splash jan 10 - Australian Canoeing

NSKP splash! Newsletter Jan ‘10
Gold Coast Pilot NSKP Squad
Hello and welcome to the brand new NSKP Gold Coast Pilot Program
Squad. This is the first group of paddlers under the National Surf & Kayak
Talent Program banner. Working with Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving Clubs to
find the best ways of assisting them and their members to improve their ski
paddling through developing their flatwater kayak paddling (and, hopefully,
along the way, discover the next Australian Olympic Kayaking Gold Medalists!)
has been very rewarding and very informative. Surf Lifesaving Clubs
with athletes involved in the Gold Coast
NSKP Pilot Program are;
Northcliffe, Tallebudgerra, Bureligh Heads
Mowbray Park, North Burleigh, Surfers
Paradise, Kurruwa, Southport and Currumbin.
Canoe clubs represented are: Currumbin
CC and Gold Coast CC with most athletes
who are not yet in a kayak club opting for
one of these clubs in the near future.
Athletes
Joel Simpson
Gina Heidke
Beth Menhinnit
Dane Sloss
Beau O’Brian
Aaron Murphy
Jack Murphy
Abbey Short
Christie Short
Dylan Magee
Isaac Dunmall
splash!
Jordan Wood
Mark Wright
Matt Roser
Mitchell Smith
Samantha Tiley
Rachel Simper
Amanda Rankin
Molly Walker
Nicholas Dennis
Tenille Kenny
CONGRATULATIONS!
Natasha taking a break during testing
Looks good so far, Dylan!!

NSKP kayak from Advantage Kayaks—Molly gets
the seat right!
NSKP testing at the AIS gym, conducted by AIS
Strength & Conditioning Coach, Glen Workman
NSKP red and gold kayaks. There are also K2’s
and K4’s in a similar colour scheme from Quantum
Kayaks!
Beth, coached by Julian Norton-Smith, brand new
to kayaking but competed in Coolangatta Gold!
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Coaches
The NSKP program is primarily driven by surf lifesaving
paddling coaches. The aim is to foster kayaking as the
ideal training environment to develop ski paddlers. As
paddlers progress they can become involved in National
Talent Identification Programs, Queensland Academy of
Sports and the AIS kayaking programs, and these avenues
are promoted to take their paddling to the next
step, and maybe make National Kayak Teams, or even
the Olympic Games! The NSKP also aims to promote
surf ski paddling amongst kayak paddlers and to encourage
kayak/ski paddlers to maintain their surf club
commitments throughout their kayak paddling careers.
Coaches involved with the program are:
Peter Dorries (BHMP/Tallebudgera), Julian Norton-
Smith (Kurruwa), Dennis Green (Kurruwa), Pat O’Keefe
(Northcliffe), Carl Heywood (Southport) and Zayne
Hamill (Surfers Paradise).
John Newton (NTID/Currumbin Canoe Club and Currumbin
SLSC), Vince Fehevari and Katrin Borchert
(QAS and AIS) are supporting coaches, and also the
primary coach of some of the athletes. Extra kayak sessions
with Vince and Katrin are available to NSKP paddlers
by agreement with coaches and the NSKP Coordinator.
Testing
Most of the NSKP athletes who responded through the
Australian Sports Commission web site were given a
basic Talent ID test (even though most could already
paddle a kayak!). They did chin ups, bench pull, bench
press and a 40m running sprint, as well as having anthropometric
measurements done (sitting height, arm
span, height and weight). Athletes and coaches will
have the test results given out to them shortly.
When the winter season starts back we will be repeating
these tests, as well as having some more kayak
specific tests, so we can keep the athletes on their toes!
Testing is usually done quarterly, as well as some specific
testing, as required by surf club coaches, on an
individual application process. The NSKP is committed
to providing the tools club coaches need to develop
kayak/ski within their clubs.
Equipment
These “swim between the flags” kayaks in red and gold
have been provided by the Australian Sports Commission
to assist with the NSKP Gold Coast Pilot Program.
We would like to acknowledge the ASC and the significance
of this grant!

Team Boat Workshop
On the 27th February the NSKP will be holding a Team Boat workshop for NSKP athletes, their coaches,
and other interested ski and kayak coaches. It will be at the AIS Facility, Pizzy Park, Miami, from 10 am to 2
pm.
We will be “on water” looking at different roles in the kayak, and the way different paddlers handle them.
While on water, AIS Exercise Physiologist Nicola Bullock will be administering a series of tests and showing
us how to measure some of the feedback you can get at a scientific level when it comes to team boats.
Then, in the second half of the session, we will look at how various coaches meet the challenge of constructing
team boats, how athletes relate to different roles, and how science can help get the most out a
team boat. Guest presenters will include Katrin Borchert (AIS coach and multiple Olympic and world championship
medalist in K2 and K4), Vince Fehevari (QAS/AIS coach), Lynda Lehmann (NSKP Coordinator and
6 years in Australian Women’s K4), and other highly experienced team boat coaches.
Rob van Bommel, from Sportscene TV, will be there filming the proceedings to begin building a reservoir of
resources for the surf and kayak paddling community.
A separate invitation to this newsletter will go to all Gold Coast SLSC’s by email shortly, so keep an eye out
for it.
Seminar: Recovery Strategies for States and Nationals
Not too far away we have the Surf Life Saving QLD State Champs, and the Aussie Titles. In between we
have the National Kayak Champs. For paddling athletes this is the typical course of events every March—
hard racing for an extended long weekend, three weeks in a row!
This racing calendar brings up several challenges for athletes; how to time the taper and for which event;
how to recover quickly from training loads and racing loads; what training needs to be done in between
events; how to handle race days preparation; what to eat and drink; how to cope with demands and expectations
from coaches, parents and themselves; how to mentally recover from a less than ideal race!; how to
juggle school and/or work commitments when you essentially need three weeks off!
The NSKP is holding a roughly two hour seminar at Tallebudgera SLSC, on Saturday 27th February at 5pm,
to address these specific issues. We will have some of the country’s best exercise physiologists, psychologists
and nutritionists to deliver very specific information regarding planning for the three weeks onslaught,
as well as more general information on planning, recovery, training and taper, and other strategies to help
athletes get the most out of the three weeks that they have trained all season for!
NSKP athletes and their parents and coaches are invited, as are any interested surf lifesaving athletes on or
around the Gold Coast. All surf and kayak coaches are encouraged to attend, even if you do not have athletes
in the NSKP.
Again, a separate flyer will be put out to invite participants to this event. Please keep an eye out for it!
Other Opportunities for Surf Clubs to Benefit from the NSKP
One of the key roles of the NSKP is to involve Surf Life Saving Clubs to get involved in paddling as a primary
surf sport/Olympic sport, to encourage and support the crossover from surf to flatwater and back, and
to assist those who are committed to provide the best opportunities for their members to enhance their ski
paddling through kayak paddling, and to support their athletes on an Olympic kayak pathway while retaining
the athlete as a valuable club member.
In this endeavor we are committed to delivering seminars and workshops covering all topics around paddling,
training and improving. Clubs with more than one athlete involved in the NSKP are invited to host
events, and encouraged to have that event cover the topics they most need. The best professionals in that
field will be brought in to assist in the club, coach and athlete in their development. These sessions can be
kept in-house, or made open to the general paddling public, its up to you.
Simply contact Lynda Lehmann, the NSKP Coordinator, to discuss your specific needs. Email llehmann@slsa.asn.au
or 0400 950 415
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NSKP Photo Gallery
Mitchell and Isaac in their new shirts! (Southport SLSC/
Carl Heyward coach)
If you would like to receive the NSKP splash! Newsletter—
splash!
it comes out roughly four—six weekly—please email Lynda
Lehmann at llehmann@slsa.asn.au It’s a great way to keep
up to date with the what’s happening with the NSKP! And also
to find out more information about ski and kayak paddling!
In the next issue:
• Seminar Notes
• GP2 Results for NSKP athletes
• Top 10 Tips from NSKP athlete of the month!
Check this out (copy & paste in your browser):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxpitzSKhek