Multi World Champion: Freestyle Kayaking & Squirt Boat Kayaking
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Gold, Diamond and Bronze.
So here I am sat on the banks of the
Ottawa river 5 days after the worlds finals and I feel great. The
high pressure, high adventure, high excitement event has ended and I
am left shattered but very content.
What a week it has been. It is hard to
believe it has already been and gone. It feels like a dream. But it
was real and its memories and experiences will be with us forever. A
worlds that I for one will always remember.
The event kicked off almost two weeks ago with the opening ceremony in Beachburg. A celebration and festival that showcased not only freestyle and its athletes who had travelled in from all over the world but also the incredible history and culture of the local community who have opened up their town and valley to host the event.
The events comes to the small town of Beachburg, ON Canada
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
The ceremony started with a parade and the streets were packed and lined with people. My mum somehow found her way into a 1952 MG one of the many old classic cars that led the parade from the front. Local kids, athletes, celebrities all showcasing their talents and skills. Cheered on by family, friends and spectators from all around the world.
Mum leads the parade in a 1952 MG
(photo by Arthur and Lori)
Jez getting into the party spirit with Team Australia
Parading through the streets with Sooty and Lindz
Den finds his way into the parade with the sheep
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
Beautiful traditional boats
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
Old fire trucks
and a combine haverster!!!
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
The action then moved to the Beachburg sports arena where an array of music and dance, flags and colour opened the event. Young kids danced, sang and cheered whilst the older generations spoke welcoming kind words and opened the event.
Athletes fill the stands
All 29 countries and 200+ athletes had their limelight moment as they were welcomed into the event before a local / young athlete lit the torch and officially opened the event.
The event is official opened let the
2015 ICF World Championships begin
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Then everyone gathered for a massive roast dinner banquet, creating an opportunity for the community and athletes to meet.
Good Luck to everyone competing
Here is the 2015 awesome GB Team
So today not only did I win gold. I
also won Diamond from my best friend Jez.
Wow
(photo by Dave Worltey)
The moment Jez popped the Big Question
(photo by Peter Holcombe)
If I was to describe my perfect
competition day I could not even have imagined a day as good as this
one.
A full squirt boating event in one day.
Banks lined with people cheering everyone on. Everyone their
specifically to watch the event. So many of my friends and family
there with me cheering me on.
The banks and rocks were lined with supporters
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
The 2015 ICF Squirt Boats worlds took
place at Smoothie one of the best squirt boating spots in the world.
An epic downtime spot with a good eddy situated on the banks of a a
small island in the middle of the Ottawa river. Guarding the entrance
to McCoys rapid, the biggest of all the rapids on the main channel of
this famous whitewater river.
Everyone there had to get there by boat
yet the banks we're lined with people. Hundreds of spectators there
to cheer the athletes on. There was music, announcers, judges,
spectators, athletes everywhere you looked. All hidden amongst the
trees in the natural amphitheatre on this beautiful Island. The
atmosphere was immense.
Judges sat ready to track the athletes tricks
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Film crews, judges, spectators the atmosphere was immense
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
The event kicked off early at 8am and
from the very beginning ICF and World records were smashed. By 10am
new Men and Womens ICF Mystery records had been set and by 4pm the
2015 ICF Squirt World Champions had been crowned with rides that I am
sure will not be beaten for a very long time.
It was amazing to watch as the sport of
squirt boating was truly showcased. The battle of the day not just
between the athletes but with the sport itself. Every athlete wanting
to blow away every standard ever set before. There were new moves,
new sequences and new bonuses. It was insane.
Everyone talking tactics on the bank
(photo by Dave Worltey)
The standard of everyone who competed
would have made previous world finals with the standard of the Top 10
in each class being high enough to have easily podium'd in the last
ICF event!
Competitors wait out there turn
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Matt Hamilton showing some serious skills
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
In the mens Stephen Wright finally made
his ICF Squirt worlds debut and styled his way through to the win.
His prediction from the start that you would need a 20 second +
mystery to win was so true. The standard was so high that all the
podium rides needed to include a 20 – 30 second mystery move (Clay
Wright hitting a massive 31 second ride during his finals run) plus a
sequence of flat water routines involving not only the highest
scoring moves on the score sheet but those moves performed in a
special artistic way with bonuses that doubled or tripled their score
for an athlete to even have a chance.
Clay gets ready to take the drop
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Announcing the event with Corey Volt and Val
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
Clay Wright, former World Champion from
the USA and 2015 Silver medallist, performed hand paddle tricky wu's
seemingly effortlessly ride after ride. Whilst Ben White, former
World Champion from Great Britain and 2015 Bronze medallist, nailed
clean screwing around sequences.
Ben White cleaning the screwing around sequence to take the bronze
(photo by Linsey Spicer)
But it was Stephen Wright who
managed to link the mystery with a massive flying fish exit move
(airscrew performed using the energy you get as you resurface from a
mystery move to give you the pop) followed by new moves such as
changing around sequences and clean tricky wu's. Toping the podium to
become the 2015 World Champion, smashing the former 1,300 point world
record in the process by breaking the 2,000+ point mark not once but
twice, to win the event.
Steve O celebrates as he is crowned World Champion
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
In the ladies it was Hitomi, Jen Mc
Gauley and myself who really stood out. Hitomi opened up the event with a 19
second mystery move right of the mark to win the prelims round.
Waking up not only the athletes but also the crowd.
Hitomi takes her last breathe before getting a massive mystery move
(photo by Alex Edwards)
In the semis I
woke up a lot and seemingly blew the competition out of the park. Hitting a
1,850 point ride over 500 points more than my former personal best
and world record score and the highest score of the event at that
point. I hit a head under mystery, then immediately popped up,
paddled back in to the eddy and went into a super complex flatwater
routine. Making it up as I went I just felt the flow as I started
wracking off a ridiculous mix of crazy complicated tricks. Tricky
wu's with switch wheels, super clean split wheels linked together
with heli spins mid split, switch screwing around sequences, It just
flowed and I loved it. It felt great.
On hearing the score and knowing that
was it, the ride I wanted and had trained for, and that I was safely
into finals in 1st place.
Crusing up for the mystery
(photo by Dave Wortley)
I chatted to Den and switched to
hand paddles and goggles for my second run. Hitomi had opened up the
event by setting the new mystery ICF record and this was my chance to
challenge it. I had one thing on my mind and that was going deep.
Taking that last breathe
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
I dropped in for the mystery as the
clock started for my second run and hit a 10 – 12 second mystery
not quite managing to get the deep drop. Knowing I could do better, I
resurfaced and cruised back up the eddy line again. Resetting my mind
and refilling my lungs I hit the seam in the perfect spot. I dropped
deep, spinning, cursing, working the eddy line. I was in the perfect
place deep below the river surface and just had to stay calm and ride
it out. Over 21 seconds later I re surfaced to hear the roar from the
crowd. Then it was Hitomi's turn again :)
Hitomi racks out the ends with hand paddles
(photo by Alex Edwards)
The semi finals flew by and we still
had the finals to go.
Happy to have nailed some epic rides
(photo by Dave Wortley)
Junior freestyle kayaker and young
superstar Jen McGauley opened up the finals with some incredible
smooth, technically perfect flat water work. Reminding me of how
incredible this sport is that if the hard work is put in no matter
how young or old or big or small you are you can excel and really do
well. And excel she did, young Jen was sitting in 3rd
place all the way until the final round.
Jen smoothly moves through a complex routine of tricks
(photo by Dave Worltey)
Watching and learning from the staging blocks
(photo by Lindsey Spicer)
Its amazing to watch and see the progression of the next generation
(photo by Dave Worltey)
But with a finals stacked
full of legends and pros in the sport she would have to wait another
few years to get her podium spot. Former World Champion Val Bertrand
and squirt boating legend Motoko raised the bar once more in their
final rides with Motoko making it onto the podium in 3rd
place.
We all watch on as young Jen pulls out some incredible
flat water performances
Then in true form Hitomi nailed ride
after ride of solid mystery's and complex routines to win her second
squirt boating silver medal to huge roars of support from the crowd
and I got some more epic rides nailing another 20 second plus mystery
(this time with a paddle) in my first ride followed by another
massive flat water routine to take the gold medal win before
finishing off with a no paddle hand only mystery move to close out
the event.
In the zone I drop for 20 seconds to start the run
(photo by Linsdey Spicer)
Leading into a screwing around sequence
(photo by Dave Worltey)
Cleaning thing s up
(photo by Dave Worltey)
Heli spining to add more points to each trick
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Claiming it as I paddle back into the eddy
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Top 3 Womens Squirt Boaters
Claire O'Hara (GB), Hitomi & Motoko (Japan)
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
What an event
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Gold with a Diamond on the top
But that was not it yet. As I made my
way back up the eddy to celebrate and have an interview with Jez. I
found myself amid a moment that will change my life forever. As Jez
finished up my worlds interview he got down into the water up to his
knees and asked me if I would be his wife!
The moment I said yes
(photo by Thomas Fahrun)
Everyone seemed to be in on it
(photo by Dave Wortley)
The crowd went wild. What an incredible
end to a perfect day and what a way to start off the 2015 ICF World
Championships and the next chapter of our life.
So that was just day one of the world
champs, the freestyle had yet to begin and we were already winning.
No matter what happened the rest of the week. To me, Jez and my
family and friends this had already been an incredible event.
Luckily and rarely with the squirt
boating a stand alone one day event it meant I now had two full days
off. Perfect as I was exhausted from the excitement and madness of
yesterday. So I had the chance to enjoy watching and coaching the
other athletes and my friends.
Jez's OC1 Heats
Up first in the freestyle was Jez in
the OC1. After being so sick only 2 weeks ago it was amazing just to
see him out on the water and ready to compete. He had trained hard
during the week and had his routine set. Excited and ready to go
paddle the event kicked off and Jez nailed his rides super sweet.
Jez drop in of MDR
(photo by Phillip Robert)
Looking for a roundhouse to start things off
(photo by Phillip Robert)
But... something had happened in the last year … the standard of
OC1 wave boating had gone through the roof! Like the squirt boating
event runs that would have previously won or made the podium, this
year, didn't even let you make the first cut. The lads were throwing
Pan Ams, Back Pan Ams, Mc Nasty s and Helix's. It was ridiculous. Two
rides down (4 rides: 2 count format) we had to change strategy and
try to go for something big. Jez tried several times to set for a Pan
Am and Mcnasty but having never tried either of them before in an OC1
couldn't quite pull it off. But with some new personal best scores
for a wave worlds event (although a little disappointed to be the
bubble boy and just miss the cut) he was happy to place 6th
in such a strong event.
Andrew (Canada) going for a pan pan am
(photo by Phillip Robert)
Brad (USA) going for an over vertical Pan Am
(photo by Philip Robert)
The Brits
The junior mens and junior women
classes were up next and the young Team GB athletes did incredibly
well with everyone making it through the first cut. With Hugo Scott
sat in first place.
Hugo Scott flying into finals in 1st place
(photo by Dave Wortley)
Charlie Brackpool hitting some massive moves
(photo by Dave Wortley)
A full day of mens prelims then passed
and I watched incredible ride after incredible ride as all the worlds
top men battled for a top 20 spot. It was hard to stay calm and relax
with all the excitement and with the standard again so crazy high it
was difficult for all the men to make the cut.
Theres a big team behind every athlete at these events
(photo by Dave Wortley)
Massive thanks to Dennis Newton and Jacko Jackson, Sutty Sutcliffe,
Bruce and everyone else who worked so hard all week
to get us to our best for the event
(photo by Dave Wortley)
Team GB's Bren Orton
and Alan Ward did amazingly well to make it through. With Bren in
second place!!! Pringle, Dougie and Gav Barker also putting down some
amazing rides with Gav being the bubble boy fo the day just missing
the quarters cut.
Gav may not have made the cut but he did massively
impress everyone with his huge rides.
(photo by Dave Wortley)
I was now getting very exited and was
feeling ready to get back out on the water again.
Huge huge thank you to everyone who took photos
throughout the event.
Especially Dave Wortley, Jez Jezz and Peter Holcombe
(photo by Phillip Robert)
