Steve has presented outrigger canoeing workshops since 1997 throughout Australia; Darwin, Port Douglas, Cairns, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and overseas in the Fijian Islands over a 6 year period as consultant to the South Pacific Games Squad, and as Australian National Coaching Director for the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association for 5 years, he coached well over 100 coaches through to qualification. He has also run workshops in both England and Hong Kong. His knowledge of the sport gained through total immersion in the sport over greater than 20 years on a full time basis, has nurtured a unique insight into the sport.
'Attending the Steve West weekend showed me that while paddling appears easy, it is quite a technical sport that requires skill and lots of practise. Since attending the coaching clinic I have broadened the repertoire of what I try to work on when I am paddling, as it raised my awareness to the purpose of particular components of the technique. It certainly gave me a renewed interest in the technical side of the sport.'
'Having a former World Champion visit us here was an excellent experience.'
'A weekend full of very practical advice and information.'
'Steve is a great bloke and imparted much knowledge on us all.'
'I was grateful to get some feedback on my technique and now have a renewed focus on what I am trying to achieve every time I put my paddle in the water.'
'It helped my paddling technique greatly, especially the one-on-one analysis and advice the 2nd day.'
'Great weekend and learnt lots! Felt I'd improved over the weekend now just have to remember all the little tips!'
'The rigging session was interesting as we have used the rope that I thought did not have the strength as the rope would break every time we attempted to stretch the rope before we rigged with it. Steve demonstrated his craftsmanship and showed us various ways to finish off the excess rigging rope. Steve was a great selection to come and teach the paddlers in Darwin. He is very down to earth, an enthusiastic teacher and has a very much commonsense approach to the sport.'
Darwin North Queensland Australia
