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Whitewater wonder

27Mar08

Alison Borrows powers through the water during a training session.

ALISON Borrows learned to paddle on flat water but the gates began to open when she graduated to white water.

The 15-year-old from Lapstone followed her father and older brothers into canoe slalom three years ago.

She is the reigning under-16 Australian National Champion and this week's nominee for the Penrith Press Junior Sports Star of the year.

"I first got into a canoe when I was nine," Alison said.

"My brother (who is 18) coaches me and also competes himself. I used to play netball but now I train for slalom canoe seven days a week."

The object of slalom canoe is to make your way down the whitewater course in the fastest possible time, without hitting or missing any of the gates along the route.

"It really took me a fair while to get the hang of it," Alison said.

"I learned to paddle on the flat water first. It's very challenging there is a lot of strength and skill involved."

Alison's potential was recognised early and two years ago she was selected for the Western Sydney Academy of Sport.

"I train under the coaches at the academy and with the other athletes. I also do my own fitness on the side," she said.

In 2007 Alison really began to distinguish herself when she came first in the under-16 category at the New Zealand National Championships.

She followed that up by earning selection into the Australian junior team and competing at the pre-World Championships in Prague.

"Overseas there are great rivers, which I loved competing on. I finished 21st out of 60 athletes," she said.

In January Alison dominated the field at the Australian championships and the Australian Open, both held in Penrith, coming second in the under-18s at both and first in the under-16s at the nationals.

Alison said the fact the sport was always changing kept her motivated to compete.

* The Penrith Press Junior Sports Star of the year will receive a medal and a cash prize. Nomination forms can be found in Tuesday's paper or visit www.penrithpress.com.au and follow the link.