Olympic canoe slalom paddler Jessica Fox has relished returning to training at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, after two months of home workouts.
"I was stoked and it was great to be back on the whitewater. It was pure joy despite the cold and wind," the former Blaxland High student said.
"I just feel so grateful to be back on the water and looking forward to getting back to work."
It's the longest time Fox has spent away from the water since she was 12 years old.
During the lockdown, Fox stayed fit with home gym workouts focusing on core work and using elastics, and paddling on the Nepean River.
"I have also done flatwater sprint boat paddling on the Nepean River and some flatwater gates in the canoe. There's been more variety which has been nice and I feel like I've made the most of the situation and focused on the things I could do with what I had," she said.
"But I definitely missed the element of fun and play that I got a lot from the whitewater and missed training with and seeing teammates."
It will be the first Australian winter at home for Fox who contests the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup season in Europe at this time of year, and having a world-class course on her door step will be essential to get the necessary whitewater training in.
"For now the expectation is to ease back into whitewater with a couple of sessions a week, we are uncertain of what it will look like longterm, but we are just taking it week by week and hopefully will be increasing the number of sessions," Fox said.
