A very different summer by Claire OHara | Oct 17, 2018 | Family Zone, Internationalisation, Trip Reports, Trips, UK, WhitewaterIn April we got the very exciting news that we have a little one on the way. Due in December me and Jez couldn’t be more excited about the new addition to our life. We knew things were going to change but not as quickly or as majorly as they did. I had a big...
Calling all female freestyle kayakers- I challenge you too….. by Claire OHara | May 16, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Internationalisation, Playboating, UK, Video, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesCheck out this highlights video I made 4 years ago!!! Worlds rides don’t just happen they take years of hard work luckily in the sport of freestyle kayaking those years of hard work are awesome fun. During an epic session on an amazing perfect flood water hole...
The Dream : The Reality by Claire OHara | Mar 30, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW Disciplines12 years ago I had a dream to represent my country in the sport I loved and to give my all to try and win a medal. This week I added two more golds medals to my collection. Years of hard work, dedication and amazing experiences That first worlds back in 2007 I...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Day 6 – Finals Day – A smashing good round by Claire OHara | Mar 28, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesThis was it, 10 years on from watching the freestyle finals live in Canada* wishing that I could be out there throwing down, here I was in Argentina about to go into my 4th Freestyle Kayak World Championships finals and amazingly I was going into it in 1st place....
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Day 5 – Quarter & Semi Finals – A smashing good round by Claire OHara | Mar 26, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesAs I look at the open front of my kayak and see almost all the way through to the inside I can’t help but smile and laugh as I remember Jez and a few others that morning telling me before my runs ‘to go out there and smash it!’ I must remember...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Day 4 – C1 and Womens Prelims by Claire OHara | Mar 24, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesThe sun shone bright as we woke up ready for another big day of action. This time it’s both me and Jez competing as its C1 and Women’s prelims day. The Frenchies hid from the sun between heats Jez leaves early as he has an announcing meeting before his...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Day 3 – Mens Prelims by Claire OHara | Mar 22, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesEveryone is here with their own personal goals Today was the men’s prelims. The biggest of all the classes with over 6 and half hours of non stop freestyle. Still exhausted from the Squirt boating event today was my enforced rest day as my freestyle would kick...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Day 2 – Jnr W & M Prelims by Claire OHara | Mar 20, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesWaking up knowing I had just won another World Championships was an amazing feeling. As I opened the curtains and looked out over the lake the view was insane. The wind had settled and the lake shone bright blue and calm. I felt a mix of emotions excitement, relief...
World Championships with Claire O – Day 1 – Squirt Boating by Claire OHara | Mar 18, 2018 | Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, rivers, Trip Reports, Trips, UK, Video, Whitewater, Wrap Ups Squirt Boating was a massive day and the perfect start for the competition. For many it was a day off, a day to enjoy the surrounding area and support friends and team mates as they took their turn to compete. For everyone involved the squirt boating class it...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – San Juan, Argentina- Opening Ceremony by Claire OHara | Mar 16, 2018 | Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW Disciplines2017 ICF World Championships The 2017 ICF World Championships opening ceremony kicked off the whole event in style. Straight after the last official team training finished the hole was closed to all competitors and the whole World Championships community headed into...
Inside the World Championships with Claire O – Team Training Week by Claire OHara | Mar 14, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Trip Reports, Trips, Whitewater, Wrap Ups, WW DisciplinesSo as team training week begun my plan for four days rest quickly turned into two and a half days rest followed by one, 20 minute, team training slot which equaled about four runs in the feature and then another days rest. A change from what I originally had planned...
3 days to go – The Atmosphere builds – Inside the World Championships with Claire O by Claire OHara | Mar 12, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Australia, Event Coverage, Events, Internationalisation, Playboating, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesThe Infrastructure is going up Things are beginning to take shape here in Argentina. After a few weeks of training in the middle of a desert on a feature surrounded by mostly dirt, gravel and dust it was hard to imagine that a major event was about to take place. But...