The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 9

Who are your kayaking buddies? I’ve made lots of friends over the years, both locally and internationally, whom I love going for a paddle and having a beer with. I am however, still best friends with a few people I started out with – Piers Bucknell, Sam Conibear, Scott Simmonds and Doug Cooper. If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within freestyle before giving it up what would that be and why? To win the Worlds, it’s been my goal since I started international competition and I’ve not made it yet. I want to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do it and with a full time job.Can you talk about your training? Greatest inspiration? Role models/who/what kept you motivated? If you truly want to be the best in the world you have to know deep down what your motivation is. It took me years to figure mine out, it is quite personal and it’s what pushed me to achieve the top five at the 2013 Worlds. The feeling of not achieving what I know I should. Whenever I need motivation, that’s the feeling I imagine and it pushes me onwards. My dad started me off in my kayaking career all those years ago, and because of that he will always remain to be a role model and inspiration. Other role models and inspirations are the people I want to beat, they push me to try harder, adopt their styles and ultimately beat them. P D L RUK 9 A DE