Training and comp

As I sit writing this in an empty team house as they have all just left for the airport, I cant help but feel a little sad, what a WORLDS!!!

 It all started two weeks ago when I left Ottawa city and work for a week of team training slots and then wait my turn to compete. I arrived 3 days before the official training started to get in some last unrestricted sessions. I based myself as usual at Liquidskills and paddled as much as possible, all was going well until someone messing jumped over the bonnet of my car on the way to one of my sessions and broke the windscreen, putting an unforeseen obstacle in my training routine. I now would have to shuttle with others when they were going instead of as I pleased, which at first was not what I wanted. Luckily as the full team had arrived and I just moved downstream to Wilderness Tours and our amazing accommodation, we had 3 rental cars organised and what first seemed like bad luck turned into me being closer to my teammates and this created great team spirit and I forgot about the car soon after..


I had always thought of WT as a place to go and socialize in the evenings whenever I was in the valley at weekends, but after the time I've spent there with the Irish squad I know now its an amazing facility that created memories of a lifetime and no corners are cut in its facilities. We had one of the best cabins on the river which slept all 13 of us on the team including our amazingly organised and committed team captain Paul Purcell who planned the fundraiser in Ireland which paid for it all and for this myself and the team cant thank him enough! He mad the whole experience perfect.

Once we all got settled, team training slots started and our team was allocated 30min per day for the 12 competitors and we focused on creating a ride out of each persons most consistent tricks and how to fit it into the 45 seconds. As the week went on, we became more organised as a team and everyone helped each other as much as possible with paddling tips and keeping each other relaxed. Personally, the closer I got to the comp, the less consistent I paddled, changed my ride, dropped tricks and kinda lost confidence in my abilities and went from looking for a 1000 point ride to a 600. Only getting a few surfs a day and with some unsuccessful session I overthought things, so to get back to the fun Sean Cahill (the future of Irish freestyle if you ask me) and I would do 3am sessions armed with a can of petrol for the generator and paddle till sunrise. to be honest these were the most fun sessions I had on garb through the whole competition period. The enthusiasm and lack of pressure helped us paddle our best and was great practice.

Before long it was the end of team training and straight into the opening ceremony and what a day it was, Beachburg and the Whitewater region put on a fantastic display of their love of the Ottawa and its valley and their appreciation of all the paddlers, countries and the effort we made to come compete. There were all sorts from cowboys, bands, dancers and of course the 'River man' who is a native that blessed the competition and all in it for a safe week on the water. The atmosphere in the town could be felt and we   were all excited to paddle.

First up were the Jr k1 men, and flying the flag for Ireland was Sean, Jack and Robert. These guys had the luck of doing a 3 week course at the keener program at WT and it really showed. Each of the lads had set their rides, kept calm and composed in the comp and all ended up with a top 20 finish which is a great achievement.

Next up was the Mens K1 and my big day. Levels were good, my parents had made the trip from Ireland to cheer me on and my boat was freshly painted and ready to fly. Excitement was high but
unfortunately my competitive head was not in the game that day and I performed quite poor producing only 1 half decent ride, but all in all I had a blast out there and with the rocks in the eddy moving from the cheers of the Irish contingent I couldn't help but enjoy the experience and with some notes taken and a few more competitions under my belt, ill be there. But 29th of 74 was okay. Also that day, Shane, Moe, Len and Eoin paddled, all doing well and Moe just missing the top 20 cut for quarter finals with his great rides.

The following day Ladies k1 and C1 were up. The girls killed it on the water that day and had some of their best rides of the trip and I was so happy to watch them progress through the week and perform. As for C1, Alan 'Baller' Murphy was up and he did a great job. Its great to see someone take up a discipline only 6 months ago and get to look as comfortable and controlled in a boat as he does, during training he was paddling amazing and proved he is the best C1 paddler in Ireland and put on a great show for us in the competition doing us all proud.

Once we all figured out our results, it was time for the team with no specific schedules to meet to really hang out together and with family members in a relaxed environment and enjoy all the valley had to offer. We ran the river together, had a superb team meal on a pontoon boat with the sun set, swam and also had a few soda pops in the Wt bar. I also did some great fishing with my family and Ottawa River adventures, and finally after 19 years convinced my mam to hit the rapids on the river in a zodiak with me and somehow got my Dad to run the main channel with me in a Duo. These few days for me along with the competition created some unforgettable memories. As a team we partied, ate, slept and laughed till our sides hurt over the last few days, the Craic was mighty and reminded me of what I miss in Ireland!



People always ask me why I time and time again go back to worlds if I don't win or do too well, and these are the reasons- hanging with great people from your country and all around the world, getting fit and becoming a better paddler than before and to be part of something special that you will never forget! The 2015 Worlds was one for the books and has rekindled my love of my favourite sport and how to experience nature at its finest. Thanks to everyone envolved in helping me get there, to Joe K for running the event and the whole paddling community for pushing the sport further than ever before.

Now its time for the rain to come, and I will swap my playboat for a creeker and get training again. Lets hope the next journey is half as fun as the one I just finished... T