P D L RUK 8
A DE
Which young guns are coming
through the ranks to challenge in
freestyle?
Hugo Scott (Hugo 1) and Hugo Anthony
(Hugo 2) have already started blazing through
the freestyle scene and took home the first
and second places at GB team trials this year.
I’ve been working closely with Hugo Anthony
in particular from the start of his freestyle
career and both he and Hugo Scott are even
starting to challenge me at times.
They’re great young lads, and good fun to be
on the water with.
What is the biggest
accomplishment in your career?
I took home Gold at the 2005 World
Championships as a Junior (U18), which was a
real highlight, but more recently I’m really
proud to have come 5th in the 2013 World
Championships considering I was (I believe)
the only man in at least the top ten to have a
full time job.
I’ve also been on the GB Team for some 12
years now and have enjoyed every minute.
https://vimeo.com/user15297342/fuse
What are your goals for the next
12 months?
I’m currently coming out of winter gym
training stronger than I have ever been and
starting to get back on the water to build up
my water based fitness. So you could say
everything is on track for the Worlds this year,
in which I hope to place at least in the top
five. However I have been suffering from a
shoulder injury and I am still searching for a
decent sized wave I can train on, so we’ll see!
I’ve also been planning a trip out to Austria for
Sickline, which should not only be great fun
but I also hope to be at least competitive. It’s
diffic ult to have a realistic idea of where I
should aim for because I haven’t done much
river racing, but since my competitive attitude
runs in my blood I will be aiming to achieve
my best.
What would be your ultimate
achievement?
To win the Freestyle World Championships as
a junior and man – that has been my goal
since my first international competition and
I’m not ready to give up yet. Every year I learn
more and get closer to my goal.