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Here at Flow Kayaks, we know how lucky we are to be at the heart of such a thriving paddling community. Following International Women's Day last month, we were inspired by the positivity we saw online, and so we reached out to a number of local and inspirational paddlers and coaches. Nottingham is home to a lot of incredible people, so we thought we'd give you the opportunity to hear from some of them too!
First up, meet...
Kerry Christie
I'm Kerry Christie, I'm 20 years old and am currently at university studying Product Design and kayaking is basically my whole life.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you discovered your passion for kayaking?
I started kayaking when I was 8, through scouts and a club called Break Out Canoe Unit which I am still part of now. I started getting into wild water racing when I was quite a bit older through my Dad as he also does it and loves it too! I think I discovered my passion for it though when I got to race internationally for the first time at the Junior World Championships in 2019, and I loved the experience so much! I finished near the bottom in everything and I think this really sparked my desire and drive to get better.
Congratulations for becoming U23 world champion this year! How did you find the run up to the competition, and what did it feel like when you realised you had won?
Thank-you! The run up to the competition wasn’t great for me, I was having a real slump in my training and was struggling to paddle as well as I had been previously. This didn’t help me to mentally prepare either and I was starting to worry about how I might perform. As soon as the trip started though, all my worries were forgotten and the atmosphere and environment that the Czechs, who were organising, created was great! I love the trips and racing so, so, much and they are always so busy and jam-packed that I didn’t have time to think about anything but the racing!
When I realised, I had won, I was so happy and couldn’t quite believe it, it is quite unusual to tie with someone on a longer race. I felt really proud too, of myself and my good friend Lucy who I got to stand on the podium with, which made it so much better! These feelings just kept building, and it was so unexpected to me when I then went on to win in the C2 with my sister Emma, and then in the team classic race with Lucy and Molly. To me, I really, really, enjoy the team racing and racing with other people and standing on the podium with my sister, and team mates, who are really good friends just feels 10x as good!
That sounds fantastic to be able to share the experience with people so close to you. How do you approach preparation for these races?
My pre-race preparation is quite relaxed, and I don’t have any set things I like to do, it tends to vary as well depending on the race. I try not to think about the race at all or any potential outcomes and try to stay calm and happy beforehand. I make sure I am well fuelled and hydrated and that there is nothing for me to stress over on the day. If there are any key moves or strokes, I like to remind myself of them and tell myself to paddle hard. This tends to be more serious before international races. Usually, the training plan will involve peaking for internationals, so my sessions will become shorter with more rest as the international season gets closer/starts.
There are plenty of people who look up to you and your achievements in the sport, but who has been your inspiration in the kayaking world?
I would have to say that my biggest inspiration is my Dad as he was the one who got me into the sport, probably because he loves it so much himself! He has helped me get where I am today. I also have to say the same for all my teammates, coaches, family and all the volunteers that come on the trips, they all inspire me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without any one of them. So, thank-you everyone!
