Paddle UK hosted a training day with a difference last weekend at the iconic Dorney Lake.
The Paddle UK Race Games, in association with Paddle Games, was held as part of an ongoing programme of training weekends for athletes in canoe sprint divisions A-B, including senior, U23 and junior athletes in both canoes and kayaks.
The morning session was inspired by the Paddle Games, and featured three race simulations made up of different formats. The first was an individual 500m, followed by a team time trial where pairs raced together over 400m each and finished with a relay event with each paddler raced alone over 400m before handing over to their partner.
The pairs were made up of paddlers from mixed ages, genders, and craft. With wash hanging and turns allowed, it made for a training day with a difference.
James Train, Head of Performance Development, said: “The race formats were set up to give athletes an opportunity to race before we head into the competition season.
“Our aim was to create a positive racing experience for paddlers ahead of the first regatta in April.”
“The individual 500m event was a chance for them to practice their individual processes, while in the pairs events, it was a chance to race and have fun without the pressure of selection or assessments.”
Nick Fowler-Rimell, Chair of the Sprint Racing Committee said: “I think this was a wonderful opportunity for us as a community, and as a sport, it’s a significant change.
“Every athlete I’ve spoken to today has had a positive experience. It’s been brilliant, there’s been tactics, intrigue and everyone left with a smile on their face.
“It is an exciting thing for the coaches to see, the parents to see and for the athletes to experience on the water themselves. It was a completely new challenge, and it’s gone down really, really well and is a positive step forwards.
“One of the big strategies over the last few years has been to work out what local events could look like and with just two buoys and some creativity, this is a great example of what can be done.”
The paddling session was followed by a technical coaching workshop led by James, Ekaitz Saies, head coach for Paddle UK, Hannah Brown, paracanoe technical coach and Scott Hynds, Flatwater Coach Developer.
James added, “The coaching session afterwards was a great opportunity to discuss the key ingredients of success, we had the right people in the room to begin to shift this forward.
“It is vital that we work together and it was great to start this with a discussion around the fundamental principles of how to make boats go fast.”