KEY POINTS:
Medal hopeful Ben Fouhy is finally extracting some speed after a choppy start to the New Zealand Olympic kayaking team's month of training in Queensland.
The four-strong New Zealand flatwater team have spent most of July alongside their Australian counterparts preparing for next month's Games in Beijing.
But
while Steven Ferguson, Mike Walker and Erin Taylor have made enormous strides, coach Ian Ferguson said Fouhy's regime was rocked initially by an undiagnosed condition that sapped the energy of the former world champion.
"Ben had a chequered start, he didn't really get going for a while but he's starting to get a better boat speed, a better rhythm," Ian Ferguson told NZPA.
"It's just taken him a long time to catch back up really and get a feel for the water and do a few things."
Former Olympic great Ferguson said it was a frustrating period for K1 1000m specialist Fouhy, who was always looking to eke out even the most miniscule of improvements.
The former world champion and Athens Olympics silver medallist had abandoned some of the innovations introduced to his technique this year.
"He's changed a few things, gone back to his old ways and he's starting to get the feel for that now," Ferguson said.
"He's definitely going a lot better.
"And with him you never know, suddenly he just pops a big one (time) out every now and then."
Ferguson was happy with the progress of K1 500m hopeful Erin Taylor - the first New Zealand woman flatwater kayaker at any Games - and the K2 1000m pairing of his son and Walker.
The K2 had improved considerably from the decision this year to shift Steven Ferguson to the back of a new boat which caters for his wingspan, which measures well over 2m. In their old craft he was constantly striking Walker, and had to lean awkwardly to adjust.
"The bigger guy is usually better in the back, it's looking fantastic now," Ian Ferguson said.
"They improved in every World Cup last month and in the third one in Poland, where they were third."
The switch reminded Ian Ferguson of a pivotal moment with famous teammate Paul MacDonald before their combination really took off. It was hardly through months of scientific analysis.
"Making a change like that is more about the feel," he said.
"I used to be in the front and then one day we decided to just swap and see how it feels. Paul said 'ooh, I like this,' and that was it."
The pair won gold over 500m at both the 1984 and 1988 Games.
Ferguson Jr always knew they would be quicker if he could shuffle to the back.
He had enjoyed the progress of the past month, even if it was a little one-dimensional in Rockhampton.
"It's the kind of place where you can really focus on nothing but your paddling really," he said before attacking a crossword between training at the team's apartments.
"We've got a lot of stuff to work on and to get right.
"But I'm definitely feeling faster than I ever have."
He will also contest the K1 500m, which doesn't clash with the K2's Games schedule.
Ian Ferguson said the Beijing-like humidity and lack of wind made Rockhampton an ideal venue to prepare straight after three encouraging World Cup outings in Europe.
There was just two hours time difference to Beijing, making recovery easy for when they fly there on August 10, eight days before competition begins.
- NZPA
