Everything Awesome

The Dunning Kruger effect describes a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge or skill in a specific area tend to overestimate their abilities and competence in that area. This bias can lead them to incorrectly perceive themselves as more skilled than they are, and also mistakenly underestimate the abilities of others, according to Psychology Today. 

Key aspects of the Dunning-Kruger effect:

• Overestimation of Abilities:Individuals lacking expertise or knowledge in a particular domain may be overly confident in their abilities and overestimate how much they understand or know. 
• Lack of Metacognition:This bias is often linked to a deficiency in metacognition, the ability to think about one’s own thinking and performance. 
• Reverse Effect:While commonly described as a bias of those with low competence, some theorists also discuss the opposite effect, where highly skilled individuals might underestimate their abilities relative to others, according to Britannica. 
• Unawareness of Ignorance:Individuals with low competence may not be able to recognize their mistakes or limitations, further reinforcing their inflated sense of ability. 

Examples of the Dunning-Kruger effect:

• Beginning Aviators:A new pilot might overestimate their ability to handle complex flight maneuvers, according to the British Psychological Society. 
• Medical Residents:Junior doctors may think they are capable of treating patients more effectively than they actually are, according to the British Psychological Society. 

Personally, i think i live most of my life about half way up the Slope of Enlightenment, Or, is this just me sitting on the Peak or Mount Stupid?

But, as a sports coach, i may be able to help, wherever you are.

Living the best life.

My life, so many things are unimportant, age, gender, religion, colour, income, social standing. None of these make any difference at all.

A bold statement!

Standing at the top of a drop in, Mountain bike, Snowboard, Ski,   Pushing the tail of a skateboard over the coping,  ready to drop into that bowl, Rolling into some downhill MTB, Hanging off a rope, with rock in front of me, and birds behind.

I live a world where  as a 60-year-old man it’s cool for me to chat to a 15-year-old boy if he is doing something Uber fucking cool and that 15-year-old boy at the same time will chat away to me because he hopes I’m still doing this shit when he is my age.
There are no obstacles other than self imposed ones.  Free your mind from those, make friends because they have shared interests and the world will just feel better.

Here at Everything Awesome, We are not the SUP Police, our philosophy is built on a profound respect for individual choice and the exhilarating pursuit of adventure. For sixty years, we have championed the right to take calculated risks and push personal boundaries in the world of extreme sports. This spirit of daring is the very reason we exist; it’s the lifeblood of our community and the passion that has fueled us for decades.

However, we believe that the smartest adventurers are the ones who live to ride another day. Embracing risk should not mean ignoring common sense. Our plea is not to act as the “water police,” but to foster a culture of mutual respect and longevity within the sports we love. Please, take the simple, necessary steps to ensure you can continue enjoying these thrills for many years to come. Don’t be the person whose preventable accident creates negative consequences for the entire community.

The unforgiving nature of water demands our utmost respect. It’s a sobering fact that many strong, experienced swimmers drown every year. Factors like cold water shock, unseen currents, sudden exhaustion, or an unexpected impact can incapacitate anyone, regardless of their physical fitness. Wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a mark of an intelligent, prepared athlete who understands the environment. It isn’t “uncool,” and no one is impressed by a needless gamble.

As a company, our commitment to your safety is absolute. We will never permit anyone to participate in our water-based sessions without wearing a PFD. To ensure no one is left out, we even carry spare devices. This isn’t just a rule; it’s a foundational principle that protects you, our guides, and the future of the sports we cherish

If you have time to pack your sup.
If you have time to pack your pump.

You have time to pack your PFD.

It’s been a week of reflection here at Everything Awesome, Kolb’s Learning Cycle has been firmly in our minds, from yesterday trying few freestyle moves on the SUP, to a morning today on Stanage Edge trad climbing, and discovering the impact not having the right gear on my belt had.|

If you want to discover the learning cycle, without the boring explanations, book onto any of our activities. They are AWESOME.

Sometimes, my job allows me to see this beauty.
We are so lucky to have the opportunity on our doorsteps.
Hiking, climbing, mountain biking, paddling, archery. All activities we here at Everything Awesome can help you participate in.

Just as we where about to leave, after a great SUP session i decided it was time to try something new. Another leap of faith.

SUP, the one sport i do, where falling does not leave bruises.

To paddle well you will need to understand the 5 sections to SUP strokes.

1, Reach 

Part 1 is reach.
Literally, reach forward, in line with the side of your board, as far as is comfortable.

Bend forward, keeping your back straight and twist your shoulders slightly to drop the paddle blade into the water. 

2, Catch 

The Catch is when your paddle enters the water. 

The blade of the paddle should be square to the board, and enter the water with no splashing or water displacement, it will set you up to pull your blade efficiently through the water.

3, Power

Power is the section that has most effect on speed. Perfecting a good stroke technique in the power section will move your board at a faster pace and glide you through the water with ease. 

Your lower arm needs to be kept straight and the paddle shaft vertical. A proper stroke technique requires you to pull your body towards the blade rather than pulling the paddle blade towards you. 

Once the blade has reached your feet, remove it from the water and repeat the process.

4, Release

The blade will exit the water after you’ve completed your stroke. Lifting the paddle out of the water you will extend your knees to a standing position.

5, Recovery

The fifth section is recovery, this is the transition period between your strokes. 

Back to part 1. rinse and repeat.

With an air temp of 1c, donned in dry suit and wearing gloves i went for a Crunchy sup paddle.
Not entirely true, i set off from Underbank on calm water, headed up towards the inlet end, its sheltered, tree lined, and a couple of degree’s colder up there.
It made a lot of noise as i broke a line through the ice crust towards some moving water, i needed to get there to turn around. It was either that, or paddle backwards through ice for 50m.

The Printroom, Hillsborough did a great job of embroidery, i now have my logo onto a Buffalo Systems Belay Jacket.

Really impressed with the job they did.