Meet Our Female Founder, Caroline Dawson aka SUP Lass
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures was founded by paddle board enthusiast and adventure foodie, Caroline Dawson aka Caz. Caz is an accomplished stand up paddle board (SUP) Coach and Adventure Guide, with a passion for all things outdoors.
Located on the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, SUP Lass Paddle Adventures has doorstep access to a range of breath-taking paddle locations, including the majestic River Dee, the world-famous Llangollen Canal, plus an array of Welsh lakes and coastlines. Caz has successfully completed a number of challenges and races including, the 100km Great Glen Challenge, the Trent 100, the Conwy Ascent, the Loch Awe Challenge, the Paris Nautic Paddle and the notorious 'Swellies Challenge'. In 2024, Caz will be taking on the mighty Peruvian Amazon. |
Qualified and Experienced
Caz holds the following qualifications and industry accreditations:
~ WSA Water Safety and Rescue
~ WSA Coastal Navigation ~ WSA Adventure Guide ~ WSA Adventure SUP-er Trainer ~ WSA Safety and Rescue Trainer ~ WSA SUP Instructor Trainer ~ Leave No Trace Trainer ~ WiSe Accredited Adventure Operator ~ WRT Pro Rescue 3 Technician ~ RYA Marine Radio VHF Short Range Certificate ~ REC Level 4 Expedition First Aid ~ Enhanced DBS ~ White Water Safety and Rescue ~ Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning ~ White Water SUP Coach ~ Core Coach ~ White Water Aspirant Leader Tutor ~ Instructor Aspirant Tutor ~ Level Three Food Hygiene Certificate ~ BSc (Hons) Environmental Science ~ PGc in Leadership ~ WCF Rural Leadership Award ~ Camp Leader (awaiting assessment) |
She has also been a regular face on the River Wye, guiding multi days trips for Gutsy Girls, plus has led her own expedition to the Sankt Anna Archipelago on the east coast of Sweden. In 2023 Caz joined the SUP Norway crew as a guide, plus headed back to the west coast of Sweden to guide further trips for WSA. She has recently returned from paddling the Vjosa in Albania - the last wild river of Europe.
In 2024, Caz will be teaming up with SUP Driven and Yster SUP to deliver further Swedish paddle expeditions, plus returning back to Norway to join the SUP Norway crew. She also plans to take part in the Spey Challenge, SUP Twelve and Conwy Ascent in preperation for her Amazon SUP Challenge.
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures were awarded the Royal Countryside Fund Rural Business Start Up Award in 2023.
Caz is a Trustee and Director of the Welsh Dee Trust, a volunteer Water Safety Advisor for the RNLI and proud Mustang Survival crew member.
In 2024, Caz will be teaming up with SUP Driven and Yster SUP to deliver further Swedish paddle expeditions, plus returning back to Norway to join the SUP Norway crew. She also plans to take part in the Spey Challenge, SUP Twelve and Conwy Ascent in preperation for her Amazon SUP Challenge.
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures were awarded the Royal Countryside Fund Rural Business Start Up Award in 2023.
Caz is a Trustee and Director of the Welsh Dee Trust, a volunteer Water Safety Advisor for the RNLI and proud Mustang Survival crew member.
Our Accreditations
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures are affiliated to Canoe Wales, this means the coaching and tuition we offer is professional and delivered to a high standard. We are providers of the Start, Discover and Explore Awards, along with the White Water SUP Awards. Caz is a longstanding member of Canoe Wales and continually strives to develop her skills, she is currently undertaking several trainer orientations to enable her to be an accredited qualification provider in the future.
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures is verified by Visit Wales and Wales Adventure Tourism Organisation, as a safe and high-quality adventure activity provider. We are also members of the Clwydian Range Tourism Group. |
Adventure Cooking
In a previous life, Caz ran an award winning outdoor kitchen 'Fodder in the Field', where local and seasonal ingredients were cooked up in a range of wild locations, including mountain tops and forests. Caz has recently launched a series of SUP + Cook experiences.
On most paddle sessions you'll find her carrying her trusty Kelly Kettle, where she'll treat clients to a warming brew or mug of hearty soup. One thing that people don't know about Caz, is that she is a longstanding judge for the Great Taste Awards and champion for local and seasonal produce. When she is not leading paddle sessions she is a freelance Agri-Food Consultant and runs a second business 'Fodder Lass Consulting'. |
Our Commitment to the Environment
We are genuine outdoorsy types and are committed to protecting our paddling environments for generations to come through ongoing education and promoting Leave No Trace principles. Caz is a qualified Leave No Trace Trainer and on all of her paddle sessions she loves to share her knowledge and expertise.
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures is an accredited WiSe operator and as part of the accreditation we are committed to abide by the national and local laws of wildlife disturbance and conservation. SUP Lass Paddle Adventures regularly works in partnership the Welsh Dee Trust to support the delivery of SUP river cleans as part of their award winning #itshouldntbeinthedee campaign. Over the last 12 months we have also worked with the North Wales Wildlife Trust to distribute invasive species cleaning kits to our clients. |
Our Chosen Charity - North East Wales Search and Rescue
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures are proud to support NEWSAR, a local charity who provide valuable search and resuce services, including water resuce, across North East Wales.
In 2022, we donated over £750 towards the new NEWSAR incident support vehicle. This total was raised through raffles, board hire fees and rescue strap sales from our regular SUP Club sessions. Throughout 2023 we have further worked with NEWSAR to deliver water safety messaging - both on and off the water. We have also raised funds through our winter webinar series, where participants have made voluntary donations. |
Technical Support from AcwaTerra
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures are pleased to work with Dave Brown from AcwaTerra, an adventure training consultancy that specializes in providing technical advice to range of outdoor activities, including SUP. Dave has over 30 years of on the water adventure experience and regularly supports Caz in the professional and safe delivery of her sessions and guided adventures.
SUP Lass Paddle Adventures in the Media
How it all began - an interview with Nick from SUPfm podcast
Season 3, Episode 14 'Adventures in North Wales' - January 2021. |
Sup Lass riding the Dee bore.
BBC Wales: Flintshire Paddle Boarders Ride the Dee bore Phenomnon - February 2022. |
Micro adventures in Wales, River Dee bore + Kelly Kettle treats
Season 3: Episode 6 'SUP Lass' - February 2022. |
Boatlife Stage Interview
Boatlife You Tube Channel - February 2023 |
Bionet Conference 2024 - Leaving a Positive Trace
Bionet You Tube Channel - March 2024 |
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