Born and raised on the south coast of England, Ian (known to many as “Squid”) has always been drawn to the sea. At the age of nine he began kayaking at a local club, and, simply put, sea kayaking is his life.
Now a provider of all of PaddleUK’s advanced sea kayak personal, leadership, and coaching qualifications, Ian has guided, instructed, and coached sea kayaking across the UK, as well as spending multiple seasons in Switzerland and New Zealand.
From a young age, Ian was captivated by the majestic wildlife, unique geography, and otherworldly splendor of the polar regions. He realized a lifelong dream of guiding in these environments when he joined Quark for the 2025–26 Antarctic season, and loves watching polar guests develop their kayaking skills.
When not guiding in the polar regions, you’ll find Ian in his adoptive home of Pembrokeshire, Wales, spending quality time with his wife and son. Here, he’ll also be playing and coaching in the rock gardens, surf, and tide races of this world-renowned sea kayakers’ playground.
Alongside his paddling work, Ian dedicates a portion of his time to volunteering as a water safety advisor for the RNLI, the charity that provides the UK’s lifeboat search and rescue service.
