Road to Worlds With Team Jackson

Name: Zofia Tuła

What country are you competing for?

Poland

Favorite place to train?

Makinito Spot (France)

How many World Championships have you competed in before?

3

What are your previous placements at Worlds?

4th in K1W, 6th in K1SW – (San Juan,Argentina 2017), 15 in K1W, 10th in K1SW (Canada 2015), 15th in K1W, 9th in K1SW(Nantahala Gorge, USA 2013)

How does the level of competition at World Championships compare to any other freestyle competition?

The level is very high, the best paddlers from all World come to compete in this event. Everyone want do the best show and take the best place. For me it is the hardest and most important competition.

What’s your favorite part about World Championships? Or if you have never been to a Worlds before what are you most excited for? (Location, people, party, competing, training, etc.)

Paddling with friends from all over the world, during World Championships there is a lot of people and positive energy. On the water is fun and paddling together with top paddlers give me bigger motivation and helps me to push my skills foward. I like to observe how top men paddlers do the most difficult moves and next try to do it on my own. Also like to show how to paddle like a girl 😉

What are you doing to prepare for the 2019 Freestyle World Championships?

In Sort will be new freestyle stadium for Worlds, so I’m trying to prepare generally and elastic in different kind of playspots.

What are some things you think you can do to improve your placement in Sort?

I have new 4.0 gun and I’m working at wide repertory of my moves and improving this one with I already can do.

Do you have any pre-competition traditions?

I always do warm up with my favorite exercises before the paddling. Also one day before I’m eating ice cream 😉

Favorite pump up song?

Elektryczny – Męskie Granie – Brodka&Podsiadło, polish song 😉

Do you normally make a routine that you practice and use in competition or do you just send it with no plan?

Usually, I have a couple plans which I practice during the trainings, but water is sometimes unpredictable and when I feel that some moves I should do now, I just do it 😉

What is your goal at the 2019 World Championships?

Plan A – gold medal, plan B – medal, plan C – cry ;P

What tricks or combos do you think you will put into your rides?

This ones which will be working at new playspot in Sort 😉

What are your early predictions for who is going to do well in Sort?

In my category for sure strong will be Hitomi Tataku, Marlene Devillez, Islay Crosby, Emily Jackson and Claire O’hara. Also I can’t wait to see how big progress did other girls 🙂

If you have been to a previous World Championships, what are some tips or secrets you want to share with first time Worlds Competitors?

Don’t try the most difficult moves first. Start from moves which you feel confident. Get some points and next do what you want 😉