Month: January 2022

Brought up in the Lake District, Ben spent most of his childhood climbing, scrambling and kayaking. Following his passion for kayaking he paddled slalom for his club and got to the premiere division. This was the catalyst for him to pursue his career in the outdoors. Ben attended college in St Davids, Wales, where he completed a 2 year course in Sports Science and Outdoor Activities, this provided him with a solid foundation and qualifications across multiple disciplines.

During the summers he started working at Outward Bound instructing on multi activity residential and expedition based courses around the UK. This lead to a full time senior position, course directing and teaching new staff. 

In 1998 Ben got a job in the Austrian Alps as a raft and canyon guide. Working out there for a few seasons as a professional river guide, he used the winters to explore other countries such as Nepal, Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Canada and Europe where I spent my time volunteering for rafting and canyoning companies and working with Ski Patrol Teams. 

Following this he found the opportunity to set up a canyoning company in Scotland. Using a Prince's Trust Young Persons Grant he set up Vertical Descents in 2000. A small seasonal company canyoning and river running, it soon grew legs and became the main provider of thrill seeking adventure sports on the west coast of Scotland. 

The development of Vertical Descents client group allowed him to open up new canyons around Scotland for commercial use and Ben soon became the go to person in the UK for Canyoning and technical advice. In 2007 he set up UK Canyon Guides (UKCG) with the help of Rich Carlson from the American Canyoning Association. Ben developed 1 modular personal skills course and levelled guide training and assessments. He was also awarded with teaching accreditation: Pro Guide Trainer and Canyon Rescue Instructor. Since then the UKCG flourished, training over 600 UK Canyoneers and guide. UKCG has also taught courses abroad in Nepal, Africa, USA, Iran and Germany and has good relationships with other Canyoning associations in order to maintain best practice. 

The UKCG became a formalised UK Association with a dedicated voluntary committee. Whilst developing Vertical Descents and UKCG he also trained as a Rescue 3 Swift Water and Rope Rescue Instructor and established a well accredited training arm of his business called Outdoor Safety Training and Consultancy (OST). 

This company provides technical advice, expert witness reviews, Working at Height safety, and a full range of industrial and professional outdoor qualifications. It is through OST that he now provides the new UKCA qualification and training scheme.

Grown up in the south west of England, Olly surfed from an early age with a love for the outdoors this led him to explore mountain walking and caving, after  leaving 6th form he applied to assist on a scientific research expedition to Chile Patagonia after passing the selection process he spent 4 months on the edge of the Patagonian ice cap, inspired by the mountain guides on that expedition he returned to the UK and attended an outdoor college in Devon, gaining base level qualifications in kayaking, climbing and mountain.

 He applied for his first outdoor job in Scotland in 1999, moving to Scotland he focused on White water skills and attained more qualifications in this field, during this time he undertook his first canyon trip and first canyon descent in one of Scotland's finest canyons. 

After a year he left for Colorado to be a safety kayaker and rafting guide returning to Scotland he attained a job at Outward Bound Loch Eil over his 3 and half years there he gained more experience and higher level qualifications with a few trips to the Alps to explore bigger rivers and mountains. 

Travelling to New Zealand Olly went through various qualifications in white water under the New Zealand guide system. Returning to the UK he developed and managed canyoning for one of Scotland's leading outdoor providers. 

After more trips and adventures in New Zealand Olly returned and partnered up with Ben Starkie back in Scotland and set about opening up more Canyons for recreational and commercial operations. During this time Olly worked with Ben on various courses under the UKCG system here in the UK and Europe for Canyoning. Olly got the opportunity to work with european canyon guides in Germany/France/Austria and Switzerland he developed his skills even further. He has now taught and led Canyoning trips all over Europe and introduced many clients to the thrill of canyoning

Olly now freelances for various leading canyon providers in Scotland and is passionate to pass on his skills, knowledge and experience to people that wish to learn and gain qualifications with the UKCA.