Interview:
Peter Tranter

Photos:
Pete Astles,
Peak PS &
Ben Haylett

A chat with… Ben Haylett

Derby-born Ben Haylett made his first senior appearance in 2021 at the World Cup Final in Pau, aged 20, and has since become an established performer at the under-23 level for TeamGB. In 2023, he won bronze in the kayak team event at the European Under-23 Championships in Bratislava with Sam Leaver and David Paterson and finished sixth in the individual K1. This was capped in the 2024 U23 Europeans in Krakow with two gold medals, so we thought it was time to catch up with one of GB’s most promising athletes. Take it away, Ben…

Before we start, please tell our readers a little about yourself, your family, your background, where you come from, etc.
I grew up with my parents in Breaston, Derbyshire. I wasn’t a particularly sporty kid, but I always enjoyed playing and watching sports at any opportunity. School wasn’t my strong point, but I got it done and finished my education with my A-Levels at Friesland School.

Tell us about your early days of slalom – when did you discover the sport, what appealed to you and what caused the bug to bite?
I began at age eight at Bramcote Swimming Baths, having found a leaflet and done two six-week taster courses with Rich Ramsdale on behalf of HPPCC. I loved being in the pool splashing around with friends after school, and this quickly progressed to the lake at HPP, where we spent many hours on the weekends before slowly progressing onto the flat water gates, moving water, etc.

Once I had made it onto the regional pathways around 12, I really started to find a love for the competition, not just for recreation. Competing and progressing was an incredible experience, and it’s what hooked me. I remember my dad speaking to me after a bad race, asking if it was what I wanted to do and that they would support me regardless of my choice. And from that moment, I decided I was all in and wanted to be the best.

Tell us about the kayak, the kit you use, and why.
I race Galasport Caipi Fins, use RAAB x16L Paddles, and wear Peak PS kit. I am very keen on looking after my kit, as it’s a sign of respect to yourself and others, keeping it in good condition, and obviously, it’s a performance aid if it’s in good condition. I am on the Peak team as of this year and love representing them, being spoilt with the highest-quality kit at my disposal and their support!

Tell us about the spots you tend to paddle/train the most frequently, and where is your favourite?
I live and train at Lee Valley WWC, following my move here to be part of the UK Sport-funded World Class Olympic Programme at the start of 2020. However, My favourite venue would be Pau-Pyrénées Whitewater Stadium or Penrith White Water Centre in Australia! I loved that both venues had such different sections and felt like you could get really high-quality training done with them having so much variety to offer

How different is your training for Kayak Cross from that of slalom itself?
We don’t do as much volume as in slalom due to the highly physical nature and the aggression involved with the contact. However, a lot of the training is tailored to improve in both classes, such as physical acceleration, endurance, and strength work, with different targets at different times in the year, depending on which discipline has a competition coming up. It’s never easy to balance; however, the team here at Lee Valley is very experienced in getting the best out of its athletes.

Take us through your mindset when preparing for a race.
Every race is an opportunity to showcase your skills. My mindset is to approach everything calmly and deliberately and allow yourself to be present in each moment to allow you to react to the situations without distractions. Balancing the desire to win with being calm is difficult but adds to the challenge when approaching a race.

What do you consider to be the most challenging manoeuvre in slalom?
The hardest thing is piecing together a world-class run from top to bottom. Many are capable of doing it in training, on shorter courses or even on just a couple of gates, but being able to put together 95 seconds of canoeing that is competitive with the best in the world when the pressure to perform is there is a skill that people are forever searching for.

What’s the one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring slalomer just starting?
Watch, paddle with and talk to as many top athletes as possible – we don’t bite! I Would recommend it as a really great way to get insight into how to approach everything from day-to-day training to race-day mentality and performing on the world stage.

You are one of GB’s most promising paddlers – does one past competition stand out the most?
The U23 Europeans in Krakow stand out, and I walked away from it as a double European champion in teams and slalom. It is a day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life as my first medal; however, I was fortunate enough to share it with my Parents, who always supported me.

Who are your role models, and who/what keeps you motivated?
My role models are the people around me and those I hold close, such as my family. This, in turn, keeps me motivated, alongside the constant desire to be the best in the world that started to brew in me from a young age.

What would a typical food day be for you from breakfast to supper?
For breakfast, porridge, banana honey, raisins plus juice, coffee plus one-litre of water. A protein snack post training plus carbohydrate plus water. Lunch is high-carb, e.g., leftover pasta and a protein or four eggs on toast with salad plus fruit. Then coffee and water pre-session with a snack and protein hit post-second session, plus water. Dinner is high-carb dinner, again, e.g., chicken and chorizo pasta plus water plus fruit. Averaging around 3,500 calories per day so as to maintain.

Which river anywhere in the world would be on your bucket list?
The Kaituna is definitely up there, having seen other athletes running it.

As for the training venues, which is your favourite?
Penrith is one of the best. The weather, facilities and white water make for a great place to improve. The flat water is excellent for physicals, and the gym is close by and well-kitted out. It’s like being at home! In addition, having a lot of the world’s best head out there in the winter months makes for a mega training and competing environment.

Is there anywhere in the world that’s got you hooked, somewhere you want to return to again and again?
I would love to go to Australia and explore New Zealand more. Although I have never been there, I loved the culture and feel of life in Australia, and would love to explore that side of the world properly.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
I would love to still be involved in canoe slalom at the highest level. I aspire to be a performance coach, but unfortunately, by the time I’m 43, I think my athlete days might be slightly behind me!

OK – life isn’t all about kayaking – so what else interests you when you get the time?
I love spending my time coaching – I’m still canoeing. Like most people, I love a quiet weekend on the sofa watching the sport or cooking a good dinner for friends.

I am a rugby watcher by heart, following my dad’s love for it, so I often spend the weekends with the Six Nations when it’s on. Travelling with my Girlfriend Phoebe is also something we try to plan as an escape, and we love exploring all over the world.

Quickfire questions:

If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Bastien Damiens.

Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Alan Richson – Jack Reacher.

Are you a bathroom/shower singer, and if so, what do you sing?
Shower singer all day – party in the USA.

An ideal night out for you is?
A few drinks with friends.

What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
Superyacht.

What would I find in your fridge right now?
Half a gammon leg and lots of chicken and veg but no milk; I need to go to the shops.

What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?
Sunday roast – Haylett’s speciality.

What is your favourite sports team?
Nottingham Forest.

What three words would you use to describe you?
Driven, caring and passionate.

Who are your kayaking buddies?
I have been fortunate to have met many friends along the way to where I am now, but my closest ones are Peter Linkstead, Tommy Mayer, Soph Oglivie, Mal, Ciaran Edwards, and Lois Leaver – as well as my girlfriend Phoebe, of course!

Any final shout-outs to friends, supporters and sponsors?
As always, my family, friends, and the team that surrounds me daily, such as my coach Ciaran, keep me on the straight and narrow, day-to-day.

Huge thanks, Ben, and all the very best for what will be a very bright future.