Being comfortable on the water just seems to run in Tyler Gevaert’s blood. He’s had a knack for kayaking and canoeing since he first started to paddle a decade ago.
Now, the (almost) 17-year-old from Huntsville is a junior national champion and has even competed at senior World Cup events this year as he continues to move closer to his goals.
Gevaert also finished third overall at the national championships for canoe and kayak, which took place in Quebec a few weeks ago. He competed in multiple events, including kayak cross and canoe slalom.
“It was a pretty good event,” he says. “I had a lot of fun there . . . It feels good to be up with the top people, because last summer I really made the big stride and got to their level, so it feels nice to be racing and competing with them.”
Going against older, more experienced athletes at World Cup events in Europe helped Gevaert put forth a good effort at the junior world championships, finishing in the top 15, as well as getting the great results at the Canadian nationals.
The big race experience was vital to Gevaert’s progress this season, which runs from early spring through late fall and features 10 to 15 races.
“At the Senior World Cups, I was closer to the bottom, racing with much older athletes in their 20s and 30s who are, like, the Olympic champions, the best in the world,” he says. “It was my first Junior World Championships, and (the senior events) helped me prepare . . . I would say it definitely gave me, like, a little leg up on the other Canadians.”
With the Olympics being his overall goal, Gevaert says once high school is complete, he’ll be able to put even more time into this kayak and canoe training.
“Just be in the boat more often, and really commit to training full-time,” he says. “That will help me catch the top people in Canada.”
In terms of specializing in one or continuing to do both, that will depend on what makes the most sense. He acknowledges it will be extremely difficult to continue competing in both fulltime.
“If I start to make great strides in one and I have a chance at making the Olympics in one, I might go full, all in with that one category to try and (succeed) in that category,” he says.
Training on and off the water
Reaching the levels Gevaert has, as well as those he aspires to, means putting in the work in and out of the water.
During training camps with the national team, often in Ottawa, the schedule is a little more intense. When at home, because there is no whitewater around, it’s flat-water paddling and lots of time in the gym.
“When we’re on a training camp, we’re on the water twice a day, as well as going to the gym or running each day,” he says. “It’s usually gym and cross-training in the winter, but we’ll go to warmer places like Brazil to train there with their team and to get us ready for the season.”
Gevaert loved his experience in the land of Samba, while also mentioning Foix, France as one of his favourite places to visit.
Early years
Gevaert says he always had the urge to race. Growing up doing competitive swimming and skiing – he still races and even coaches’ children in those sports – paddling races were a given.
“When I was 13, I wanted to race internationally, and like be one of the best in the world,” he says.
Gevaert and his brother Josh started on the water over ten years ago at the Muskoka Kayak School in Port Sydney. Their mom signed them up for a summer camp.
“We really enjoyed that, so we just kept signing up, and that became just a part of our life, and we’d go a few times after school each week,” he recalls. “On weekends, we’d go to Ottawa, or even Minden, and we’d just paddle some white water.”
Tyler says Josh is just as competitive as he is. The brothers often compete at the same events, though Tyler has had a bit more success at this point. Still, Josh isn’t far behind and pushes Tyler to be better.
“He beats me the odd time, and he doesn’t let me forget it,” says Tyler with a laugh.
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