PADDLER 96
Quickfire questions :
PADDLER 96
Quickfire questions :
Who would it be if you could paddle with anyone , dead or alive ? I have been fortunate enough to paddle with lots of legends of the sport , but it would be pretty awesome to paddle with Herbert Hasler , the legendary member of the Royal Marines who was part of some incredible missions in the war and had our marathon series of races in the UK named after him . Those boys love to tell a story , and he had the adventures to back them up .
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film ? Ryan Reynolds is such a funny guy , and Christian Bale plays the type of character he was in Le Mans 66 ( Ken Miles ).
Do you have a mentor ? Paul Hobrough , there is a guy who taught me that confidence is key . Believe in something , work hard for long enough , and make it happen . Plus , he is the second funniest guy I know !
An ideal night out for you is ? A few drinks with friends talking about funny stories from the past , then a few more drinks until you create funny stories for the future . Time with friends talking rubbish is always valuable time well spent .
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island ? Think how good you could get with 14 hours of practice daily for darts and a board . Darts is the one sport where the world champion can be crowned within 10 feet of someone dressed as a banana ; you ’ ve got to admire the sport ’ s commitment to its identity .
What would I find in your fridge right now ? Which fridge ? The outdoor fridge has drinks , and only drinks are allowed , and the other fridge mostly has cheese and a plethora of chutneys .
What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner ? I would spend too long preparing stupid games for everyone to play in the garden , like shoot that carrot or a ‘ task master ’ event , then panic cook pizzas because I forgot that people would want to eat before the eating window closes !
What is your favourite sports team ? The series on the Chicago Bulls is very inspiring ( Last Dance ). Michael Jordan created a competitive environment that facilitated success . They should know that life isn ’ t always sunshine and rainbows , but if you are focused , work hard and keep going when you take the hits , you can achieve great things .
Who are your paddling mates ? The Chelmsford Empire has branched out around the country , representing the top sprint and marathon paddlers , but we still have a good core at Chelmsford . I mostly paddle with Will Stroud ; he will be part of the future of the sport in the UK . Many of those guys formed the support crew we had for the DW .
What three words would you use to describe yourself ? Hardworking . Relentless . A bit lucky .
Any final shout-outs ? Icon Paddle sport clothing ( Mark Ressel ) is fantastic clothing . KayakPro Ergometer ( Grayson Bourne ) is awesome sports equipment . My brother Steve is one of the best coaches in the country and works relentlessly to maintain fairness in our sport .
Many thanks , Keith , for all your help and for taking time out of what I know is a busy schedule – we appreciate it .