PADDLER 52
PADDLER 52
Booty beer after the last swim, Chile 2017
What got you hooked on freestyle and whitewater kayaking? There isn’ t one moment I look on and think that’ s what got me hooked; it’ s just been a journey that I’ ve never wanted to end and always wanted to progress in. In my early days of kayaking on the mighty River Irwell in North Manchester, we had a great group of friends and playboating was the thing to do … when I was 15, Pop-Outs and Tail Squirts in my Acrobat 270 were the radical moves of the time.
Over the next ten years, boat design moved on drastically, and playboating became freestyle; it was a really exciting time for the sport. I’ d moved to Bangor, North Wales, for University and was freestyling and river running whenever I could, much to the detriment of my degree. During those years, probably when I was in my late teens, I knew I’ d be kayaking for the rest of my life.
Tell us about the spots you tend to paddle the most frequently – where are your favourites? I’ m based in Nottingham now, so I paddle at Holme Pierrepont most frequently. That’ s where I’ ve done the majority of my freestyle training. It is one of the best venues in the world for learning hole boating, but it’ s also very underrated for half-slicing and white water progression. All the eddy lines are deep, and there are loads of holes and waves that you can use in different ways to progress your paddling.
My favourite spots are an endless list of features I’ ve paddled around the world. That’ s what I love about kayaking … travelling to random places in new countries to find a feature, invariably meeting up with someone you know and having great sessions on the water together. Each place is unique and gives you something new to learn.
Over the years, which freestyle competition has left a lasting impression? There have been so many competitions! The part of competition that stays in my memory the most isn’ t specific rides or results; it’ s usually specific sessions during training – a combination of factors come together to make it one of the best sessions of your life.
Off the top of my head I remember sessions in Plattling, at Garburator, in Sort and in Galway where a special combination of friends, weather, location, and expression on the water come together to make an unforgettable session. This isn’ t limited to competition; if I think more broadly, I can remember countless sessions across the UK and worldwide where a special combination has come together to make unforgettable moments.
What is your favourite freestyle move? That’ s a difficult one, and it depends on the feature. But if it goes huge, clean, and lands hard, then it’ s going to be pretty enjoyable!
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WHAT IS THE HARDEST FREESTYLE MOVE?
Freestyle has progressed to the point where moves are combined and linked together to make new moves, so the hardest move really is down to your imagination. My hardest move is probably the Back & Cheese( back loop Maczilla-godzilla-Loop), which is a quad combo. There are some fivemove combos I’ ve thought of but haven’ t managed to do … yet!
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