Mike Ballard terms challenging Paracanoe World Cup a 'learning experience'

Mike Ballard termed the weather-curtailed ICF Paracanoe World Cup a “phenomenal learning experience”.

The Abu Dhabi-based kayaker missed out competing in a B-final at the event in Poland, after strong winds led to a number of races being cancelled on Saturday.

A day earlier, the Michigan-born paddler had finished his KL Men’s 200m semi-final in 57.30 seconds.

That time was faster than that which he had registered in far more docile conditions in previous competitions.

For the second day in a row, his race was followed shortly after by a suspension in racing because of choppy water and strong winds.

Ballard himself saw a fellow competitor capsize in the lane next to his in his semi-final.

The United States representative said the event in Poznan had been a world away from what he was used to training on the water at Al Zeina in the UAE capital.

“Day 1 was a nightmare – flat-out danger, and they called it off after two people capsized,” Ballard said.

“Day 2 was still bad, but the wind was a little bit less. After being out there on the opening day, I had a really good idea of what the water would be doing.

Mike Ballard took delivery of a new kayak ergometer this week, as his bid to compete at the Paralympics in Tokyo received a boost from Abu Dhabi Harlequins. Courtesy: Mike Ballard

“I had a gameplan and I executed it. I was really happy to get down the course faster than at the USA trials and [in Paralympic qualifying] in Hungary.

“It is tough to tell the significance of the times because of the way the wind was blowing, and it felt like we were on a conveyor belt, but I was happy.”

How frequently the world’s leading paddlers will have to compete in such extreme conditions is unclear, but Ballard was grateful to have