Terrifying view from my canoe

 
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Marie Winckler10 April 2012

When I think about canoeing, I conjure up a romantic image of Pocahontas paddling on calm waters, her hair wafting in warm winds. Lee Valley, the White Water Centre where the Olympic athletes will compete next summer, is not exactly what I had in mind.

When I arrive there, dark clouds are gathering, the water is turbulent and I look more like a frog in my wetsuit than a Native American princess.

"We have to train outside, winter or summer," explains the Visa Team 2012 slalom canoeist David Florence. "But we are very lucky to be able to train on this brand new Olympic venue."

The fast waters and dangerous currents mean non-professionals aren't usually allowed to descend the Olympic slalom course in a canoe - they have to stick to water rafts. So I struggle to hide my fear when it dawns on me that Florence is actually going to take me down the run with him.

His love for the sport began at the age of 13 when he went canoeing with his uncle off Seacliff beach in East Lothian, Scotland. "I decided to join a club," he says as we are getting in the canoe. "I started doing competitions and when I chose to go to Nottingham University it was so I could train in the National Water Sports Centre in West Bridgford."

As I sit in the canoe and try to find my balance, Florence gives me a quick lesson. "Slalom canoeing is an upper body sport. You have to kneel in the canoe and use a single-ended paddle." But today, for my safety, we use kayak paddles.

At the Olympics, athletes compete alone or in pairs and over a stretch of rapids must cross 18 to 25 gates. You go downstream through green gates, but red gates mean you have to turn around and pass through them going upstream.

"We go backwards using a technique called the 'bow rudder' or 'turning stroke'. You make a figure-of-eight shape in the water - it's a race, so you have to do it as fast as possible."

We're testing my ability in the water first of all by paddling on a still lake, but just as I'm starting to feel reassured, Florence says: "Deciding to go too fast is risky; we fall quite often. You have to use the water effectively. If you miss a gate, it's a 50-second penalty, and if you are slightly off the line or held back it could ruin your race. Canoeing is actually a very tactical and technical sport."

Our boat is now being dragged on a conveyor belt to the top of the run. My heart is pounding and I ask David if he ever gets nervous before starting a race. "The pressure in canoeing is different from other sports because you're racing alone," he says. "Because you don't go down next to your opponent you don't concentrate on beating someone but on doing the best run you can do."

Florence is now concentrating all his efforts on the Olympics. "I will try my best to be part of it, to perform well and go for a medal. Being cheered by the home crowd is very exciting."

We are now in the canoe rushing down the course. There is white water everywhere. I try paddling but the current is so strong I'm forced to quit after a few seconds and just focus on the advice Florence is giving me. At every drop, the canoe and the water create a mini-tsunami and I only have a few seconds to hear the instructions "lean left", "lean right".

The boat is moving so fast, the water is rushing at me and the noise is so loud that I can't work out how the athletes manage to control their canoes. When we finally arrive at the end of the run I feel I have gulped down about 10 litres.

"Canoeing is an explosive sport and you have to react quickly to any situation," says Florence. I struggle out off the boat and (knowing the answer already) ask him if I could be Olympic material. I get a definite "no". "But at least you weren't scared," he says.

Little does he know that the only reason I didn't scream was because I was afraid of swallowing more water, but I take the compliment anyway. I leave Lee Valley with massive respect for slalom canoeists - and a new opinion of Pocahontas.

David Florence

Age:

29

Home town:

Aberdeen

Measuring up:

height, 188cm

(6ft 2in); weight, 77 kg (12st 2lb)

Relationship status:

Has a girlfriend

Training hours:

Two 90-minute sessions a day, six days a week

Sporting bling:

Beijing 2008 Olympic silver, World Cup 2009 champion, seven times World Cup medallist

Starting block:

At the age of 13 when he went canoeing with his uncle in Seacliff beach in East Lothian, Scotland. Enjoyed it so much he enrolled at a club.

Olympic dream:

"To win a medal at London 2012 would be such a great honour."

David Florence is supporting the 'Be There with Team 2012' appeal, which is raising funds for the 1,200 athletes in Team 2012, presented by Visa. To be in with a chance of winning tickets to London 2012, donate to the appeal at www.team-2012.com

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