Tristan Carter looks set for a big 2016 after completing a clean sweep of the junior men’s C1 and K1 selection trials at the Australian Open on Sunday.
 
The Melbourne Canoe Club paddler joins elite company in achieving eight race wins from eight starts and was obviously pleased with his start to 2016.
 
“It is a good benchmark to build off for the remainder of the year,” Carter said.
 
Since making his ICF Junior World Championship debut in 2014 aged 15, Carter as progressed nicely each year by improving from 24th to 13th in Brazil last year.
 
Now 17, Carter admits to being a much more mature athlete and has as a stronger mental approach to his racing.
 
“I definitely feel a lot better. I think it is just maturity as I was still really young last year and just trying to find my feet a bit and I am starting to feel where I stand and how to do with bigger races like this,” Carter said.
 
“I feel more relaxed now as I am taking a different mindset, now I am trying to lay back under pressure and do my own thing.”
 
The Victorian Institute of Sport paddler has enjoyed racing against some of the world's best, with Australian Open C1 champion Matej Benus someone that Carter looks up to.
 
“With me being a junior it is really good because there are a lot of guys out there that are my mentors and that I aspire to and it is just really great seeing them in person and seeing what they are like on my home course here in Penrith,” Carter said.
 
“My two favourite people I like to watch are Benjamin Savsek and Matej Benus, they are my two mentors really.”
 
Carter will represent Australia at the ICF canoe slalom Junior World Championships in Poland from 13 to 17 July.

2016 Australian Junior Canoe Slalom Team

C1 men – Tristan Carter (VIC), Lachlan Bassett (VIC) & Timothy Coward (WA).
K1 men – Tristan Carter (VIC), Timothy Coward (WA) & Louis Richardson (WA).
K1 women – Kira Wall (WA), Nina Mueller (WA) & Alexandria Choate (WA).
C1 women – Billie Knell (WA), Alexandria Choate (WA) & Kira Wall (WA).

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