Maroochydore, Australia - Max Benassi, a sprint and downriver racing specialist, and one of the best in the world is visiting Australia as part of his training program leading up to selection races for the 2012 Olympics. Here he talks with Rob van Bommel about his impressions of Australia.

I came to Maroochydore on the 14th December with the Italian team - a small group of 5 athletes, Alberto Ricchetti, Mattia Colombi, Ripamonti Nicola, Regazzoni Alberto and the trainer Osef Capousek. We decided to come to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast because we are Italians and we love the sun. We came here last year too, and we had a great training camp. The camp works well with the help of the Sunshine Coast Kayak Club where we go paddling and the Mooloolaba Surf Club where we do power training in the gym. Australia is a great place for training with good weather and the possibility to relax on the beach during our rest time.

About Clint Robinson

I have heard that Clint Robinson is paddling again and to be training here at Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club where he trains and coaches is awesome. I think that he's one of best athletes ever and the fact that he is still paddling shows his amazing passion for this sport. I'm very curious to see how he will go...

Training Day...

Our typical training day involves a number of sessions. We wake up earlier than we do in Italy and go to the Sunshine Coast Kayak Club for the first session on the water. Then after a couple of hours rest we go to the gym in Mooloolaba Surf Club. In the afternoon, we’re on the water paddling again and we finish the day with swimming training. We don't have much time to paddle a surf ski. I did try last year and it was very funny to watch. During the rest of the time we go to the beach to relax and swim against the big Australian waves.

Australia

What people say in Italy is not just a myth! Australia is an amazing country, every day life seems more fun here. People are so welcoming and are always smiling. With regards to food I can’t say a lot, we live in apartments and we cook our own food, although I must say that your meat is very good and tasty. We have been out a couple of times to eat at a restaurant. Italian restaurants should be avoided though as original, good Italian cuisine can only be found in Italy!

Olympic Games London 2012

My Olympic selection race for London will be in May in Poznan, Poland before the World Cup. The 2011 World Championship race in Szeged, Hungary was a good lesson for me as things didn’t work out as I had planned. I missed the K1 and K4 qualification because of a few tenths of a second, but I'm trying to keep a positive attitude and use this experience as an incentive to face this winter.

I'll stay with my team in Maroochydore until March 3rd. On the 14/15 January I'll go to Sydney for the national competition. Then I'll go back to Italy for the national qualifications and later to Rome to focus more on the Olympic qualification.

Leading up to Olympic selection is a testing time for all athletes and we wish him well with his endeavours.

Website Maximilian Benassi: www.maxbenassi.com