Amber Maslen

Read on to find out a bit more on Amber and he Canoeing career:

Q How did you first become involved in your sport? I have been kayaking a lot longer than I have been doing canoe slalom, and I was introduced to it quite late by my coach, Steve Macdonald. I remember being delighted that the new kind of boat was very fast and easy to surf in, and not so happy that it pretty much broke if you set it on the ground too hard.

Q Did you ever play any other sport? If so, what made you change to your
current sport? I used to be a competitive swimmer, until the demands of slalom training and the closing of the pool meant I had to choose what to become serious about. I have always loved any water sports, and kayaking for me holds a thrill nothing else can give, with the precision, adrenalin, competitiveness and other paddlers mixing to give an amazing ride.

Q What are your best results so far (please list any records held)? I came first at the Division 1 competition in the beginning of the year, held at Shepperton, and just last weekend (11th and 12th July) I came second on the Saturday, giving me my best five results of the season and getting me promoted to premier division.

Q What is a typical training regime for a ‘normal’ week? Its packed this summer! On a Monday, I have strength and conditioning at Bells Sports Centre as well as on Wednesdays and soon to be Fridays too. On Tuesdays, I make it to Grandtully as early as possible, and train on the water normally from about 4.30 til 7ish. On Thursdays, I do the same and make it to Grandtully to train in my boat, and the session can last from between 1 and a half to 2 hours. On Friday mornings I go to Tully again before school and train with Steve Macdonald. On weekends I am
either racing, or on a training camp either in Tully or Nottingham, and in between these sessions there is of course the recreational paddling I love!

Q What has been your best sporting experiences so far? To be honest the whole ride has been the best. I love the high pressure events, the intensive training camps and then the social banter after the work. I think my best memory of slalom so far has been the team races with the other girl paddlers on the squad, Kira Grant and Alice Haining, as they are so low pressure and just a great laugh for everyone.

Q Do you have any pre-event superstitions or rituals? Doesn’t everyone? Mine have changed to suit me throughout the seasons, but the general plan is to think through the course before I get in my boat, eat a couple of jelly cubes for energy, and then try to totally clear my mind and just not think about the course until im in the start pool waiting to be beeped off. So far, its worked!

Q Do you have time for other sports or hobbies? I think one of the qualities you need to have as a slalom paddler or indeed as any other athlete is time management skills. Getting a balance between training, school work and your social life is tricky, but as long as you have the priorities clear in your head, its easy to manage and get the most out of this lifestyle.

Q Technique or physical - which do you spend most time working on to
improve? The sessions of strength and conditioning in the gym are designed to
improve and sustain our physical strength, flexibility and power, and aerobic sessions on the water our endurance and stamina. However I think that my main area for attention lies in technique on the water, and this is where I work hardest to improve fast.

Q Who has/have had the biggest influence on you as an athlete? And why? Well... Throughout my little time in slalom, I can honestly say the paddlers I’m on the water with have had the biggest influence on me. Unlike friends at school, they see you in situations of stress, tears, frustration and at the end of your physical endurance, and we all deal with that as a team and nothing else. Everyone pitches in, and support you through everything. I love paddling with the Scottish team, they have all inspired me to get to the top and make them proud.

Q What's the best piece of advice you have been given? One of the best bits of advice I have ever been given was after a frustrating session, where nothing seemed to be improving and everything felt like it was going wrong. So my mum took me aside and said, ‘‘stop over-complicating it - just go through the middle of every gate, and just think about the water’’. The same advice has been given to me by every member of the squad, and its what gets me moving when things feel slow.

Q Where do you get your inspiration and motivation from? The people, firstly. They drive me to want the best, and work hard to achieve it. I’ve watched their successes and failures, and they’ve been with me through every one of mine. And I learn every second of the way. I also love the lifestyle, every session is different and leaves me wanting more.