Paddling Antarctica Be prepared! Speights Coast ... - Canoe & Kayak

Multisport
Make the most of winter… Summer is coming.
“Life is about the journey, not the destination”
by James Kuegler
For most kayakers and multisporters the winter months
are a period of virtual hibernation. Frigid temperatures,
unfriendly weather and limited daylight are common
excuses for a rapid decline in the quantity and enjoyment
of training.
2007 Grade II Training with Canoe & Kayak Taupo
A simple reframing of one’s attitude can lead to a drastic change in the
satisfaction and the tangible results gained through training. It is easier
to get the kayak from the roof of the car to the water when you have
clear set goals and have mapped out a clear vision of what you want to
achieve. More great races pop up around the country every year, and
the alarming rate at which winter begins to disappear and races come
around never ceases to amaze me. With a strategy in mind, athletes are
not only able to maximise the number of races they enter, but also give
themselves the best possible build up towards their major goal. Prior
planning decreases susceptibility to injury and burn out come the busy
summer months. The idea of goal setting is not exclusive to long-term
goals of completing or being competitive in a particular race, but also
the short and mid-term steps required to get you to the eventual goal.
I support Rhonda Byrne’s work
‘The Secret’. With this in mind,
I put together a ‘vision board’ to
help focus on my goal. For those
unfamiliar with the concept, it
groups photos, quotes, times,
goals, people, or anything that inspires you. Place it somewhere
prominent, so you will see it often. It is easy and enjoyable to make a
vision board which can be applied to any part of life. This worked for
me with the 2008 Kepler Challenge. My heart was set on racing, but the
event sold out before I was able to enter. I trained regardless, keeping
entry flyers for the race and photos of the vistas on my vision board. I
told my friends and family that I would be on that start line. Three weeks
before the race, a late night email offered me
the entry that I had visualised receiving.
Getting stuck in the rut of doing the same old
sessions, the same way you did last week, or
even last year, is counter-productive. You’re
bound to know at least one person who is
training when you are. It is almost guaranteed
that neither of you are huge fans of training in
the cold, wet, or dark. Training together might
mean ten minutes travelling time, but it will be
worth it. It is amazing how much easier it is to
get out of bed when someone else relies on
you. It’s better still when it is social, grouping
together and having a café breakfast afterwards.
This is also a great way to meet new people to
train with.
Varying your activities will help your winter
training. If you really detest cold mornings,
mix kayaking and running sessions with gym
sessions, or cycle training with wind trainer
sessions. I have known cyclists who, during the
Tour dé France, train at night on the wind trainer
in front of the TV.
It can be hard to find time to practise technique
and skills when deep in preparation for a big
race. Mastering such techniques as an Eskimo roll or a more efficient
running or cycling cadence can be hugely rewarding. Incorporating
technique sessions as often as possible, breaks the monotony and
will take valuable minutes off your next race. Other variations can
include cross country skiing,
boxing, swimming, orienteering or
adventure racing. In March, I took
part in the ANZ City Chase, an
Auckland based ‘Amazing Race’
type format. It was thoroughly
enjoyable. I definitely recommend entering races of this ilk. With
everything you do, remember, if it isn’t fun it isn’t worth doing.
Maintenance and conditioning make the most of winter months. For
many athletes, winter injuries are exaggerated or emotionally enhanced
to avoid the inhospitable conditions. Investment in mind and body
hugely improves performance. I have spent time and money to be
supported by expert health professionals who are not only great at
With a strategy in mind, athletes are not only able
to maximise the number of races they enter, but
also give themselves the best possible build up
towards their major goal.
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