Pre Season Review - Kimberley Woods
2025 Selections done and dusted! Over 2 different weekends and back at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham for the 2nd weekend. Fun to be back racing in C1 for the team as I was preselected for K1 and Kayak Cross, unfortunately I was ill in Nottingham for the last 2 races but still managed to do a job putting me onto the team for this year
Looking ahead, the season is now fast approaching. The Senior European Championships are starting on Thursday with the team events, followed by heats then semi’s/finals, onto kayak cross on Sunday. It is a strange feeling being back in Paris, the first session feeling some emotions around the finish line and remembering what it was like at the Olympics last summer but now it’s the Europeans and the game face is back on!
I want to fully enjoy this season starting in Paris and ending in Australia in October. Everyone talks about year 1 of the cycle and we didn’t quite get that post Olympic year because of the 3 years between Tokyo and Paris but this year I am giving myself opportunities to open some doors, gain some qualifications and work experience to explore different avenues and interests that can give me a platform to work with as I transition to retire….not just yet though!
It is a jam packed season with the Europeans, 5 world cups and the World Champs with a little of bits in between to enjoy paddling, getting my coaching qualifications and gaining some fun experiences before we have to lock back into this ‘Olympic cycle’. With these races I am also doing all 3 of my classes and with a new schedule too it will take a little getting used to with 1 run heats into top 30 then into top 12 for finals. The world championships will include the Kayak Cross Individual as another medal event alongside having the round 1 and repechage before slotting into the normal heats schedule. I have some redemption to make up from last years Europeans but most of all I want to enjoy being on the start-line again, no pressure and taking care of the basics to give myself the best opportunity.
It is also important to mention that it is Mental Health Awareness week this week (12th-18th May) and taking care of the basics doesn’t just mean warming up well and making sure I have my kit ready but also that my mind is ready to be myself out there. Taking care of my sleep, my social and down time. Getting outside and something I have done differently this trip is cycling to and from the course, something I do at home and it helps relieve a little of that possible traffic stress. It also just helps me able to have some time to myself to think about the session ahead of me with what I want to work on or get after and also reflect on my learnings on the cycle home before catching up over video.
You can catch all the racing over on the Canoe Europe youtube page and I will be posting a link to the results on my socials!
Good luck to everyone racing, there is always some first race of the season nerves but look ahead, be yourself and enjoy the moment!
Kimberley
