Freestyle kayak paddlers Georgia Clarke and Liam Dowd will represent Australia in the junior world championships in Argentina in November.
The Blue Mountains Grammar School students train at Penrith Whitewater Stadium under coach Jez Blanchard.
In 2015 they were also selected on the Australian team, competing in the world championships in Canada.
They’ve been working hard to prepare for the junior worlds, feeling fit and in form.
Liam, aged 17, has only been paddling for four years after a birthday present to undertake a flat water course. He liked it that much he took on a white water course where he was noticed by Blanchard.
“It’s freeing, a stress relief, relaxing to a point and fun,” Liam said.
Georgia, 16, also took up the sport four years ago when she let netball go and was looking for a new challenge.
“It’s so different to everything else. I love the adrenaline and doing all the cool tricks,” Georgia said.
At the championships, they will have a “feature” such as a wave or a hole, upon which they’ll be cramming as many tricks as they can into a 45 -second time slot.
That could include cartwheels, the space godzilla - a front flip with a 90 degree twist - or the phonics monkey, which is a 360 degree pirouette into a front flip.
The year 11 students regard the US, Canada and Great Britain as their main competition.
