By: Lungisa Somtombo
East London teenage paddler was selected to be part of the U18 South African Ocean Racing Team in the 2019 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships which will be held in Saint- Pierre De Quiberon, France this year from 9-15 September.
Clarendon High School for Girls pupil Zara Wood was introduced to paddling by her father when she was five years old at the Border Canoe Club (BCC)
The BCC member said she went to Cape Town for the SA Surf Ski Championships where they were going to select the top two who will be representing the SA under 18 team in France and she came first.
“̈Paddling in Cape Town was very difficult and long because there was no wind and I have never paddled there before,” said Wood.
Zara expressed that she feels very chuffed about the world championships. When the paddler was 14 years old, she was selected to be part of the U18 team at the World Ocean Racing Championships and came 3rd place. This year she wants to make sure that she wins.
“I entered competitions like the Summer and Winter Series, East Cape Marathon, Clipperty Clop, BCC Club Champs, SA Schools Canoe Sprints, SA Marathon and SA Surf Ski and I won all of them except for the sprints as I came second.”
Her mother Helen Wood said she is excited about her daughter being selected for the U18 SA team as it has been on her wish list and an important goal in her life. She said Zara has been to Germany, Hong Kong, Portugal where she was representing South Africa and now to France.
Helen added that canoeing is a family sport and that’s what makes it exciting as they all go and enjoy all the competitions around the world.