Cambridge kayaker Nick Collier takes a break from studying to train on the Waikato River near the low level bridge. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins.
Cambridge kayaker Nick Collier will fly to China on Christmas Day to compete at the Nujiang Wildwater Canoeing International Open.
“It’s a truly incredible opportunity, I couldn’t be more excited to compete,” said the 20-year-old, who said the trip had come as a “massive surprise”.
Collier had just returned from a three-month summer training stint overseas when he received the invite from the Chinese Canoe Association.
“It was a result of my medal winning result at the U23 world championships earlier this year, but it was certainly not the flow-on effect I was expecting,” he said.
Collier won silver in the men’s kayak cross event at the 2023 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Krakow, Poland in August.
He will compete in the men’s K1 short distance, K1 long distance, kayak cross and K1 challenge disciplines in Baoshan, China, and said he was feeling strong and confident.
“Fortunately, I was already in full swing with my training, preparing for the New Zealand Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross team selection races when I got the invite.”
Three other New Zealand athletes – River Mutton, Dayla Ward and Millier Chamberlain – would join him in the New Zealand team.
“This will be my first competition in Asia, and I only know a few of the other competitors from the 14 other nations attending, so it’s hard to gauge how I’ll stack up,” he said.
“But I know I’ve done the hard yards in preparation and as long as I can perform at my best I’ll be stoked.”
Cambridge kayaker Nick Collier with his medal. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins
