While Ross was the only Hawke's Bay individual to capture gold an adaptive six-person 500m crew coached by Roni Nuku, who also competed in the same crew as Kaye Ross, also won gold. Ross is a second year waka ama exponent and said as long as her parents (father Greg is also no stranger to winning national titles in the sport) continue to be involved she will be.
"I like the whanau aspect of waka ama which is totally different to my other codes. But kayaking is my No 1 code and I want to paddle at the Olympic Games in the future ... I'm inspired by Aimee," Ross said referring to Hawke's Bay Olympian and 2016 Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year Aimee Fisher.
During the February 17-19 national kayaking champs at Lake Karapiro Ross will compete in the K2 200m open women's event with Fisher. She will also tackle the under-18 K1 200 and 500m events.
"Making finals will be my main goal there. I was out of action with a shoulder injury for eight months last year and only started training again in August," Ross explained.
This weekend Ross will attend trials in Palmerston North for the New Zealand under-18 girls canoe polo team. Should the former Hawke's Bay and Central Region rep get the nod she will play in the Oceania Champs in Palmerston North during July.
"I've got a pretty good chance as I'm the only player returning from the team which played at the Oceania Champs in Melbourne in 2015 and if my kayaking goes to plan this could be my last year of canoe polo," Ross said.
Like her father she is a member of the Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Lifesaving Club. At the recent Central Region champs at Waimarma Ross was a member of her club's winning under-19 surf canoe team.
The following day she represented Hawke's Bay in the New Zealand Open Surf Life Saving Representative Challenge at Waimarama and combined with clubmate Scott Bicknell to record a second placing in the ski relay behind Olympians Kayla Imrie and Marty McDowell.
"Those two can continue to do surf lifesaving while being Olympic reps at kayaking. There is always a high demand for paddlers in surf lifesaving so I will stay on call for that code," Ross said.
She will compete at the national surf lifesaving championships in Christchurch during March.
"I enjoy doing all four codes but it is costly. I got a new waka for $5000, a second hand K1 kayak for $2000 and a canoe polo boat for a similar price. I have to have three different paddles and the cheapest is $400 so if anybody can assist with sponsorship it would come in handy," Ross added.
There's no doubt Ross has the goods to emulate some of her idol Fisher's feats. Once this happens she can expect an influx of potential sponsors.
