Northern Hemisphere paddlers will be at the end of their competitive season, whereas the Gisborne duo have had to do their preparation during winter.
“Our main focus is on the u18 world championships in 2017,” Gyertyános said.
“Olympic Hopes is only part of our campaign, not our key event, so they won’t be in peak racing form at this stage. But that won’t stop them aiming high.
“Any results will be acceptable as long as they are doing their best on race day. As this regatta will be their first international event, it is hard to predict their performance. I would be happy if they could race in one of the A finals.”
Traditional powerhouses in sprint kayaking are the Eastern Europeans, most notably Hungary, Germany, Russia, Poland and Bulgaria, and they all see the Olympic Hopes regatta as part of their development pathway.
The regatta has drawn teams from over 20 countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, the US and France. Australia are sending 27 paddlers.
Hoskin and Bermingham are the 2016 New Zealand u16 K2 500-metre champions, and that event will be one they will target. But it is only part of their programme. Hoskin will race in her speciality K1 200m, as well as the K1 1000m.
Bermingham will contest the K1 500m and K1 1000m. They will then combine for the K2 200m and K2 500m.
With such a heavy programme, which includes heats and semis, the focus of their winter has been on strength endurance and having the core fitness to back up after each race.
Hoskin is hesitant to predict how they will go: “It’s a first step into the unknown. We just want to see where we fit in the international scene, and if we get a result, that will be a bonus.”
Hoskin had a standout season 2015/16 season. At Blue Lakes 1 in October, she surprised herself by winning her u16 races and adding the u18 K1 200m.
“I don’t know how that happened,” she said.
“I was so nervous about being up an age group, I was just focused on not getting thrashed. As we started I was just head down and giving it everything I had. I didn’t watch the others; I just looked at the finish and went for it.”
The results show she won by a full second.
At sprint nationals in February, with a full u18 field in attendance and spots in the u18 worlds team up for grabs, she repeated the result. As well, she won all her u16 K1 events. At 15, and with an u18 title, it meant she could trial for the junior worlds team.
“Mum and Dad, as well as Gergely, decided it wasn’t the right time to head to a junior worlds. It was hard at the time, because all we ever want to do is wear the black singlet and the Silver Fern, but in the back of my mind I knew it was better in the long run.”
Since November, the pair have been under the guidance of Hungarian coach Gyertyános, a world champion and multiple world medallist.
The winter has seen an increase in strength and conditioning sessions as well as a focus on technique on the water.
“Gergely has certainly upped our game,” Bermingham said.
“We are going faster individually, as well as in our K2. We are so lucky to both live in Gisborne, where we can train together and have access to coaches and resources right here on our doorstep.”
It’s lucky the Gisborne Girls’ High School students are also the best of friends as results in team boats such as the K2 are heavily dependent on working together and understanding each other.
Gyertyános was particularly impressed with the girls’ commitment.
“I love their professionalism,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see their attitude during the sessions.
“They are only u16s but they work as professional athletes. Their awareness will drive them to achieve their goals.”
The New Zealand team have three weeks of training in Racice, Czech Republic, at the National Olympic Canoe Centre before they head to Szeged.
In the meantime, it’s been a busy week of exams for the Gisborne pair.
“We will be away for our mocks exams, so we have them all this week.” Hoskin said.
The pair also had to fit in their Girls’ High prefect interviews and presentations.
