Olympic kayaker Mike Dawson will take a break from the white water slalom world cup circuit this weekend, diving headlong into some of Norway's heaviest rapids.
The 27-year-old Bay of Plenty paddler joins a large group of Kiwi paddlers at the Extreme Sport Week in Voss, one of the largestextreme events in the world, competing in head-to-head, downriver and teams competitions.
Dawson won the downriver last time he competed, in 2008, and is delighted to be back.
"It's been a big month of slalom paddling with some high-pressure races on the world cup circuit."
"The pressure hasn't dropped much, it's just shifted - any mistakes up here in Norway won't cost you a two-second penalty for missing a gate but they could cost you a long, scary swim and a close encounter with a rock.
"I'm loving the experience of being back in Norway after six years though and hopefully the huge Kiwi contingent can bring home some results."
Other New Zealanders include Rotorua brothers Jamie and Sam Sutton, Tim Pickering, Brendan Bayly, Cole O'Connor-Stratton and Toni George.
Dawson has come off a hectic schedule of world cups, qualifying for the semifinals in London and Slovenia and picking up his best-ever finish at the latter event, finishing ninth in the final.
