Mike DAWSON (NZL)
New Zealand
Age:
38 years
Languages:
English
Federation:
NEW ZEALAND CANOEING FEDERATION INC.
Biography
Further Personal Information
NICKNAME
Mike
PREV. NAMES
Michael John DAWSON
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
Okere Falls, New Zealand
OCCUPATION
Athlete
WHEN/WHERE DID YOU START CANOEING/ KAYAKING?
2000
REASON FOR TAKING UP THE SPORT
When I was a kid we used to spend our summer mucking around in the water.
My brother introduced me to kayaking when I was 13 & took me out on the
river. It was rad - the feeling of riding the power of the river is addictive -
now days it's as much a part of my life as walking, eating & breathing.
Slalom is continually evolving, you push yourself to a certain limit and once
you're there someone innovates and pushes it to a new level. It's addictive
HOBBIES
Skiing, Photography, Creeking, exploring the world
CLUB
Okere Falls Canoe Club
NAME OF COACH
Campbell Walsh
NATIONALITY OF YOUR COACH
Scottish
SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN COACHED BY HIM/ HER?
2014
TRAINING REGIME
Training and living in New Zealand means training in paradise. We're lucky
to be able to mix training on artificial with running some of the best rivers in
the world in the middle of an incredibly beautiful environment. On the flipside
it means we have a hectic travel schedule basing in Europe for most of the year
to get time on the Northern Hemisphere courses and racing the world cups.
My paddling is all about feeling and flow, learning and enjoying. I love getting out and spending time being stoked on the water.
My paddling is all about feeling and flow, learning and enjoying. I love getting out and spending time being stoked on the water.
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT YEAR
2005
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COUNTRY
Australia
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COMPETITION
World Championships
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT LOCATION
Sydney
PREFERRED POSITION / STANCE / STYLE / TECHNIQUE
Radical Ups
TRAINING PARTNER(S)
Vavra Hradilek, Martina Wegman, Zack Mutton, Vit Prindis
HERO/IDOL
Roger Federer
SPORTING PHILOSOPHY/ MOTTO
Be Stoked
FAVOURITE PADDLING COURSE
All of them. Every course is unique and brings it's on strengths. I'm
grateful for the opportunity to get a chance to paddle and race on so many. For
me it's about the people around the course that make it, rather than the water
itself.
FAVOURITE FOOD
Milk
FAVOURITE MUSIC
Acoustic Covers
AMBITIONS
To do something epic every day
OTHER INFORMATION
Other kayaking interests include expedition and whitewater kayaking - often
traveling after the Slalom season has finished (October/November) to paddling in
destinations such as chile, Africa, Uganda, Mexico ... etc.
To break up the length of the european season I enjoy getting back to the roots of kayaking by competing in extreme kayaking events through-out Europe/USA and wrapping up the season competing for the Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championships crown.
To break up the length of the european season I enjoy getting back to the roots of kayaking by competing in extreme kayaking events through-out Europe/USA and wrapping up the season competing for the Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championships crown.
