Rich is our Open Canoe Guru, and soon to be Level 5 Canoe Coach. Instructs Open Canoeing, Kayaking, Rock Climbing and Abseiling, Gorge Walking, Team-Building, Mountain Biking, First Aid, Woodcraft and doubles as IT Man! His claims to fame include working for Ray Mears on Canoe expeditions in France.

Richard splits his time between teaching instructors and teaching sessions.  He is passionate about helping people develop and improve, whether it it is your first time out trying an activity or if you are jumping through the next hoop on the instructor qualification ladder.  He is known for not being able to stop coaching and his observations and coaching knowledge.  He head up our coach education department and directs 90% of our coaching courses.

Name:	Rich Witheridge
Full Time Job:	Chief Instructor for ProAdventure
Age:	36
Outdoor Qualifications:	BCU Aspirant Level 5 Canoe Coach BCU Level 3 Kayak Coach (5 Star Trained) Mountain Bike Instructor Award Level 2 Single Pitch Award BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Trainer BCU White Water Safety and Rescue Trainer UKCC Level 1 and 2 Course Tutor BCU Aquatic First Aid Assessor Raft Guide BFA Level 1 Coach (Fencing) RYA Dinghy Instructor RYA Safety Boat Instructor BOF Instructor (Orienteering) GNAS Leader (Archery) Rescue Emergency Care - Emergency First Aid RTI Flood And Swiftwater Technician - Rescue 1 Trainee REC First Aid Trainer
Other Qualifications:	MCSE Windows 2000 MCP Exchange 2000 MCP Active Domain
How long have you been working in the outdoor industry?	20 years
What did you do previously?	In between times, I have managed pubs and worked as a computer systems desktop support and network engineer
What’s your biggest achievement to date?	Canoeing Swallow Falls, scary but great! Being asked to, and working for, Ray Mears on courses in France.
What do you love most about your job?	Meeting people and helping them to improve at their sports or to open the doors to new adventures for them.
What do you like least about your job?	The bangs and bruises that you get that ache for ages. Ouch!
What do you do for fun?	Erm...bike, boat, climb and read. Sounds a bit like a busman's holiday but I love my sports and love doing them!
What’s your ultimate ambition?	To get my Level 5 Canoe and to lead a group of disadvantaged people on a trip to Canada canoeing
What’s your favourite…
…climb/walking route, etc?	Crib Goch, the first awkward ridge I had ever done, and led it myself, it was awesome and scary all at the same time.
…river/paddling venue, etc?	Too many to mention, just being on the water is fantastic. Early morning on the Dee looking for otters, paddling the Ardeche gorge watching eagles soar, black kites fishing, black redstarts buzzing about and beavers just meandering around. Any of the Scottish lochs, so changeable but always beautiful. Nevis Bluff, with its terrifying boil lines and sumps. All are fantastic for different reasons.
…book?	All of the Star Wars books, and anything by Jeremy Clarkson or Ben Elton/
…film?	Dune
…song?	3 words by cheryl cole (sad i know)
Something not a lot of people know about you:	I used to be the lead violinist for Staffordshire Youth Orchestra.
Anything else interesting about you?	loads, but all in good time

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