Growing up in Melbourne, Andrea Wood didn’t exactly come from a paddling family, but when gymnastics was no longer an option, paddling quickly filled the void.
A dislocated elbow ended her time in the gym, but opened the door to the water, and she’s been there ever since.
Introduced to both sprint and marathon paddling in the mid-90s by coach Dasha Kopecek, Andrea found her footing at Ivanhoe Northcote Canoe Club before moving to the Gold Coast in 2001 to focus on sprint paddling full-time.
Now based at Varsity Lakes Paddlers Club, where she serves as Vice President and coach, Andrea plays a key role in developing the next generation of paddlers – including those with a disability.
“My connection to Paracanoe started after watching the adaptive paddling events at the 2009 World Championships in Canada,” Wood said.
“A friend and teammate, David Rolfe, took up the challenge as an athlete, and I took a major learning leap into coaching athletes with a disability.”
That leap paid off, and by 2016, Andrea coached six athletes who qualified for the Rio Paralympic Games, with five making the finals and bringing home medals.
“That was a really proud moment,” she said.
“Dylan Littlehales was only 16 years old at his first Paralympics.”
These days, her coaching spans all ages and abilities. From Saturday morning “paddle play” sessions for under 10s to supporting a Paracanoe athlete through their first ocean ski race, Andrea’s sessions are as diverse as they are inclusive.
“We have a variety of people involved at Varsity,” Wood said.
“I run three sessions a week for development paddlers aiming for State and National races, mostly U12 to U16, while the U10s group is more about skills and having fun.
“Varsity Lakes is like an extended family, there’s a real culture of support from the kids, to the coaches, to the parents. Everyone chips in.”
It’s not just about race results for Andrea, the true joy lies in seeing paddlers grow, whether it’s gaining confidence on the water or finding direction in life.
“Not all the athletes I’ve coached are still paddling,” she said.
“But they’ve all found great pathways.”
Outside the club, Andrea’s passion for inclusive sport continues. She supports people with disabilities to access outdoor and recreational activities, often blending work with her love of paddling, surfing and just spending time in nature.
As for what’s next, Andrea is looking forward to enjoying the small moments, and for anyone who is thinking about giving paddling a go, her advice is simple.
“I’m not sure what the future holds,” she said.
“I just want to enjoy the moments along the way.
“Have fun and love paddling. When you love what you do, it’s easy to get through the harder days on the water.”
https://paddle.org.au/2025/07/16/people-of-paddle-andrea-wood/