Interview with Ben Rake
This week I interviewed Australian Marathon representative
Ben Rake, Ben is a hard worker and does everything he can to be infront of his
competition (even pushing them into trees). Ben Currently lives in the
Australian Capital of Canberra. He has also just started his own business with
one of his mates (friend) called Terra et Mare Fitness, I have attached the
link below for you to check it out. If you have any questions for Ben or myself
please leave them below. ALSO if there is anyone that you would like me to interview and have questions for them please leave a comment or email me.Thank you very much
What paddling disciplines
do you compete in (events, distance)?
I compete in marathon kayaking, I’ve recently stepped to 31 Km this
year, normally I’m a 25Km kinda person so the step up was a good leap!
How Long have you
been paddling for?
I’ve been paddling full time for the last 5 years, which is paddling
terms means that I am still a very new paddler! Lots to learn and a long way
from having the perfect race.
What motivates you
to train day in day out, especially through the cold Canberra winters?
For me I just want to be able to have the perfect race, every time I
train I want to directly help me on my way to achieving that goal, everyone
seems to hate paddling in the cold, I think after the first two winters you get
used to it, sure jumping on the water in winter when it’s -5 and dark is hard
sometimes but seeing a perfect sunrise and completely glassy water is an
amazing experience that never gets old!
What has been your
greatest sporting achievement?
I got a 3rd last year at Nationals in 2014, for me this was a
great achievement I made the selection requirements for world champs which was
my main goal going into the race! Besides that I won my local U8s soccer comp
back in the day!
What are you goals
for 2015/2016?
My 2015 National season is now finished, I know have a bunch of state
and local races that I am using to work on the big weakness in my racing in
2014 due to training for world champs in a K2 I missed a lot of racing in a K1
and I had a massive stint of doing a lot of training and no racing! For the
rest of the year I just need to get the races under my belt for the 2016
season. 2016 has nationals in April which is now the main goal, from that race
the rest of the year will be planned out, whether it be 2016 word champs or
something else!
If there is anyone
you could train with whom would it be and why?
Tough question! Certainly being able to train with my coach Clint
Robinson all year round would be great, he’s achieved pretty much everything in
kayaking! The other two would be Ben Brown and Hank McGregor, both have
been/currently are marathon kayak world champs and are both extremely tactical
in the way they race which is weakness for me!
If you weren’t
kayaking what other sports would you do?
If I didn’t choose kayaking or I ever injured myself and couldn’t paddle
again I think certainly distance running! My Dad was a great distance runner
and can still go out and run extremely fast, I’m built like a distance runner
and despite what Ryan will tell you I think I could be good at it!
Do you have any
tips for people that are just starting to paddle?
Give it time! It’s not going to happen overnight, focus on having the
perfect technique from day 1! Find a group to train with and work hard. Make
sure you are having fun with it! If you aren’t really enjoying it than you
shouldn’t do it! Always make sure you have a good life balance! Don’t forget
that when racing if you can’t beat them then where as many pretty colours as
possible….be a streamline butterfly!
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