It's probably begun to trend on social media, but what an INCREDIBLE weekend for Team GB. London world cup was the first of the world cup series for 2014, and GB began the season with SEVEN gold medals and a silver. It was particularly emotional being a Scottish paddler at this race, as teammate Eilidh Gibson won silver in her category, C1 women. Having spent a long, hard winter training in groups together, athletes like us see each other in the best and the worst situations. Which makes it incredible to be there when it pays off for someone you have seen work so hard!
Although not on the British Team, I was in the privileged position of being asked to do demonstration runs for the weekend. This is great, I thought; I get to do progressive runs on the World Cup course! However when sitting in the start pool, with about a hundred people staring intently at you, waiting to judge every move you make on the next six gates, it becomes less fun and more like standing in front of a firing squad. But I managed to get over myself after a run down, and continued to enjoy every moment on the water with the world's best paddlers using it for information.
Although not on the British Team, I was in the privileged position of being asked to do demonstration runs for the weekend. This is great, I thought; I get to do progressive runs on the World Cup course! However when sitting in the start pool, with about a hundred people staring intently at you, waiting to judge every move you make on the next six gates, it becomes less fun and more like standing in front of a firing squad. But I managed to get over myself after a run down, and continued to enjoy every moment on the water with the world's best paddlers using it for information.
Of course, not only was I able to enjoy full runs on the world class course, I was also able to watch the best athletes in slalom racing in top form. Its hard not to shout for every single paddler who goes down, because when you watch the fastest in the world, it feels as though you are racing down with them, feeling their edges and burning with their strokes. For me, there is something painfully controlled about the very best canoeists. Ferocious power behind every calculated, precise movement.
Of course, it wasn't all business. The weather sat at a comfortable 23 degrees all weekend, and during the week between occasional showers it remained warm and pleasant. I never get tired of visiting the centre of London, and there are always new streets to turn down, people to look at, things to try. It's so very important to learn to enjoy your time away from sport as well as being intensely focussed, and even an afternoon off was enough to refresh me and give me a little time to reload before the weekend. One of the nicest things about the weekend for me was realising how normal paddling 'celebrities' are. They really are just like me in that all they want is to enjoy life and go canoeing as much as possible. And meeting so many amazing people just made me even happier that I have a sport where the hours and the minimal financial payback are actually worth every second.
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