Messing about on the river

WHO NEEDS THE COAST WHEN YOU CAN HIT THE WATER RIGHT HERE IN SHEFFIELD AND THE PEAK DISTRICT. WE SPEAK TO THE MAN BEHIND DC OUTDOORS WHO IS BRINGING WATERSPORTS TO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

or something that originated from surfers in the seas around Hawaii, you wouldn’t think that Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) would work as well in an urban environment. Particularly in an industrial, land-locked city like Sheffield where you have to take at least an hour’s drive just to get a glimpse of the ocean. And even then, the North Sea is a far cry from the Pacific. But for the last five years, SUP has found a settled home in Sheffield as well as at Chesterfield Canal. As part of the Outdoor City initiative, sessions were set up by DC Outdoors at Victoria Quays where willing participants could get to grips with their equipment in the canal basin before heading off down the Tinsley Canal. Not only has it become a great way to learn a new activity but is a unique and fantastic way to explore the city.

DC Outdoors offer half-day taster sessions as well as full-day courses and trips in both Sheffield and Chesterfield as well as the Peak District. The ones in Sheffield tend to run fortnightly on weekends during the spring/summer season (March to October) and includes all equipment hire as well as expert instruction from the DC Outdoors team.

“Victoria Quays is a great spot,” said Dan Crawford, who set up DC Outdoors in 2018. “We’ve got plenty of space to run the sessions and it’s easy to head down the canal from there.”

DC Outdoors’ SUP sessions can take up to ten people at any one time but Dan tries to limit numbers to six as this gives a better ratio between boarders and instructors. They are open to all levels of ability and all equipment is provided –boards, paddles, buoyancy aids, wet suits (if required).

“The half-day taster is a great way to try Stand Up Paddleboarding and once you’ve had a quick introduction to the equipment, after a short safety briefing we will get to grips with how to control the board whilst kneeling,” explained Dan. “Once we’ve got that sorted we’ll look at getting stood up – it is called stand up paddleboarding. When you’re feeling comfortable, you’ll put your newfound skills to use and go on a small journey.”

The progression from these taster sessions is a full-day ‘Discover’ session, which adds a bit more in-depth instruction on stroke technique and ways to be more efficient and effective.

And what happens if you fall in?

“You’ll get wet!” laughs Dan. “If you fall in, we’ll get you back on board. The canal basin is 14ft deep and the canal between six and eight feet. Although the water might look a bit murky it’s clean enough.”

Stand Up Paddleboarding is just one of many activities Dan offers; he set up DC Outdoors with the aim of creating and providing bespoke adventure holidays. These SUP sessions, along with canoeing and kayaking, are part of his ‘off the shelf’ activities which he runs on a regular basis.

Although DC Outdoors is based in Sheffield, Dan is not restricted to one location, he can take you to the perfect venue based on your activity choice and location, whether that’s the city centre, the Peak District or much further afield.

From a young age, Dan knew that he wanted to work as an outdoor instructor. Having visited outdoor activity centres with youth groups, and taken a walking holiday with school, Dan joined his local climbing wall in preparation and waited for the for the opportunity to start his instructor training.

At 17, Dan was accepted early on to a two-year instructor training course at the Frontier Centre in Northamptonshire, where he learnt his trade. Developing intensive skills training in archery, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, team building and leadership, Dan put this into practice with the wide and diverse groups coming through the centre.

After gaining more experience and qualifications, newly-married Dan and his wife moved to Sheffield where he began a freelance career, working with outdoor centres throughout the area as well as some further afield in Scotland, the Lake District and Wales.

Having gained a great reputation for high quality delivery, the opportunity arose for Dan to take on a new role as head of paddlesport at Ulley Activity Centre – a centre run by a school academy. Dan delivered Outdoor GCSEs in Climbing, Archery, Orienteering, Hillwalking, Canoeing and Kayaking as well as KS3 enrichment sessions and after-school clubs. After three years, Dan’s adventure ended with voluntary redundancy as the education system faced financial squeeze.

At a crossroads in his career, Dan decided to set up DC Outdoors and has not looked back. He’s happiest when he’s out on the water and in addition to the SUP sessions, he also runs regular canoe and kayak sessions too.

The most popular course is the ‘Zero to Hero’ kayak course, which can take you from being a complete novice to having experience your first taste of whitewater rapids.

“We start with how to turn the kayak efficiently and then look at getting the boat moving forward in a straight line,” explains Dan. “We’ll do this while taking a short trip along the Cromford Canal, for example.

“After lunch we’ll move to the River Derwent, where we’ll look at the skills needed to take on your first bit of whitewater. If you want to be ready for a whitewater adventure, this is the perfect starting point.”

DC Outdoors is not restricted to water-based activities but can run rock climbing, abseiling and weaselling sessions too.

“The Peak District is a climber’s paradise,” said Dan. “Climbers come from all over the world to climb on the famous gritstone edges of Stanage, Burbage, Froggatt and the Roaches, to name a few. When you book a climbing activity with DC Outdoors, these sublime rock faces are our playground!”

After working and delivering outdoor sessions for over 20 years, Dan has had his fair share of bumps and scrapes and can count a dislocated shoulder, fractured pelvis and snapped finger tendon as his ‘biggest’ injuries, not that he’s been deterred.

“It’s all par for the course really,” he added. “Most of them have come from climbing; you’re much safer on the water!”

If you’re keen to see another side to Sheffield and the Peak District, now is the perfect time to grab a paddle and hit the canals.

To find out more, call 07830 144710 or visit www.dcoutdoors.co.uk

“From the relative calm of Cromford Canal we’ll move to the River Derwent and look at the skills needed to take on your first bit of whitewater.”

Jöro team bringing award-winning flavours to Oughtibridge

Award-winning Sheffield restaurant Jöro is set to bring its nationally acclaimed flavours to Oughtibridge Mill. Sky-House Co, the company that has brought a new generation of eco-friendly homes to the north Sheffield development in the historic community of Oughtibridge, is also taking on a major renovation and restoration of centuries old properties at the site. That includes the conversion of a row of artisan cottages into four apartments and one house alongside the distinctive Sky-House Co properties.

And it has now been confirmed that the site will be operated by Sheffield’s award-winning Jöro restaurant team.

To keep up to date, visit www.jororestaurant.co.uk and www.shopshopshop.co.uk or look up @restaurant_joro or @s_h_o_p_sf. To find out more about Sky-House Co visit sky-house.co

Lisa takes a leap into the unknown

Brave Lisa Askew is reaching for the skies as she throws herself into a gravity defying fundraiser for Sheffield’s Springwood care home.

Lisa has been a team leader at the Herries Road home in Shirecliffe - part of the group operated by city not for profit charity Sheffcare - for past 13 years. And now she is preparing herself for the biggest challenge of her career to date - a skydive in support of the Springwood residents’ comfort fund.

The aim is to raise at least £500, which will be used take residents on more trips, host fun events in the home and help expand the newly developed Rainbow Craft Room, the bespoke, calming space for Springwood residents living with dementia to express themselves through art.

“We are delighted that Lisa is doing the sky dive on our behalf,” said Springwood manager Helen Gibson. “It’s a tandem skydive and she’ll be leaping into the air at something like 15,000ft above the ground.”

To donate to Lisa’s skydive simply visit https://gofund.me/8fd0e8b8

Jumble sale

Grenoside Scout and Guide Group are holding a fundraising Jumble Sale on Saturday 30 September – 11am-1pm at their headquarters on Salt Box Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8QS. Entrance is 50p (accompanied kids free) and there are lots of great bargains at rock bottom prices – clothes, shoes, hand bags, bedding, curtains, kitchenware, bric-a-brac, children's toys, etc. Everything must go!

Good quality, clean donations can be dropped off from 9am on the day, or message the Group for other drop-off times. Electrical items cannot be accepted. All proceeds will go to Grenoside Scout and Guide Group towards the HQ extension and improvements. Email grenosandg@gmail.com to find out more or visit their Facebook or Twitter page.

Minnie’s Fest returns to Stannington

Some of Sheffield’s most popular bands and singers will be taking to the stage in Stannington this July as Minnie’s Fest returns.

The popular annual music festival will run from 2.30pm on Saturday 1 July at Stannington pub The Rose and Crown, known locally as Minnie’s.

Among the acts taking to the stage will be Mam Tour, Burnt Stone, 49nrs, Gigantics, Bus Pass Buskers, Mark & Pete, The Poultons and RYB. And this year, all the proceeds will be going towards patient care at St Luke’s Hospice.

“It’s free to join us but the aim is to raise as much money as possible so there will be a collection and a big raffle with some great prizes,” said organiser Mick Mosley. “We’ve chosen St Luke’s because we know people who have been supported by the hospice recently so it’s the right thing to do.”

Puppetry, dance and music

A much-loved children’s book being brought to the stage by a Sheffield-based African theatre company is set to tour community venues across the region to break down barriers to the arts.

Anna Hibiscus’ Song by Atinuke, co-produced by Utopia Theatre and Sheffield Theatres, will first be performed at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse in Sheffield from Friday 7Saturday 15 July. It will then embark on a run of 11 show dates in Yorkshire community venues from Tuesday 18-Sunday 30 July. These performances, seating up to 50 people each, will be ‘pay as you can’ to make sure the theatre performance is accessible and inclusive for as many families as possible.

Tickets for Anna Hibiscus’ Song are on sale now. To reserve seats, visit www.utopiatheatre.co.uk. To enquire about school transport costs, email producer@utopiatheatre.co.uk

Welcome to my office Views from the roofs of S6

Simon Slater of Slaters Aerial Services has a different ‘office view’ to most of us – a rooftop vista of Sheffield. But can you guess where exactly he was when he took this photograph?

Follow @SlatersAerials on Twitter – the answer will be revealed at the end of each month. Last time, did you spot that Simon was on Greaves Lane looking towards Cliff Road, Stannington.