and coach and these have really helped me to share that love with as many people as I can. I am part of the paddle Scotland young ambassador and young equality group for the last three years meaning I have been able to help empower and support other young paddlers who are also into paddle sports. I could never pick a favourite place to paddle cause I love so many different place and aspects, from multi day expeditions around west cost of Scotland and visiting islands, to fun days out in the tide at the falls of Lora and Cuan sound, to calm quiet paddles around the Tay bridges.
Rachel Kehoe
Rachel Kehoe
Rachel is 1 part of the dynamic duo forming How We Roll, her coaching has become legendary among those seeking an improved roll and Greenland style paddling. More coming soon....
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Ashley WIlliams
More Coming Soon
Kelly Pearson
More Coming Soon
Eila Wilkinson
If you’ve paddled around Anglesey, chances are you’ve heard of Eila Wilkinson. For over 12 years, Eila has been coaching and leading adventures in the tidal waters that make this coastline so special. Her base at Amlwch Port is steeped in history and beauty—perfect for the kind of journeys Eila loves to share.
Eila isn’t just a coach; she’s a true explorer. She’s completed solo circumnavigations of the Outer Hebrides and Ireland, smashed speed records around the Isle of Man and Anglesey, and led countless expeditions to wild and remote places like Shetland and the Hebrides. She’s even spent winters on self-supported trips in the Bahamas, discovering areas never before explored by sea kayak. Adventure runs deep in her veins.
As the first UKCC Level 3 Advanced Water Coach in Wales, Eila has helped shape the future of sea kayaking coaching. Today, she’s a National Trainer and Assessor for British Canoeing, mentoring leaders and coaches at every level. Her passion for sharing knowledge has taken her to international symposiums across the USA, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Holland, Italy, Sardinia, and beyond.
What makes Eila stand out? It’s not just her impressive résumé—it’s her commitment to making every paddler feel confident, safe, and inspired on the water. Whether you’re dreaming of your first big crossing or aiming for advanced leadership awards, Eila brings expertise, encouragement, and a love of adventure to every session.