About Jim Walker

By jim on Monday, May 3, 2010 - Related Tags:- dream, jim

After 15 years of competing at a very high level I found myself wanting become more involved in my paddling outside of racing. I had coached for several years at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and found it extremely enjoyable.

After several years of coaching at the Surf Club I came across two boys who wanted to try kayaking. I was very reserved in my judgment of them taking up the sport and warned them just how hard Kayaking could be both mentally and physically. I wasn’t sure that they were going to be able to handle the work both on and off the water, but after two years they proved me wrong and went on to represent Australia and experience some great success paddling at world championships.

Having worked with the Michaels twins for two years and helped them achieve success in kayaking my break into professional coaching came. I was asked to be the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) head kayaking coach, an offer I was thrilled to accept.

After one season in this role everyone training in the squad won an Australian kayaking national medal, which was a very pleasing result after such a short period of time.

I thought the job was going well and believed this was reflected in the results on the water, however I soon found myself not pleasing everyone in the sport. So after some lengthy discussions with those close to me I took on a part time role (no such thing in coaching) with NSWIS and off we went again for another season.

2007 was a funny year in terms of coaching - I thought that we had done everything right on the water and the results showed that we had. What we didn’t do so well was prepare off the water, so at the end of the year it was back to the drawing boards to find new ways to improve as athletes.

The 2008 season soon rolled around and the focus for all involved was the Beijing Olympics.
Our preparation this year had to be spot on. My biggest fear was that my team wasn’t going to be mentally tough enough to get through the year. I knew, with a new program on the water, we could do it but it was what we were doing off the water that worried me the most.

So I came up with a new program that would test everyone both mentally and physically. We did race rehearsals every week, even when we were totally exhausted. This was part of my plan to ensure that no matter what was thrown at us we were ready both on and off the water. I can’t tell you as a coach how important it is to be mentally prepared for racing.

The 2008 season played out exactly as I had hoped it would, but the toughest time of my coaching career was still to come.

With the selection period just about finished I had two team members looking like they were going to make the Olympic team. I was one of the happiest people in town with a day to go in the selection trials.

But when I least expected it I was faced with the toughest challenge I have had to deal with as a coach. One of my team members, who we believed had qualified for Olympic Selection, was omitted from the team while the other was told he had to race off one on one with an overseas competitor three times to ensure he made the team. To his credit he overcame this challenge and went on to make the Olympic team while the other team member missed the team.

The toughest part for me as a coach was that I had become very close with both athletes and was now torn between the two! Do you console one or do you share the joy and excitement of making the Olympics with the other. A situation I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

The lesson I learnt from this situation is that you have to find equal time for both. After celebrating with one athlete I found myself eating Maccas with another – which was my true indication that I was consoling my friend.

Watching Tony competing at the Olympics was great and something both he and I will never forget.
Since the Olympics the focus of my coaching has been rebuilding our squad. I have lots of girls and young boys going very well and all share the same dream of going to the Olympics.

If they work hard they will get what they deserve. As long as they can put their heads on their pillow at night and say “YOU KNOW WHAT THAT’S THE BEST I CAN BE” then I have no doubt that they will be happy with whatever results come their way.

I have also begun doing lots of personal coaching with paddlers of all abilities. Whether it is out on my jet ski with paddlers chasing runners, which I love the most, or in the river doing video analysis I just want to help people paddle better.

If this website can help you improve and make you happier out on the water then it has been a great investment in my time.

Remember Time is where CHAMPIONS are born.

Yours in Paddling,

Jimmy Walker