Melzie is obviously mad keen on kayaking and it’s not just her work life but her sporting life too. We are very proud of Melzie on her recent selection in the Australian U23 Canoe Slalom team travelling to Krakow, Poland. Canoe Slalom is an Olympic sport with competitors navigating a canoe/kayak through a series of gates on river rapids. The fastest time is the winner.
1. What is it you love about Canoe Slalom?
The sensation of playing with the whitewater and using all the features to get where you want while feeling like you are flying. I also love that there are so many variables and it’s never exactly the same.
2. Is your training schedule easy to fit around your Roaring 40s Kayaking work?
Luckily Roaring 40s is flexible with me always going away! But day to day it’s definitely a challenge to fit in work, training and Uni as well… I think I am getting better at it. I am off to Sydney over Easter Uni holidays for a training week at the Penrith Olympic Whitewater Staduim.
3. What’s your favourite Tassie river to paddle?
For Slalom - definitely Woodward’s Canal at Bradys Lake.
For a river trip - the Plenty River in the Lower Derwent (after heavy rain).
4. You compete against and train with multiple World Champion and Olympic medallist Jess Fox. What do you learn from her? (Jess is a superstar of the sport and the most successful individual canoe slalom paddler in history)
I have been lucky enough to train with Jess when I’ve been to Penrith. I try and watch how she does things technically in sessions then imitate her! It’s also good to see how she is able to have fun and have a laugh while training but then really switch on during a run - her focus is incredible.
5. How can someone in Tassie wanting to try canoe slalom get a paddle?
Get in touch with Derwent Canoe Club at derwent@canoe.org.au and ask about the paddle power program, or when the next session is that you can come to and join in to give it a try! We’ve got quite a few junior groups training at the moment and are always looking for more.
