About us

Sean McGrath, Director

Sean is a Level 5 Coach with over 20 years paddling experience and has paddled on most continents around the world. After a qualifying as a Building Manager at Wolverhampton University, Sean turned to the outdoor industry for employment as a way to spend more time paddling whilst maintaining an income, of sorts. Over the next ten years Sean's passion for paddling took him to many different rivers in a variety of boats. More info...

Ian Adey, Associate Instructor

Ian is a Level 5 Coach with many seasons paddling under his belt, both in the UK and further afield. With a career that first began on the weirs of then Thames Ian’s passion for paddling has taken him around Europe, to California, Thailand, Ecuador and most recently Chile. Ian’s friendly manner inspires confidence on the river and his jovial yet safe attitude can be attributed to his seasons rafting in Norway. Ian graduated from the University of Cumbria and it was there that he decided that paddlesport coaching was his calling, since then he has been building up a portfolio of experience to become a well-rounded multi discipline coach.

Fiona Corfe, Associate Instructor

Growing up in the south west, I developed an early love for the water, spending my young years in the sea surfing on North Devon’s beaches. Deciding this was fun, I left home at 17 and went on a mission to pursue a career in the outdoors industry. I soon found myself in my first ‘job’ and hand in hand came my first kayaking experience. I was sat in a kayak in a jellyfish infested estuary in South Africa, being shouted at by the chief instructor that I needed to learn to roll a kayak in a week in order to work here! I learnt to roll …. and that was it, I was now addicted!

Over the years since, I developed a huge passion for both sea and white water kayaking. My constant drive to push my limits and search for a challenge, have led me to complete many amazing trips in many incredible places. In the white water world, I have been on trips to Nepal, Italy, France, Slovenia and Switzerland where I have paddled some incredible white water with some great people. In my sea kayak, I have paddled extensively around many amazing parts of the UK, as well as undertaking some longer expeditions further afield. In a search for the ultimate challenge of sea kayaking, my husband and I decided to circumnavigate 2500km round the wild coastline of New Zealand’s South Island. Surviving this, we recently undertook another ambitious and successful circumnavigation of 2800km around the more challenging North Island.

If I’m not in my boat personally paddling, I love to coach others to improve and develop. Professionally, I hold the UCKK Level 3 coach in white water, five star leader awards and am currently working to qualify as an advanced water coach in white water and sea.

My plans for the future include: white water kayaking in Chile, some remote canoe expeditions in Scotland and an even bigger, scarier sea kayaking expedition (currently top secret)!

Josh Litten, Associate Instructor

My first kayaking experience was when I was 4 years old when my dad sat me on his lap and took me down the Brathay, I have been hooked ever since!

Over the last 15 years I have been pushing my limits in white water kayaking trips and sea kayaking expeditions around the world. During the time I have spent on the river in places such as; Norway, Switzerland, Italy, French alps, Austria and New Zealand, I have met some great people and found some awe inspiring gorges and rapids. Sea kayaking has also offered me the opportunity to travel, spending time in Thailand setting up and running sea kayaking expeditions, and completing large journeys along the west coast of Scotland and the far north of Norway.

My drive for kayaking comes from discovering exciting new places and meeting other enthusiastic people who share my passion. I also relish the opportunity to coach and guide other s to aid their progression into the sport. I can often be found on the rivers of South Lakes or sea kayaking on Scotland’s west coast, I hope to see you on the water one day!

Martin Reid, Operations Manager

Martin manages the day to day running of the Wild River office, as well as developing the company's website and promoting Wild River courses. Martin is a freelance web and graphic designer and is experienced in marketing and business administration.