Landing in to Montreal Canada with snow lining the runway, the desire to go paddling suddenly disappeared, but with World Championships only ten days away with numb toes, numb fingers and a kayak full of ice it was time to fire it up. For the first five days I was defiantly battling to put on wet gear that had ice on it then walk over an ice crust that decorated the side of the river then slide in knowing you will be upside down with a ice cream head ache in no time. Luckily for us the weather gods were on our side and they managed to give warm days with clear sky’s and save the cold for when the sun goes down, which rapidly increased the water temperature. The next drama of the 2007 World Freestyle Kayak Championships was that in order for the competition to be held on the selected feature/wave there needed to be a lot of snow melt and the winter of 06/07 had not given the best snow dump in fact the river was at a forty year low for the time of year. Luckily for us the Hydro Electric power stations for the first time ever decided to pitch in and artificially raise the river to the needed level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Wave” The wave that was selected for the competition was the wave that was going to transform freestyle kayaking it was the wave that would take the sport to the next level, this 20 ft high standing wave goes by the name of Buss Eater, because this feature could literally eat a buss. In order to get on to this wave the athletes have to tow on a rope connected to the bank and surf out on to it before reluctantly dropping the rope and surfing in front of this huge bubbling pile of white froth, actually I would describe it more like a giant recirculation pile of evil. I say it is evil because almost every single person that surfed Buss eater got swallowed chewed up and spat out twenty meters down stream. In saying this Buss Eater would be my favorite wave to surf in the world the whole experience is awesome from towing on to the wave to throwing the biggest moves imaginable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competition opening ceremony was where New Zealand was going to dominate as we dressed up in our best shirts and some artistic Bliss-Stick ties we wore our flag proudly and showed off the odd warrior facial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parties Were where this worlds was going to edge in front of the past, with all the competitors staying in the same place the party scene was insane the bar wouldn’t close till 3 am daily with nightly live entertainment even the locals got in to the wild scene of a kayaker’s party. The only teams that would not make an appearance at these nightly festivals were the teams that had an early training slot other wise the socializing was excessive. Do Day Preliminary rounds came around fast and before I new it I was surfing the wave having my practice ride. Freestyle kayaking works that you have 45 seconds to surf the wave and through the biggest variety of high scoring moves possible. You were able to have four rides and the judges would take your two highest scores and add them together then after heats the top 20 men out of 70 would advance to the quarterfinals. I was feeling good going in to competition I liked the wave and I had confidence to through some big moves, on my first ride I flushed off the back of the wave after doing a big aerial move called a Blunt, after rolling up with a punishing ice cream head ache I was glad to have three chances left, second ride the same gutted, my next two moves were going to have to be large. Third ride “YES” I land a big Blunt then surf across the face up on to the shoulder wait for the rite time then bang air borne I through my body hard around and do an aerial barrel roll and land it two only to get eaten by the Buss. Alright I was feeling a bit better with one more ride to go I new it was going to have to be huge if I wanted to make it at all, towing on to the wave I could feel the energy just wanting to get out of me it was time to let the animal out of it’s cage. Islam” a big Blunt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“WHAMMEE” a massive aerial barrel roll

“YEEEHAAAAAAA” I hear the crowd cheering me on

“CRACK” A nice back Stab as my mind wonders what to bust out next the wave opens up I know if I want to throw something big now this is the time,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“PEEEOOOOWWWW “ A combo move a Blunt to a back Aerial barrel roll the crowd is screaming I'm in shock ‘I cant believe I just landed that move my brain short circuits I try to through the hardest move I can an inverted aerial 360 I slam it is all over, I was still super happy the crowd was still cheering me on. As I climb out of my boat I am in 15th place with two more heats to go it is going to be tight, unfortunately for me t the end of the day I miss out on going through by one place and only two points which could have been accumulated with the easiest move. I was still happy with my performance especially as it was my first year in Men’s, I was the top Kiwi by 15 places, and I beat many of the top athletes in the white water industry including Steve Fisher who is the worlds best White Water Paddled. So for me Canada was an awesome experience and I was glad I was able to represent my country and 100% NZ products. Especially thanks to the new Waiariki institute of sport this programmed is definitely worthwhile and to any one that is passionate about a sport this is the place to be.