With the world championships at NOC in America coming up fast the GB freestyle team took to the water for a final training session. Throughout the weekend the team was working on piecing together their competition rides and putting some final work into making sure that their moves score.
Training consisted of working all the top moves
such as space godzillas, McNasty’s, Phonix Monkeys and lunar orbits. Many
of the team were also practicing some of the entry moves they intend to do at
the comp . Once warmed up we started putting moves together trying to
link them in blocks of 3 so that the routine is easy to remember and has a high
scoring sequence. Team training isn’t always super serious though, we also
ran a fun copycat style session where you have to attempt the same move as the
last paddler and then add on your own move for the next paddler to try.
With the standard so high, there really were some amazing combinations pulled
off!
The team is very strong this year and we really are
in the running to bring home medals in all the different freestyle
disciplines. Brandon Hepburn and Bren Orton will be out there rocking
their carbon Jed’s and working the hole as best they can to pull off some high
scores. The Jed should really excel in a hole like this, being able to
pull off all the latest hole moves quickly and fluidly. You simply just
have to watch some of the team paddlers moving this boat around a hole or wave
to realise how good the design really is.
With many competitors already out in the US practicing at NOC we really should see some incredible rides and some really amazing routines during the comp.
If you havent seen it yet, check out this video of Brandon and Bren training in Nottingham.
For more info on the world champs visit www.freestylekayaking2013.com
Thanks to Sal Montgomery for the photos and Bren and Brandon for the video.