Where do you call home?
Custard Country - UK
What are your credentials/stats/rankings?
GB Freestyle squad member since 2002, competing at the word championships in Graz, Austria – Sydney, Australia, - Ottawa, Canada and the European Championships in Sort, Spain and Nottingham, UK. Current Freestyle World Champion and GBR Freestyle team Coach.
Key Results
White Water Freestyle Squirt Boat World Champion 2007/08 [Ottawa - Canada]
4th World Championships 2005 [Sydney - Australia]
12th World Championships 2003 [Graz – Austria]
White Water Freestyle Squirt Boat European Champion 2004/5 [Sort – Spain]
4th European Championships 2006 [Nottingham – UK]
1st World Cup rnd. 1 2006 [Ottawa – Canada]
1st Euro Cup rnd. 3 2005 [Nottingham – UK]
Away from competition, I’m into exploring the depth’s in the squirt boat, kayak surfing wherever its warm and sunny, Creekin where its steep and rocky...
How long have you been kayaking?
Too Long! Started properly paddling on white water in 1995
What is your favorite River?
Sooo many to choose from but probably the East Lyn - UK or the Ogwen - Wales
What is your favorite Playspot?
Again so many to choose from I Love Smoothy on the Ottawa, and Nile Special - Uganda, is so unlike anything else, But for pure all year round reliabilty it has to be The Magic Roundabout - the ditch, UK
Most memorable moment in kayaking?
I guess I should say winning the International titles! They’re definitely up there and certainly something I’ll never forget. BUT competition isn’t where its at for me, it’s all about your friends and the experiences you have along the way. Whether that be camping by Europe’s biggest glacier the night before a pushy river run and enjoying a smooth Bailey’s and glacial ice, or the stupid things you do in front of a camera, or celebrating a win at Rock Du, or a moon lit soul surfing session on an alpine river, or playing paper, scissors, stone before some sketchy river section, or realizing all the surfers have got off because the Dolphins have disappeared meaning the sharks have come into feed, the list is endless…
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Anywhere my friends are, but ‘smoothie’ on the Ottawa river will always be somewhere I’ll return…
What advice do you have for others to get into the sport?
Go find your own adventure, and always remember, smile, it’s going to be fun!
What would one thing be that most people wouldn’t know about you?
I quite enjoy cooking!
Whats on your iPod?
A lot! Mostly Indie and some Prodigy and Chemical Brothers just to get me going...
So kayaking, is that it?
Nope. I guess old habits die hard, I used to race Mountian Bikes cross country, back in the day when anodized purple was cool! Now it’s nothing quite so serious more sociable on the up hills, balls out on the downs with as much air time in between as possible. You'll find it shares my spare time with my kayaking!
Ben
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