MIKE DAWSON a star in extreme kayak

D. Mike, how did this passion of yours for freeriding start?
Freeriding is kayaking.. I began paddling in a plastic kayak with my brother on the local river, and that's all everyone did. We trained slalom, but only on the flat water. Each weekend we would go on a trip to do some waterfalls or rivers around where I lived. After a few years we started trying to explore the creeks around that hadn't been run. Since then it's been a juggling act between finding time to train slalom, butnot missing out on expeditions and river trips around NZ and the world. I think this kind of kayaking [free-riding] is what drives me to keep paddling everyday. Just getting on a new river or running a new
rapid or racing in a competiton! It's what it's all about.

 D. What is your typical day as an athlete like, what is your routine, how long do you train?

My day as a athlete is a bit different from most free-ride kayakers. I'm spending a lot of time in my slalom kayak training for the european season and ultimately the olympics. But pretty much I spend morning and
night in my kayak and during the day some gym or running some kind of cross-training out of the boat. I also try to have a day out of the water each week, just to let my body recover a little to stay injury
free. I guess time wise, 3-5hrs a day

D. What competitions will you be taking part in during the 2010 season, what
are your plans?
2010 is going to be awesome! A lot of races. A lot of trips.I'll compete in the Teva Mountain Games (USA) Teva Extreme Outdoor Games ITA, Slovenian Outdoor show (SLO), and Sickline World Kayaking Champs at
the end of the season in Austria. Between these I'm going to race in the Slalom World Cups and World Champs.The expeditions I'm planning, 1 to iceland, 1 to Norway later in the season so we can get some low water runs! and then at the end of the year hopefully to Chile, or North America for the green race. And then the NZ summer will be back!!

 D. What do you remember as the best time for you during last year's Tava Extreme Outdoor Games?
The Extreme out door games is just that. Extreme. The best part for me was the top 20 shoot out! The fact that we raced on a course that scared us. Some of the best whitewater in the world, and we got to compete against the clock and eachother! That was awesome. Plus the atmosphere! It's unreal in Italy.

D. What do you expect from the next edition?
Much of the same hopefully! Good water, nice lines, awesome competition, party, people. If it's better than last year it's going to be unreal! I'm looking forward to getting back Italy this summer!