Meet The Team

At Nookie, we’re more than just a brand—we’re a crew of passionate paddlers, adventurers, and industry professionals dedicated to pushing the limits of paddlesports. Our team includes world-class paddlesport coaches covering all disciplines, from whitewater safety & rescue to sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. We also collaborate with leading experts offering professional services and technical advice to outdoor centres and organisations.

Beyond coaching and consultancy, we work with elite kayakers and photographers who capture the thrill of paddlesports in the most extreme environments—whether it’s charging through the biggest surf, navigating raging rivers, or exploring remote coastlines. We support them by providing the cutting-edge equipment they need to perform at their best while receiving invaluable feedback that drives the development and innovation of our products.

Together, we live and breathe the spirit of adventure, ensuring that every piece of Nookie gear is tested and trusted by the very best in the industry. Meet the team that makes Nookie the trusted name in paddlesports.

Laura Wynne 

Wynne Outdoor Adventures 

Laura lives on Dartmoor, Devon, with her Springer Spaniel, Bradley. Originally from Cheshire, she discovered her passion for paddling while studying Adventure Sports and worked as an outdoor instructor across the UK, specialising in white water paddling. She became deeply involved in the sport after moving to Devon in 2011, working at River Dart Country Park and running Ducky trips for beginners.

With numerous qualifications, including 5 Star WW Kayak Leader and 4 Star WW Canoe Leader, Laura has paddled in locations like the Alps and Slovenia. In 2020, she transitioned to truck driving but continues her passion through Wynne Outdoor Adventures, coaching and guiding trips on the Dart. She also contributes to She Paddles events, working with Plas y Brenin and Glenmore Lodge to inspire more women to take up paddling.

Contact

Tommy Hatwell

Photographer & Heads Up the Nookie Team & socials

Tommy has kayaked and coached around the world, and while photography, travel, and adventure now take centre stage—alongside running his social enterprise, Think People Think Story—he can still zero to hero with his eyes shut.

Everything starts with passion, but it’s the relentless creative energy that keeps Tommy pushing boundaries, delivering inspiring images, projects, education, and adventures across the globe.

At Nookie, Tommy works to bring the team together, always on the lookout for exceptional coaches and great humans to join the journey.

Think People Think Story Website

Chris Hobson

Owner Hobson kayaks
3 x Surf kayak World Champion

Without doubt the highest maintenance member of the team, Chris Hobson is a three-time Surf Kayak World Champion and the founder of Hobson Kayaks. Over the past two decades, he has competed on the world stage, representing Northern Ireland and claiming multiple international titles including Open High Performance Class World Championship in North Carolina. His passion for surf kayaking has taken him across the globe, pushing the limits of performance in some of the biggest waves.

Beyond competition, Chris has played a key role in the evolution of surf kayak design. After working with Mega Performance Kayaks and Ride Kayaks, he launched Hobson Kayaks in 2019, bringing his expertise and innovation to the craft of high-performance kayak design. His mission is to push the sport forward by creating world-class surf kayaks that enhance paddlers’ experience on the water. Whether competing, designing, or riding waves, Chris continues to shape the future of surf kayaking.

Hobson Kayaks Website

Richard Taylor

Taylored Outdoors

Richard is a man of many talents—not only can he paddle a variety of craft, from canoe to kayak and stand-up paddleboard, but he is also a skilled Adventure Sports Photographer with a passion for storytelling through the lens.

Born in Nottingham, just ten minutes from Holme Pierrepont, he didn’t discover paddling until moving to Worcester to study Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Management. It was there that he truly immersed himself in the outdoor world, paddling, climbing, and mountaineering across the UK.

Eight years later, he now runs Taylored Outdoors, creating bespoke adventure courses for those looking to step into the world of adventure. He also works alongside brands and athletes to capture the raw essence of the adventure sports culture.

Taylored Outdoors Website

Sam Garthwaite ‘Frothy’

Team Paddler

Sam “Frothy” is a whitewater SUP junkie who has made it his mission to grow the sport and push it to its limits, far beyond what people thought possible…or necessary.

Outside of throwing himself down waterfalls, he juggles being on the management team at an adventure centre in central Scotland and the joys of fathering two tiny people in a hectic house! 

Ollie Footitt

Ollie Footitt Coaching

Since first getting into whitewater kayaking over 19 years ago, paddling has been more than just a career or a hobby for Ollie—it’s shaped his life. Though his roots are in whitewater, he loves playing in all environments and with all craft—rivers, sea, surf, SUP, open boats, sea kayaks, half-slices, or creek boats—he’s always having a good time.

As a professional coach, Ollie delivers everything from bespoke 1:1 coaching sessions to official Paddle UK courses as a trainer/assessor, helping paddlers progress and reach their ambitions wherever they lie. His career has taken him around the world to work and paddle in incredible places, but his passion remains the same: helping others achieve their goals, unlock their potential, and enjoy paddlesports to the fullest.

When he’s not coaching or pushing his own limits with friends, Ollie enjoys taking his wife and two kids out on the water, exploring new places and sharing the joy of the outdoors together.

Contact Ollie Footitt Coaching

Dev Crawford

Crawford Coaching
Dev is a van-lifing, white water obsessed, professionally fun-employed paddling nomad. You could find him anywhere from Scotland to Dartmoor, Slovenia to Uganda, or Nepal and then back to the Nene. Dev loves to travel, paddle new rivers, make new human connections and create terrible Instagram Reels for his own pleasure. When he’s not on the water he’s in the climbing gym stretching out injuries and rebuilding strength.
 
Dev’s also got some pretty big tickets, a PGCE and an undergraduate degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership & Management. A smart cookie that coaches White Water SUP under “Crawford Coaching” as well as Freelancing as an Outdoor Instructor in the UK.
Crawford Coaching Website

Odei Etxeberria

Team Paddler

Incoming…

Finn Parrette

Team Paddler
Finn has always loved the outdoors and specifically anything to do with water sports… He began kayaking aged 7 in his home county of East Sussex. Since then he’s paddled all across Europe in all aspects of kayaking and paddlesports from whitewater racing in the European championship in the Czech Republic to sea kayaking amongst the northern isles of Orkney!

He is a qualified raft guide and paddleboard instructor and is currently planning more training to allow him to introduce the world of water to many others. He has taught beginner courses at his local club, teaching adults to roll and guiding young rippers down their first rapids.

Cameron Hopkin ‘Chop’

Team Paddler

Born and raised in Scotland, I’ve always had a need to be in the water. Paddling came later in life when I hit my late teens but quickly became all I wanted to do.  Whitewater SUP is my thing mostly because I love it, partly because I can’t roll a kayak and my J-stroke in a canoe is sh***. Working in the outdoors has shaped my life, but I’m most passionate about making the outdoors accessible to those who often miss out on the opportunity and find they’re often the ones who need it most. 

Daniel Klotzner

Team Paddler

Daniel Klotzner is an Italian kayaker from the Dolomites, with a deep passion for rivers and the thrill of paddling. A true sunshine paddler, he loves chasing the perfect weather to hit the water, and when he’s not on the river, he’s indulging in his favorite treat—ice cream!

Daniel spent many years competing at the highest level, with a standout achievement being his 2nd place finish at the legendary Sickline race in 2013. His journey in the sport has been one of adventure and dedication, especially with his love for waterfalls, which became a defining part of his paddling story. Unfortunately, a serious injury in 2015 brought an end to that chapter, but Daniel’s love for the sport and the community remains as strong as ever.

Andreas Scherb

Team Paddler

Andreas is a passionate whitewater paddler living in Austria, with direct access to challenging rapids. Alongside his wife and two children, he finds balance in paddling, while paragliding is his second great passion. He is also a rafting instructor and works as a raft and canyoning guide, as well as a kayak teacher. Employed by one of the largest sports agencies offering rafting, canyoning, kayaking, and many other outdoor activities, he thrives in an environment full of adventure. Whether navigating wild rivers, soaring through the skies, or training others, Andreas is deeply connected to nature and adrenaline fuelled challenges.

Tom Westaway

Westaway Adventures

Tom is a whitewater enthusiast based in the South West of England, often found whitewater SUP on the River Dart. When he’s not coaching, he’s exploring new lines or coaching seeking out new rivers to push the sport of SUP forward in the region. 

As the founder of Westaway Adventures, Tom specialises in helping paddlers of all levels reach their full potential. He’s passionate about supporting each paddler’s journey and ensuring every session is rewarding. 
 
While Westaway Adventures has some online presence, Tom isn’t too keen on social media. If you want to learn more about what he has to offer just reach out directly, old school!
Contact Westaway Adventures

James Weir

Team Paddler

James has been part of the Nookie family for about 30 years and has probably spent more than 7,000 days on the river wearing Nookie gear! It’s fair to say he knows a thing or two about the development and testing of paddling equipment.
James likes to explore rivers all over the World, some mild, most wild! He likes to surf waves, row rafts, drop waterfalls, spin rocks and hit sweet lines in beautiful places. And most of all, he likes to share these awesome days with other likeminded people. Open canoeing started out as a hobby, progressed into a lifestyle, and is now his profession. James works in the Swiss Alps at the Kanuschule Versam teaching open canoeing, starting on the lake for beginners, progressing through to days or week long experiences on the rivers in Europe and leading all the way up to a multi-day white water adventure in the Grand Canyon for the more adventurous. He also regularly teaches Rescue 3 river rescue courses and enjoys guiding a raft on his home run, the beautiful Vorderrhein river.

Alex Rodegro

Team Paddler

For Alex, paddling has always been a constant. His parents skipped the usual swimming lessons and put him in a canoe slalom club as a baby. It took ten years before he finally got in a boat, but once he did, there was no turning back—training, competing, and forming lifelong friendships.

There were highs, like incredible experiences (and maybe even a few groupies), and lows, including falling short of the international stage. After 11 years, his competitive slalom career came to an end.

What next? Ballet? Beer? PlayStation? No—whitewater. For someone naturally cautious, it seemed like a bold choice, but he quickly realised his slalom skills carried over, and the adrenaline was addictive. Paddling became his passion again, leading him to rivers across Austria, Norway, Chile, Mexico, the USA, Africa, New Zealand, and beyond.

Joining Team Nookie
It was either his irresistible charm or his undeniable passion for paddling. Since 2010, Nookie has provided the top-tier gear he trusts, allowing him to focus on what matters most—navigating the best lines with precision and skill. His approach is smart and hardcore, never reckless, always calculated, and injury-free.

Alex’s message? Get out there. Chase adventure, make lifelong friends, and explore the world—one river at a time.

See you on the water—or at the bar!

Ian Dovey

Dovey Coaching

With over two decades of experience, Ian “Dovey” has spent most of his life either in a boat, on a board, or telling someone else how to paddle theirs. Starting in sports coaching, he soon swapped the running track for the river and never looked back.

Now, he coaches everything from whitewater kayaking and sea kayaking to surf kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Through Dovey Coaching, he offers everything from beginner lessons to advanced expeditions, helping paddlers build confidence, skills, and a love for the water. He also delivers a wide range of qualifications for Paddle UK, helping to develop the next generation of paddlers and coaches —one capsize at a time.

Dovey has worked in multiple locations around the world, sharing his passion for paddlesports in different environments and cultures. For him, the best part is simple—being outdoors every day, surrounded by great people, and sharing the adventure. If there’s water, he’ll paddle it (and probably try to convince you to as well).

Chris Bartlett

Dartmoor Adventures

Chris lives on the edge of Dartmoor with his family and adventure dog. Working in the outdoors for over a decade, he’s built up a wealth of academic, leadership, and coaching qualifications. Passionate about adventure, he’s always ready to help others push their limits and reach their goals. Chris runs Dartmoor Adventures, offering bespoke coaching and guiding in a range of sports and environments. Including: canoe, kayak, SUP, MTB, climbing and more! Chris also delivers Paddle UK training and assessment courses. His favourite thing? The off-the-wall adventures that create unforgettable experiences.

Contact Dartmoor Adventures

Want to Join the Nookie Team?

Are you a passionate paddler, coach, photographer, or industry professional pushing the limits of paddlesports? Do you want to work with top-quality gear, help shape product development, and be part of a team that lives and breathes adventure?

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of Nookie, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch and tell us how you’d be a great fit. 🌊🔥

info@nookie.co.uk