Kayaking: Fisher will be fueled by inspiration

NEW AND UNIQUE: Aron Noble (left) and Aimee Fisher give her new kayak the thumbs up after it arrived from Portugal. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

SHOULD the going get tough for Hawke's Bay kayaker Aimee Fisher this summer she won't have to look far for inspiration.

The Rio Olympian who won the Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year award in May will only need to glance down towards the bow of her new kayak which arrived from Portugal last week. The paint job incorporates some Maori designs which symbolise the younger generation and looking after them.

They were designed by Akina School teacher Aron Noble who was Fisher's art teacher at Karamu High School in 2009.

"It was a fun project because Aimee is such a lovely person. Basically the idea she wanted to portray was to move mountains for young people. She wanted the designs to give her strength during her trainings and to push her during races," Noble explained.

"Aimee wants to pass on strength to the younger generation, her peers and the older generation. These are represented by the three fins and hugging them are the koru which represents Aimee's desire to help and guide others," Noble said.

The hammer head shark on the boat represents strength.

"Aimee wants to win. Not only for herself but for kids and her country. It had to feel fast and it had to look fast from above and from side on. It is unique to New Zealand and when Aimee travels around the world people will know she is from New Zealand," Noble added.

A member of the Kiwi K4 500 crew which finished fifth in their Olympic final, Fisher, 21, said the designs mean the world to her.

"They have so much meaning. When I look down they will always inspire me ... not only to go hard at training but to be fearless off the start line. It's almost like I have a responsibility ... when I'm afraid I have to step up for the kids."

Fisher pointed out she is keen to set up food drives in the future and she intends to make sure all children go to school with warm clothes.

"One day I would like to set up some kind of academy. Hopefully I can inspire and motivate academy members. I guess I want to use my success in kayaking to move mountains for those kids. Sometimes I can lose sight of that when training becomes too much. So to have something on the front of my kayak always reminding me is massive."

Fisher said her new kayak is bigger than her previous one.

"I was a bit too heavy for the one I had previously. This one fits me."

Another difference is the inverted bow.

"They've copied an America's Cup boat. They've increased line speed and reduced drag with the aim of increasing my overall speed," Fisher said.

She was hoping this weekend's Blue Lakes II Regatta would be the debut regatta for the kayak. However a chest infection has ruled her out of training during the past week and the Auckland-based fulltime kayaker won't know until after a doctor's visit tomorrow whether she will be able to compete.

If she is given the thumbs down a New Zealand trials regatta in January will be the first taste of racing for Fisher in the kayak. After those trials Fisher will find out whether she represents New Zealand at K4 level or KII level at next year's World Cup regattas.