Michele Eray (USA) is a former South African paddler who has competed at the very highest levels of the sport across multiple displines.  The 36-year-old won the 2013 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships and also competed in Canoe Sprint at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Michele is now working full time in America for Team USA Canoe Sprint, but still loves Ocean Racing and will be in Tahiti to attempt to defend gold in the Pacific.

Question: What has changed since 2013?

Michele: For me personally I have moved to the USA, to work for the Canoeing Federation. So I am living away from the ocean for the first time in my life, and my job is pretty full on, so definitely not as much time to train as I would like, and I hardly get onto my surfski which is sad! 

Question: Do you keep the focus in the ocean racing discipline?

Michele: My focus will always be ocean racing, as it is my first love. I do all the disciplines – river, marathon (and I used to sprint) just to add variety and keep it fresh, but the ski is my favourite. Right now though, my focus is my job, and not my own paddling.

Question: What have been your canoeing preparation and activity for the past two years?

Michele:  I have managed to race a little bit, a few events per year. I am at a different phase of my life now.

Question: Are you competing in Tahiti? What is the main goal for 2015?

Michele: I am going to Tahiti, my main goal is to have fun, of course I would love to defend my title, but realistically, I have not had that much chance to train. I will always give it my best shot though!

Question: Do you know the Tahiti course? what are your expectations?

Michele:  I was in Tahiti last year for the Maraamu race in Bora Bora. I have not seen the course, but the country is beautiful, and I can’t wait to go back!

Question: Has surfski and ocean racing discipline changed since the 2013 World Championships in your opinion? What were the most significant changes?

Michele: The sport is changing, more people are getting involved, and the competition is getting stronger, also in the women’s division. For me, it is a lifestyle, and not just a sport, the friends I have made all over the world feel like family, and the sport itself, being out in the ocean, is so much a part of my life I can’t imagine living without it.