Bronzed Aussie
After going into the Olympics recovering from a torn abductor muscle, Australian whitewater wizard ROBIN BELL put in a fantastic performance in the C1 Slalom finals on Tuesday evening and picked up a bronze medal for his efforts. Just before leaving for Beijing he chatted to Outer Edge about living life in the rapids…
You’ve previously described the course in China as dangerous, but what do you expect conditions to be like for the event?
Conditions in China are tough. The course has a lot of gradient over some shallow concrete blocks. I am bigger than the average paddler and dig a bit deeper, so I have to be careful in these shallow fast moving sections.
What about the competition – where do you expect your biggest threats to come from?
Tony Estanguet from France is a double Olympic gold medallist and was 2006 World Champion. He is also the French flag bearer in Beijing, so the French have big expectations for him. Michal Martikan from Slovakia is a four-time World Champion and former Olympic gold medallist. He is the Slovakian golden child, having given Slovakia their first ever gold medal at the Olympics in 1996. He has medalled in every major competition since 1995, which coincidently is the year I started canoeing. I have been trading medals with these two my whole career. There is a young Brit, German and Russian showing some good speed. UPDATE – Slovakia’s Michal Martikan took gold in the event and Britain’s David Florence bagged silver.
How did you get into paddling?
During a father-and-son bonding day in the Avon valley 50 minutes from Perth. My dad hired two kayaks and we hit the whitewater. I look back and think we were lucky to make it through that day! We joined the Swan Canoe Club soon afterwards and I learnt from there.
Why did you settle on the C1 whitewater slalom class?
I really enjoy learning new skills. My kayaking had reached a plateau at my local course, so I started paddling C1 to help with my kayaking. I really enjoyed the experience of learning again and the challenges C1 made me face. Suddenly all my sessions were in a C1.
Do you ever mix it up and go ocean kayaking (or any other form of paddling)?
I use to surf a lot in my canoe, and I do some freestyle paddling. I actually went to the World Freestyle Championships in Spain 2001. I do like paddling other boats, I just don’t do it enough.
How are your whitewater rafting skills?
I use to guide rafts in WA and then when Penrith Whitewater centre first started rafting. Most good paddlers can show you the optimum line, it doesn’t matter what craft they’re in. I have only competed in one rafting nationals, but we had an awesome time.
Would you consider yourself an all-round adventure sports person – do you get into any other outdoor sports?
I do like getting out to do other adventure sports. I used to rock climb, windsurf, and now I’m into mountain biking and surfing. I’ve had to stop biking until after the games though.
Where do you train?
I train at Penrith Whitewater Centre four to five times per week, doing specific slalom training. I do 12 sessions a week total – the other sessions are a mixture of running, boxing, mountain biking or whatever else I can find to keep me entertained. All these sessions are done around home or at the Uni of Sydney gym.
What’s the toughest aspect of the sport?
There are so many aspects to master in slalom; it is always presenting a new challenge in my career. Fitness is something you have to be persistent with; everyone at the end of the day can achieve it. Technique and feeling on the water is a little harder to achieve. I was lucky in my canoeing development, I spent a lot of time in my boat surfing and paddling down different rivers, which gave me a good grounding of whitewater skills. Out of all this the hardest aspect is combining all these factors and racing on the day – that takes mental toughness. So many people can do a couple of good gates, but you need to do it at the Olympics or the World Championships.
Where’s your top whitewater spot in Australia?
The Murchison Gorge in flood is awesome (that’s six hours north of Perth). Butler, Cataract and Gordon Gorges in Tasmania are also fantastic. There are a lot of good rivers in Australia…they are just so far apart.
And the world?
Where do I begin? A little creek in the French Pyrenees, Cataurets, finishes in a 10-metre waterfall (which is the easiest rapid of the route).
What equipment do you favour?
I use Sandiline paddling gear and Wavesport playboats, Galasport race boats. Oh, and I drive Nissan cars!
Do you make a fulltime living from paddling, or do you have another occupation?
If you are making medals at an international level there is enough money in Slalom to get by.
Is there a lot of travel involved?
There is a lot of travel. When I first started I was away for four to six months each year. Now I get away with just a couple.
How is your torn abductor muscle feeling now?
Still healing, but it seems to be on the mend. I can feel something is wrong but it doesn’t seem to be impeding on my training at present.
Had any other horror injuries or close calls while paddling?
I have been lucky over the years. I have had my fair share of injuries but nothing too major.
Where's the best place your boat has taken you, and why?
The Olympics. The Olympics is such a special event – so many awesome athletes in one place at the same time.
And the worst?
Cannot remember a bad place. Must have blanked it out of my memory.
If you weren’t a paddler, what would you be?
I would always be doing some adventure sport. I would also probably be financing with a finance job.
Your waterborne hero is ...?
A few old canoeing dogs!
What has been your career high to date?
Winning the 2005 World Championships. You sacrifice so much and when you have such a big win it is all justified.
What's on the horizon for you after the Games?
I will be applying for finance jobs in Sydney CBD. I will try and get out paddling as much as possible, but competing at a top level will be partly a decision my new employer will have to allow.
For more interviews with Australia’s most adventurous Olympians, pick up a copy of Outer Edge magazine, on sale now at Anaconda and Borders stores, and any newsagent worth their salt…