A reserve at last year’s World Kayaking Championships, this year, Gordon’s Sixth Form student Sienna Edwards has now made the team and will compete for the GB Freestyle Kayaking team in the World Championships in America later on this year.
She was introduced to kayaking by her father but a trial lesson in freestyle kayaking completely hooked her.
Terrifying to watch, but lasting only 45 seconds, freestyle kayaking involves twisting and turning under and over whitewater. Freestyle kayakers are awarded points for the different rotations they perform, along with spins, somersaults and cartwheels. Propelling their kayak out of the water results in the most points.
Among the tricks Sienna has mastered are spinning 360 degrees, and air screws.
“You do need some flexibility. Not as much as gymnastics but it is helpful” says Sienna.
She starts learning new tricks on dry land, breaking them down into smaller parts before putting them all together and taking to the water. Each new trick varies in the length of time it takes to learn but Sienna is constantly learning new ones and improving on those already in her repertoire.
She admits: “It takes a lot of practice” and this takes place on various rivers across the country.
In addition, she’s building up her strength with general gym workouts.
A regular to smaller freestyle competitions and the British Championships, Sienna revealed that although she has only 45 seconds in which to impress the judges with her tricks, depending on the competition, there is the opportunity to have three or four attempts, with the best one counting.
While this will be her first time competing at international level, Sienna has experience of what’s involved in taking part. She explained: “Last year I competed in the selections but I only got a reserve place, I didn’t get to compete although I did train with them and got to go along to the events so experienced it all”.
The news of her selection for the ICF Kayak Freestyle World Championships in Columbus, she described as “very exciting!” and she is now training in earnest for October and will attend GB training sessions as well as heading to the States and Canada this Summer to practise.
The Sixth Form student, studying three A Levels, is also juggling her academic work and looking for possible universities, preferably close to water with opportunities to paddle, for when she leaves Gordon’s.
As to how far Sienna wants to take her talent with a paddle, she said: “I enjoy it at the moment. I am quite excited to continue competing”.
Categories: Gordon's School School News
