HOMEWARD BOUND TO NEW HORIZONS

So that’s a wrap – the end of another ICF Junior & U23 World Championships. Our thanks to the Polish Federation for organising such an excellent event, and to the town of Krakow for providing the vibrant backdrop.

This time I’m writing high above Asia, travelling home with George Snook. Everyone dispersed in different directions – some to continue racing at the Prague event, some for holidays, and some like George and me heading home. Another first for me, checking in with a kayak. And, after however many thousands of air miles I’ve clocked up across years, my first experience with LOT Polish Airlines. For future reference, I have to say they’ve nailed it: Only a couple of days before, I pre-booked a couple of kayaks, at set fee, and not so much as a blink at check in.

George sought solace for having to travel home with me

In the coming fortnight we will debrief with the team, reflecting on the goals and culture they set themselves. How do you measure the success of such an exercise? On opening day we were streaming cricket as the Black Caps “lost” that incredible cricket World Cup final by no margin at all, but captivated the world; then on closing day, while enjoying our team dinner, we joined cheers as the Silver Ferns pinched the Netball World Cup from the Aussies by 1 point, not so long since apparent calamity. Sport is fickle like that – our congratulations to both those teams, and to this young and ambitious Canoe Slalom team.

In individual slalom, these 13 young paddlers reached 8 semi-finals and 2 finals – the same as last year when hailed as arguably the best NZL performance to date. There was an historical landmark with Jack Egan making NZL’s first ever male world C1 final (noting, and apologies for missing from initial listings, that Kelly Travers had done same in XXXX at U23C1W). In teams, the various trios came closer to the winners almost across the board, demonstrating increased depth. In extreme, we didn’t repeat the medal that Rivey Mutton took home last year, but Rivey, Hannah Thomas and Callum Gilbert all ended 5^th with gutsy displays. That first individual slalom medal still eludes, but boy did Callum give it a go. In the grand points score, Team NZL finished proudly XXth overall.

Despite hitting everything as hard as possible, Rivey couldn't quite smash herself into this year's extreme final

The exciting thing with this team, however, is the very genuine feeling of job not done, more to come – having actually achieved just below capability. I won’t name names, as history is for anyone to seize for themselves. But I wrote previously about the bar being reset, and what was previously outstanding now being the norm. The challenge is to now make the new outstanding consistent, and years are on all these paddlers’ side.

While individually each athlete will have their goals, there is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate collective new standing when we welcome the world to Auckland for the 2021 event. No doubt the learning Sue Clarke has taken away from Krakow will add further to our planning, down to the culturalism we might see in an opening ceremony or bib design, or environmentalism, or ….. the range of ice creams in VIP (thanks Sue for sharing)!

A team set to top the podium in 2021?

And perhaps above all this is to praise the culture of these young adults and the team in all. Led by a much-appreciated “athlete voice” approach, there’s constant examples of individuals values: facing down the challenge of tight competition, or coping with disappointment, or running from river to bank to support each other, or running from town to race each other for curfew, or spending 3 weeks in close confines with each other with tolerance and respect. These are the experiences that enrich and transcend sport.

My thanks to all those involved – the paddlers; outstanding coaches Shaun, Pierre and Bertrand; co-manager Julie; wonderful parents and families in Krakow and at home; and our wider supporting community – and best wishes for your next steps.