THERE'S NO AYE! IN TEAMS

It was our teams’ practice day today, with our U23MK1, U18MK1 and U23WK1 trios giving it a blast. With 6 Teams' World Titles among our coaching staff, we should fair well in this – you judge for yourselves:

For clarity, when Hannah Thomas joins Kensa Randle and Courtney Williams in the U23WK1 Team on actual race day, she will use a double paddle! Callums Aitken and Gilbert and Jack Dangen will make up the U23MK1 Team; Taylor Harris, Oliver Puchner and George Snook will be the U18MK1 Team; and Hannah will be joined by Rivey Mutton and Lotte Rayner in the U18WK1 Team.

Incidentally, an apology to Lotte: When naming the Extreme Team the other day I incorrectly included Hannah in the U18WCSLX, when indeed it will be Lotte with Rivey, both having earned their spot through the National Extreme Championships at Vector Wero in January.

Excitingly, the Extreme comp will be wholly scheduled on Sunday 21st after all the individual events have finished, with the Teams races book-ending the start of competition on Tuesday 16^th. The full competition schedule is here: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-slalom-world-championships/krakow-2019/schedule.

Team theme continued away from the water, with Tournament 500 gathering momentum. For those who understand such things, here’s the draw, the rules and the points score. If you notice anything dodgy, please tell Callum….!

When you've set the rules, made the draw, and are the only guy playing - surely they'll let you win!!?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT

Yesterday was the first day of official training, so a landmark shift in atmosphere. This can be an uplift for some, and a shock for others as all the competition flooded in from European Championships – all part of the performance development experience. What it was for all of us was a chance to show off our National Uniform, and (notwithstanding that the Brits seem to spend more on uniform than our entire budget), the Team NZ made a very solid first impression.

The Rayner-Mutton double-act intimidates passers-by

Don't mess with the Kiwi Crew

A chance also therefore to thank Jeanette McLennan for her skill in assembling the Team’s uniform in the weeks before departure – thanks Jeanette, it’s awesome C.

By the way, if you’re wondering what the course looks like in full flow, here’s a view from the iPad:

The step into official training also marks a shift in balance towards the business end, emphasising training and recovery. So yesterday afternoon was an opportunity for people to settle back and relax Polish style.

What else to do after a tough session?

Kensa thinks Spiderman is "just so cool" - far from home!

Finally, we also got a change in the weather. For those considered whether we’re surviving the European heatwave, fear not – today went sour! Enjoy :(

Taylor is glad he's not actually driving :(

AUSCHWITZ REMEMBRANCE

From Pierre:

Six of us enjoyed a day without paddling to go on a different kind of adventure Monday morning. We decided to book a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau to visit the largest Nazi concentration camp that was built during World World II. For those who missed the history class at school, more than 1.5 million people died there in a bit more than 4 years, mostly Jewish people, but many other European citizens, exterminated just because they were who the persons they were.

It was obviously not a funny day, but that’s not what we were expected from it. It was very interesting to have a mixed age group (staff and paddlers) sharing the memory of what happened there, just 75 years ago. It was powerful enough to leave Jack (Dangen) voiceless during almost the whole 3 hour tour, which is quite a performance.

I was self debating before going there on the utility of such a trip when preparing an important race, but I think we all agreed on the way back on the strength of this journey and the  awareness and self reflexion it caused while walking through the camps with the guide’s comments. The site itself was very modest, much more than I expected, and every thing is organised to give us the feeling of what happened there without being outrageous or voyeuristic.

It was definitely interesting to go there and being able to share this with team mates, as our discussions usually don’t go beyond : “ how much do you bench?,  did you nail this move bro, or did you hear about the latest gossip?” :)  As written on the stones of the memorial monument there, we have a duty of memory, not just to be sad and empathic thinking about it, but just being aware of who we are and what we are capable of, in good or bad.

So it was a little aside in our trip, very team bonding and instructive, and definitely reminding us of the luck we have to be able to travel across the World and live experiences such as this one through the sport that brought us here.'

FROM ONE EXTREME ZONE TO ANOTHER

After 5 days on the water and a morning training session, yesterday was recreation day for the Team. As well as being World Heritage listed, Krakow is also home to Poland’s biggest amusement park – called Energy Landia and with an “Extreme Zone”, what could possibly be more suitable for a canoe slalom team’s day off?! Happy to report no casualties – not even sunburn – and a good time had by all.

 

The choice comes down to our Athlete Leadership Group – and with Finn Butcher absent and Courtney Williams at a global family reunion, this one fell to Charlie Bell. True democrat, Charlie set up a Messenger Poll, gave some options, and away you go – Apocalipto or Hyperion or Azteca or some other mega ride!

Charlie calls the Team to order, banging his spoon on a tortilla

In fairness, the Athlete Leadership Group does far more than decide the social programme. Over the past year, we have evolved a full terms of reference for Athlete Voice, which has influenced things like the Athlete Agreement, the mid-season debrief that will follow these Champs, and very much lead the culture of this Team. At the final NPS camp before departure, Courtney and Charlie skillfully led a group discussion on “how we want to be” – and this ownership is holding true. Sincere thanks to the ALG trio.

The Athlete Leadership Group has been outstanding in leading the Team's performance culture

But, back to talking things “Extreme” - we have submitted our entries for the Extreme Slalom events here, and are pleased to be fielding full Teams: MCSLX-U23 Callum & Jack, MCSLX-Junior George & Oli, WCSLX-U23 Courtney & Kensa, and WCSLX-Junior Hannah & Rivey. The ICF are pushing for Extreme Slalom to be considered for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, so have been encouraging countries to max entries while the IOC do their scrutiny. With the event entirely after the individual races here (Sunday 21 July) we’re gladly able to oblige. Rivey has even taken collection of a new boat for the occasion.

Anyway, time to calm things down as we head in to the second week. Back to two sessions tomorrow. Enjoy.

HAIRCUTS AND HISTORY

My roommate just walked in with a new haircut – no mean feat when checking out barber’s shops in Polish. He had to visit 3 before someone would serve him, even though they were empty. Anyway, it’s now become a mission among some of the older guys, and even rumour of a Pierre beard-trim. Not surprising with some of the local barber shop offers available. Watch this space.

Krakow variation on short back and sides

Lotte bravely sought grated cheese for last night's Bolognese    

These banalities of daily life are of course necessities when on the road for so long, and members of the team have been away from home for up to three months already now. So haircuts, laundry, SIM cards, even trying to sterilise a toothbrush, all come in to play. What did we do before google translate?

Rooming combinations are of course critical when staying even 3 weeks in close quarters. While there’s a lot of thought behind the arrangements, the biggest factors are tolerance and humour. I popped in on the youngest pairing yesterday (George and Taylor), and amazingly for teenage boys, could still see the floor! Oh, and (I never thought I’d say this) Jack’s travelling X-Box is a sought-after boon!

Taylor proudly shows how to foil mum's pleas to tidy up

That said, the there’s been far more debate and contention around the “500” combinations, and more on that another day …..

I got an email yesterday after re-opening this blog, someone reminiscing reading some of the old posts – truly a great history to capture. It is my privilege to be among the succession of managers for this team, and big shout out to co-manager Julie Harris who is such a hit. Here’s a photo from the very first blogs in Prague in 2007 – recognise any of this crew?

Wenceslas Square, Prague, 2007

I sat with Finn Butcher yesterday, stopping by before heading home for mid-season break, and reflecting on his successes, frustration and determination from the first World Cups. He commented how the Team’s performance culture had progressed gradually over the years, with a real focus among today’s group. With a nutritionist-designed menu, resident massage therapist, gym, video review, and (I say again) expert coaching team, it’s a great set up. What also enriches me is that, with this all being self-resourced, there’s a complete lack of hand-out mentality so often now in high-performance sport.

Off to the river now where the real work is done. Enjoy.

Jack and Charlie wonder where their coaches are?

Les expert coach de Nouvelle-Zélande

Kensa helping Shaun choose a barber on line