The Australian Canoe Sprint team have had a dominant performance at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on Scarborough Beach in Perth.
Backing up from the 2023 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint Championships at Champion Lakes, the athletes enjoyed an opportunity to get in some more racing and managed to win a few Australian titles along the way.
Dual Olympic kayakers Aly Bull (Alexandra Headland) and Riley Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe) both took gold in the prestigious Open Surf Ski titles.
“That was the perfect race for me. I think we were all feeling pretty nervous for that one,” Fitzsimmons said.
“You come into those ski finals and it’s a really good opportunity to have a crack at it. I knew once I had a good start, I just had to keep going with the momentum.
“It was a red hot field, this one means a lot,” he said.
Fitzsimmons’ K4 teammates Noah Havard (North Bondi) and Jackson Collins (Kurrawa) rounded out the Open Male Single Ski podium. Fellow Australian squad member Fletcher Armstrong finished 16th, with Pierre van der Westhuyzen (Mermaid Beach) just missing the final at his Aussies debut.
“I’ve had a bit of a hiatus from Aussies with the Olympics and some injuries last season, so I’m super happy to be back,” Bull said.
There was a lot of pressure on the kayakers, I know that we paddle in the flat, and when it’s as flat as it is today there’s a bit of pressure on. But it’s nice to be able to put the foot down and just go, that one was special,” she said.
Ella Beere (Avoca Beach) finished third in the Open Female Single Ski Final, with Ally Clarke (Surfers Paradise) picking up fourth.
Natalia Drobot, the youngest member of the Australian team, raced for her beloved Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club, winning two gold medals, including the U19 Female Single Ski crown.
“It means a lot – coming from Avoca there’s only a small number of us here,” Drobot said.
“Just putting the cap on and racing for them is special, and getting a win for them as well makes it incredible. I think definitely in these flat conditions, my kayaking training has paid off a lot.
“I’m super happy to have these conditions…I know everyone else loves to have a big surf but for a kayaker it’s a dream out there,” she said.
Earlier in the week, Drobot teamed up with Avoca Beach clubmate and fellow Australia kayaker to win gold in the Open Female Double Ski.
“Coming into this event we had no expectations on us because this is our first carnival of the year,” Drobot said.
“Coming away with two golds is just incredible, it’s a bonus. Being here, with everyone, is a win already and having the medals just adds to it.
“It means a lot to even be allowed to do this carnival as a kayaker, I’m feeling very lucky,” she said.
