EXTREME: Mike Dawson.
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 largest
extreme 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.
