Kayak silver medallist Luuka Jones has credited the introduction of kayak cross for reigniting her passion for the sport.
Kayak cross, a more physical event than K1, in which Jones won silver at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, isn't for the faint hearted.
"It's kind of like BMX — you're launching off a ramp, jostling for position. It's a contact sport, there's so much going on and so much strategy involved, and a lot of power as well, so it's very different to classic slalom," said Jones.
The 35-year-old won last month's World Cup on the Olympic course in Paris. It's been a long journey back to the top of the podium after struggling with long Covid.
"I had so much self doubt at some points — I just kept having setback after setback, so to come back and to feel strong and win that event was amazing."
After racing internationally for 17 years the introduction of kayak cross has come at the right time.
She will compete in both kayak cross and K1 at next year's Olympics.
"I think when you've done it for a long time you need these new things and it's been a real blessing that this event has come in for the first time. It's an event that I'm good at, it's an event that I love racing so it's definitely brought a new element to training."
Paddling around buoys both up and downstream, as well as the compulsory eskimo roll, means many skills to perfect.
"I have quite a lot of experience balancing two events because I did the canoe category in Tokyo so I'm taking a bit from that, but I'm trying to split it 50/50."
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