Teen kayaker gets thrill from mentoring paddlers ahead of regatta

This weekend's two-day regatta in Rotorua has drawn 207 paddlers from around the country. Photo / Greg Bowker

Kayaker Jamie Slessor-White may be a bit better than your average weekend warrior but most of his focus at this weekend's Blue Lakes 2 Canoe Racing Regatta will be on those around him.

That's because the 18-year-old has a double role - firstly as a keen competitor and also as a key coaching contributor to the North Shore club's burgeoning numbers, taking the club's junior squad.

Those growing numbers have reflected a similar trend throughout the sport, with Canoe Racing New Zealand recording significant jumps in junior and female numbers over the past four years.

The success of multiple world champion Lisa Carrington has played a part, but Slessor-White reckons the North Shore influx is simply down to new members enjoying themselves and telling others.

"A lot of paddlers have joined from surf lifesaving and waterpolo to keep their fitness up, then they've brought their friends down with them and even their siblings," Slessor-White said.

"We've had a lot join from our neighbouring schools Rosmini and Carmel too, and they're all doing really well, which is just a bonus."

This weekend's two-day regatta in Rotorua has drawn 207 paddlers from around the country and has even attracted a couple of Australian stars, Jo Brigden-Jones and Naomi Flood.

It's a big increase from the 128 paddlers who competed in 2011, 142 in 2012 and 183 last year.

The number of competitors at the national championships paints an even more positive picture, with total junior (under-16) numbers up from 54 in 2011 to 126 this year, and female paddlers from 71 to 110 in that time.

Slessor-White, who is studying nutrition and marketing at Massey University, has been paddling with the club for almost three years and was enthusiastic when senior club coach Gavin Elmiger suggested he get involved in taking the younger squad.

A grant from New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has helped fund the programme, which club secretary Diana Austin is very proud of.

"We had a little influx in the winter and to keep their interest, we got Jamie involved," Austin said. "Those that came really enjoyed his coaching, so they all brought their mates. It's been a huge transformation so it's just a matter of keeping ahead of it now and making sure we've got the resources and systems in place to support it."

That's crucial for another club success story, where Poverty Bay's former Olympic champion Alan Thompson and his wife Liz are helping bring 31 paddlers to this weekend's regatta.

"Our club operates on three to four coaches, plus we operate a school holiday programme, and that's what you need if you want to be a strong club and produce enough athletes to form crews," Thompson said.

"The two things that help the sport really go ahead are coaches, first and foremost, and equipment. If you don't have the coaches, you don't have anything, while getting boats made in New Zealand that are age-specific has been crucial, because they're more stable and they are easier to learn to paddle. Those are the big areas that have changed."

Mana will have 33 paddlers competing this weekend, while North Shore have the biggest squad (46), including 13 of Slessor-White's junior ranks, which he hopes will double by the time February's National Championships roll around.

"They're nice kids, really enthusiastic and they're all supporting each other - sometimes coaching is more fun than actually going out and paddling, just seeing one of the kids improving over a year. That's a really cool feeling as a coach."

For more information visit: http://www.canoeracing.org.nz/events/