{"id":4094,"date":"2021-06-15T14:11:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T20:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canoeracing.org.nz\/?p=4094"},"modified":"2021-06-15T14:20:38","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T20:20:38","slug":"gordon-walkers-coaching-journey-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/gordon-walkers-coaching-journey-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Gordon Walker&#8217;s coaching journey &#8211; Part Two"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4094\" class=\"elementor elementor-4094\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2852e2c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2852e2c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3212db9\" data-id=\"3212db9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e41720 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e41720\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Gordon Walker earned the prestigious Coach of the Decade prize at the Halberg Awards earlier this year. We chat to the highly successful CRNZ Technical Director about his sporting journey. In the second part of our two-part feature, we focus on Gordy\u2019s time as a CRNZ coach.<\/b><\/p><p>Recruited as an intern at CRNZ, Gordy admits he came on board at a time of change for the organisation.<\/p><p>With his first role to coach Erin Taylor in the countdown to the London Olympics he admits he was fortunate to join CRNZ during a period when they were professionalising their approach to high performance.<\/p><p>To aid his personal development, in 2011 he successfully applied to join the HPSNZ Coach Accelerator Programme \u2013 a huge opportunity to learn and develop his coaching knowledge alongside the likes of Janine Southby, who would later coach the Silver Ferns, Rowing NZ coach Gary Hay, and hockey coach Darren Smith.<\/p><p>Yet while Gordy\u2019s coaching expertise continued to expand, he faced a steep learning curve at CRNZ.<\/p><p>\u201cIt was a challenging environment to walk in to back then\u201d he explains. \u201cIan Ferguson and Paul MacDonald were coaching there back then and they\u2019d won nine Olympic medals between them.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u201cI hadn\u2019t won an Olympic medal and I was from a multisport background. The technique used to paddle in multisport was frowned upon by those in the canoe sprint community, but I knew I could make some improvements if I applied the principles I\u2019d used in other sports.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cI focused on structure and, more specifically, re-ordering the weekly training structure. I also looked to introduce a few more sophisticated training tools which were common place in other Olympic sports.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Things like GPS, training zones, HR, speed, stroke rate.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Looking back, we didn\u2019t really have a lot back then.\u201d<\/p><p>Given his extensive experience of coaching a broad range of sports he thought outside the box and astutely drew upon middle-distance running training to aid his kayakers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u201cIn some ways training for 800m in athletics and the training requirements for a 500m kayak race are similar,\u201d he says. \u201cThe athletes in both sports are competing for around 1:40-1:50, so I took some elements of training for 800m and implemented them for kayaking. Coming from outside kayaking I could offer a fresh approach.\u201d<\/p><p>In 2010 Gordy was also introduced to a young, promising paddler from Ohope Beach named Lisa Carrington and so began one of New Zealand\u2019s most successful ever coach-athlete relationships.<\/p><p>His initial impressions were that she was \u201cgood\u201d but thought little beyond that. However, after several months working together it became clear that he was dealing with a very special athlete.<\/p><p>\u201cShe is a super responder,\u201d he adds of Lisa\u2019s ability to improve with training. \u201cIn the early years she was very responsive, it was meteoric!\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f840ced elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f840ced\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a16d3d6\" data-id=\"a16d3d6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ee2f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67ee2f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lisa-and-Gordy-2-576x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2255\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lisa-and-Gordy-2-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lisa-and-Gordy-2-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Lisa-and-Gordy-2-768x1365.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d9b5d8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d9b5d8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-24a432a\" data-id=\"24a432a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adc6e5c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"adc6e5c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The challenge facing Gordy was Lisa was focused on the K1 200m \u2013 a new canoe sprint discipline set to make its Olympic debut at the London 2012 Games.<\/p><p>With no template of past success he had nothing to draw upon. However, on the flip side this also presented opportunities and he opted to adopt an approach to try and \u201cout think\u201d and \u201cout learn\u201d the opposition.<\/p><p>\u201cI had to stay one or more steps ahead,\u201d he explains.<\/p><p>To achieve this he reflected on what had made him a successful multisport athlete. Namely the initiative and flexibility he revealed throughout his time as a self-coached athlete.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u201cIt was a massive educator,\u201d he adds.<\/p><p>He utilised the organisational skills needed to prepare for a big event and worked hard on developing Lisa\u2019s technique \u2013 all of which contributed to her K1 200m gold at the London Olympics.<\/p><p>While fully acknowledging that Lisa\u2019s unique qualities need to be factored into the equation when making any assessment of her success, he adds: \u201cMy reflections on London was that I managed to outlearn what I needed to do to help her. But I\u2019m also proud that we learned together and that I didn\u2019t get too ahead of her or her too ahead of me.\u201d<\/p><p>The duo have continued to learn and flourish together. Lisa has gone on to be one of the most successful athletes of her generation. Increasingly dominating the K1 200m (she is unbeaten in more than a decade winning two Olympic and seven world titles over the distance) she has also further expanded her repertoire and skills in a wider range of events.<\/p><p>However, in order to improve and grow has meant both athlete and coach have been forced to adapt.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Every year Gordy lays down a list of all the variables which go into a successful performance in the K1 200 and K1 500. This can be pretty extensive \u2013 up to 10 or so physical variables including bench press, max speed, aerobic power etc.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>They work on the principle that if three can be identified as areas to improve or change and the other seven areas remain the same standard then he knows this will equate to improvements 12 months later.<\/p><p>\u201cIt the aggregation of marginal gains that David Brailsford (the General Manager of Team Sky) talks about,\u201d adds Gordy. \u201cHe gave it a name but many successful people have been doing that for a long time and this approach certainly resonates with the work I do.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>With a raft of titles, medal and accolades already behind her \u2013 the Tokyo Olympic Games and her commitment to contest four events (K1 200m, K1 500m, K2 500m and K4 500m) is her most ambitious bid yet.<\/p><p>But has her level of success and dominance surprised Gordy?<\/p><p>\u201cI knew from our early days working together that she could be better than she was and way better than what she thought she could be. But there is no way I would have thought we would be here at this point. To be at the level she is at is unimaginable. To win a World Championship (for the K1 200m) in a 40-second race by two seconds, is just extraordinary. But what keeps us motivated is knowing she can be better in the future.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-31a293a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31a293a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5c7ede\" data-id=\"b5c7ede\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cfb29d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9cfb29d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4095\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-45.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fbadf9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fbadf9c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c0e484a\" data-id=\"c0e484a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00f73f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00f73f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In more recent times, Gordon has taken on a different role of coaching a group of athletes to perform in K1, K2 and K4 boats. The talent within the New Zealand set up is hugely exciting but managing to maintain unity when crews also have to race each other in the K1 boat is not an easy task.<\/p><p>\u201cThere is a big difference between coaching a team and an individual,\u201d explains Gordy, who emphasises he has previously coached multiple individuals at the same time.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u201cWe are now coaching a team and developing a team structure and trying to grow that success at the same time as opposed to a group of people enjoying success which might be individualised. It is a big task to fill the K1, K2 and K4 boats with the same squad of paddlers. Two of these people will be racing against each other in the K1 \u2013 that is not an easy equation to figure out.\u201d<\/p><p>Gordy understood in order to properly deliver this ambition he needed the help of an assistant coach and he wisely brought on board the experienced Canadian coach Nathan Luce to fulfil the role. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Acknowledging that trusting and giving those around him greater responsibility has been challenging he could not be happier with how his support team has evolved &#8211; he describes them as \u201cthe best in the business.\u201d<\/p><p>He not only identifies Nathan and fellow coach Jasper Bats for the role they have played but also cites HPSNZ Performance and Technique analyst Paul McAlpine as the best in the world in his field and he acknowledges the support he has received from coaching consultant Tristan Collins, HPSNZ Performance Planner David Slyfield and Coaching Accelerator Programme Leader Christian Penney.<\/p><p>\u201cNathan coming on board, assimilating well and finding how we can work together has been a huge thing,\u201d adds Gordy. \u201cWe have an amazing team of support staff. Unbelievable. Then when we factor in Polly Powrie as Performance Manager, Tom Ashley as CEO we are so lucky. It has been a ten-year journey, but we have gone from rags to riches as a sport.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-56dddea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"56dddea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d8ab47b\" data-id=\"d8ab47b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-463a653 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"463a653\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4090\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CRNZ_NZOC_Announcement-34.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-58142a6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"58142a6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ed13498\" data-id=\"ed13498\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-686759c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"686759c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Leading into the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics hopes are high the New Zealand squad can enjoy a highly successful regatta but while Gordy has earned plenty of plaudits for his Coach of the Decade honour at the Halberg Awards he is quick to acknowledge the role the athletes have played.<\/p><p>\u201cI try not to attach too much of my success to their work,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt is the athletes who paddle the races not me. I was given the award based on the results of my athletes not on my coaching. You can be a great coach with no results or a terrible coach with heaps of results. I have been very, very fortunate to have coached Lisa.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Citing Lisa\u2019s K1 500m gold medal at the 2019 World Championships as his personal highlight because the \u201cnew version of Lisa would have beaten the old version\u201d which triumphed in the K1 500m four years earlier \u2013 he has a rich vault of memories to draw upon.<\/p><p>But has he ever stopped for a minute to think about why he coaches?<\/p><p>\u201cI was speaking once in front of a room full of 500 lawyers from top law firms all earning far more money than I ever will,\u201d he explains. \u201cI said to them, \u2018I know you are all very good at what you do but it is pretty likely you are not the best at what you do in New Zealand, and if you are not the best in the New Zealand you are definitely not the best in the world.\u2019<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u201cThe people I work with train every day for zero pay in an effort to be the best in the world and win a gold medal on one day every four years. To me, that is an interesting challenge, that brings pressure. Every single day you are trying to be the best that you can be. That is cool.<\/p><p>\u201cCoaching is in some ways like parenting in that really want the best for the people you coach and to set a path for them to give them the best journey possible. To genuinely be able to help people is a really enjoyable part of the job.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gordon Walker earned the prestigious Coach of the Decade prize at the Halberg Awards earlier this year. We chat to the highly successful CRNZ Technical Director about his sporting journey. In the second part of our two-part feature, we focus on Gordy\u2019s time as a CRNZ coach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gordon Walker&#039;s coaching journey - Part Two - CRNZ - Sprint, Surf Ski &amp; Marathon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Canoe Sprint, Surf Ski &amp; Marathon. Canoe Sprint Racing is one of the best-known competitive canoeing disciplines in NZ.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gordon Walker&#039;s coaching journey - Part Two - CRNZ - Sprint, Surf Ski &amp; Marathon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Canoe Sprint, Surf Ski &amp; Marathon. 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