Kim Woods Reports back from Australia

Posted By: Peak UK Published: 19/02/2019

It was a great opportunity to go to Australia again for a block of winter training, our focus was to hit training really hard and make the most out of the warm weather, although some days it was too hot!

We touched down on the 19th January (a Saturday), and it was all about rest and recovery before training on Monday. it was also important to try and fight the jetlag and not sleep. I was staying there for 3 weeks, making use of every day and not loosing any precious winter training time. Others on the camp planned to hang around for an extra week and race at the Australian Open.

Image - Joe Clarke

The first day of training is always the hardest with feeling jetlagged, and for myself I had 4 sessions; short speed session on the flat into technical progressives on the water, straight into gym with then a rest for paddling again in the afternoon. Rest and recovery were my top priority, which may have included a long nap!

It was the first time I had worn my European winner short ST Racer Pro since the senior world championships in Rio last season and it felt good to be back in it. The memories from being at the course and the heartache that came with the results just made all the feelings come rushing back although my determination to not let that happen again really took over this winter and I was carrying this through on this trip.

The days were rainy when we first arrived but felt great to still be in 30 degree heat, although when training it was very humid and you are constantly sweating and paddling in what felt like a bath. But then you think about the people back at home in the cold and snow and you feel lucky to be training in the warmth, even if it is like a sauna!

It got busier and busier as the weeks went on with the Australian Open taking part on the 15-17th Feb it was great to see so many people again since the season and I was inspired by how many C1W were at the race, 46! That is just as many as there is at world cups which was amazing to see. Being able to train alongside other people from other nations was a great change of scenery. As a team we are all training around each other everyday at Lee Valley, so it was great to get the head out of that environment a bit and explore what others were doing from around the world.

The biggest highlight of the trip for me was the quality of training just from being out in the sun and not being a tiny bit ill from traveling which is one big thing that I have been trying to tackle this winter so we are taking it full force with no sessions missed. You almost feel that 10% lighter and quicker just from having your arms out in the sun too (I hope I’m not the only one who thinks this!).

It is now back to the reality of the cold and I am internally grateful for the opportunity to have been to Australia again for a hard block of training and I have now packed the shorty cag’s away and back in the long winter ST which has made a big difference this winter. Thanks to Peak for the support over the years and for the European Champion design ST for us champions to allow ourselves to have something like this to remember our achievements by that isn’t just the medal!

Words & Images - Kim Woods