Words: Chris Brain

Photos: Submitted from Paddler’s own collections

Chris Brain

Chris Brain Bio
Chris has been paddling and coaching for over 25 years and runs his own business, Chris Brain Coaching, delivering coaching, safety and rescue courses. Chris would like to thank Palm Equipment, Dagger Kayaks Europe and VE Paddles for their continued support. www.chrisbraincoaching.com

The habits of high-performing paddlers: On the water

In the first part of this series, (https://paddlerezine.com/high-performing-paddlers-1), we identified a broad definition of a high-performing paddler and asked paddlers who felt they fit the criteria to share their experience. We asked them to reflect on their development in the sport and the characteristics that help them excel.

• The paddlers who responded in some way fit into the following criteria.
• National/international level competitive paddler.
• Longevity in the sport at a higher level of personal performance.
• First or challenging descents/trips.
• Innovative or groundbreaking in their discipline or sport.
• Recognised as a high-performance paddler/discipline expert or coach.

Having received responses from a wide range of paddlers in a full range of disciplines, this information has been challenging to analyse, as so many paddlers have clearly had such individual journeys. The following three chapters are based on the results of the information received and the common trends between these amazing paddlers.
Goals, motivations, focus, drive

A common thread amongst these high-performing paddlers is a powerful intrinsic motivation. Their drive is not simply about winning or being the best amongst their peers; it’s about a continuous quest for self-improvement and a profound connection to their sport. This internal desire to exceed previous limits is a powerful fuel for the consistent effort required to be the best that they can be. The collective responses reveal a fascinating spectrum of motivation rooted in personal challenge and enjoyment.

A common theme for most paddlers’ early development stage was personal enjoyment and simply being out with other paddlers, whilst learning the relevant paddling skills. Most responses referenced fun as being an early key motivator, which was regularly combined with adventure into environments that were not yet known to them. Added to this, the social side of paddling, particularly good role models, seemed to be referenced many times. A key factor in the success of many of these paddlers appears to be getting on the water with others who have more experience or more skills.

It seems that for many paddlers, their current motivations for getting on the water are still similar to those from when they were just starting. Many stated that fun, enjoyment and social elements are all still really important. It also seemed that the ability to develop and improve continually was still a high motivator for most, and these paddlers are still making progress!

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations
Our responders said that achieving peak performance usually starts with a large amount of outside help, but that you really do need to be self-motivated to keep going and to keep improving. The high-performing paddlers we surveyed confirmed that social connections and structured environments were crucial in their early years. Many paddlers initially noted the importance of “A coach” as “Highly important” and “A great environment to paddle” as essential. Having access to a nearby paddling spot and easy access to facilities are important for personal development. It seems to be a common trend among many that they benefited from structured club environments where they could easily borrow equipment and get onto the water regularly.

However, as these paddlers develop into the sport, there is certainly seen to be less reliance on an external coach and more focus on paddlers’ self-coaching and refining their skills with their peers.  Where a coach was involved at this stage, it was more as a tool to sharpen skills they had already developed, and using the coach to help them get the edge they were looking for. This varied by location, with paddlers focusing on more competitive disciplines where the coach played a crucial role in their development.

The move towards a deeper, more personal connection with the sport is a very common trend among elite performers. For some, a strong initial desire to compete was noted, which was seen as a way to test and benchmark skills and give purpose to skill development. However, for many, the longer-term motivation comes from the joy of being on the water, the satisfaction of a perfectly executed move, and the fulfilment of a personal goal. As one paddler, Cal Major, noted, their motivation comes from “The feeling of being on the water.” The reward, therefore, is in the challenge itself, not just the outcome.

Training on the water
It was clear to see that the time these paddlers spend in the boat is not just about getting wet, but is often carefully planned so that they can work on something specific. For many paddlers, their water time seemed to be characterised by consistency and purpose, with many setting goals to achieve during the session. In some instances, it appeared that there was less formality in setting the goals for the session, and these might not be known until they were at the water.

However, in other instances, these goals were formed well before getting in a boat.  There were, of course, variations between the competitive and non-competitive paddlers, but the commonality between the two was that there was purposeful practice.  It seemed that many of the paddlers had experience in paddling in some kind of competitive form and that they used this approach to shape their training, attempting to make small gains and improvements even on their more informal paddling sessions.

It is worth mentioning that virtually all of the paddlers who responded either currently or have previously used training in other disciplines of paddlesport to enhance their performance in their preferred discipline. For example, many of the freestyle-based paddlers who responded highlighted that they commonly work on flat water sprints in either a race or whitewater boat and that some of the sea kayak-based paddlers also paddled whitewater to help them develop their rough water handling skills.

Once again, this demonstrates the desire to make training sessions on the water truly effective and purposeful, ensuring that, wherever possible, they are always making progress towards becoming a better paddler.

Frequency of Water Time
The sheer volume of water time is arguably the most striking habit of the paddlers. The majority of the high-performing paddlers surveyed dedicate a significant amount of time on the water each week. It was very common for most of these paddlers to be on the water a minimum of four times a week, with many commenting that they paddle virtually every day.  Something that surprised me was that this paddling wasn’t always confined to their own discipline, but often took place in other forms of paddlesport as well. Even if a whitewater paddler couldn’t get out on the river every day, they would take their freestyle boat to some flatwater for a play session or get a longer boat out and go for a distance paddle.

It seems that this frequency of time on the water is fundamental and that paddling more regularly seems to be more common than paddling for long periods of time over fewer sessions.

In conclusion, the habits of high-performing paddlers on the water are characterised by intrinsic motivation, a commitment to purposeful practice, and an impressive amount of water time! It’s clear that while the external rewards for many can be motivating factors, the long-lasting drive comes from within, from a love of the challenge and a dedication to the continuous pursuit of mastery.

Next time
In our next article, we will step off the water to examine the equally critical habits of these athletes in their daily lives, exploring the lifestyle choices and sacrifices that support their performance.