Four years ago I cold called James Casey asking him to coach and assist me in qualifying to compete in the coveted M2O World Championships. I had zero paddling back ground and at the time did not even own a board.

Covid delayed my attempts to compete, but I did manage to qualify for the 2020 M2O, only to see it get cancelled for three consecutive years.

James through this period kept me on track and helped not only manage my training program but also the rollercoaster of frustration and disappointments that followed with numerous race cancellations. James has an extraordinary ability to quickly identify technical problems that can lead to meaningful improvements in a short period of time. Like anything its all about consistency and James kept me accountable through weekly online feedback on my sessions, and then monthly calls to pull all the feedback together.

Despite being close to 20 years younger than me, James’s easy going and friendly nature saw us develop a great friendship that I value enormously. I have huge respect for his extraordinary athleticism and incredible depth of technical knowledge around all aspects of paddling, as well as the ocean and broader weather conditions. I will be forever grateful for the unwavering support and belief he had in me as I strived to achieving my huge goal of an M2O finish.

On the 30th July 2023, I fulfilled my goal of competing in the M2O, and I not only finished but ended up with a podium finish in the 14ft stock category, coming in 3rd. The icing on the cake was actually winning my age group in the 50+ division. There is no way I would have gone close to these results without the coaching, guidance and support I received from James.

If you want more out of your paddling and want to take things to the next level, please pick up the phone or send an email to James. That phone call back in July 2019 changed my life, so take action now and give yourself the best chance to reach your full potential.

Thanks again James.
– Justin Gallagher