Source: Kanoe.cz | Translation: Barbora Zehanova | Proofreader: Katie Ellis - Recently, Dostál has been on holiday to Paris, picking mushrooms in a forest near his family’s cottage and relaxing in Hawaii. He also completed a marathon race in Bohemia, where he suffered excruciating pain after struggling to finish. But as we speak, Josef Dostál, the K-1 and K-4 1000m World Champion, is diligently preparing for the new racing season. During November he is exchanging the cloudy Czech weather for sunny California.

What’s your main goal for the training camp in Chula Vista, California?

During our four weeks in the USA, we will be focusing on endurance training. This is the most important foundation which you can then build on during the season.”

After your last successful season you spent part of your holiday in Hawaii. What did you think of it?

“It was great. I went to visit my friend, Ryan Dolan who trains with us in San Diego and I visited four of the Hawaiian islands which were really lovely. We also did some outrigger canoe fishing. We went for a small trip where I towed a fishing line with some bait. We caught three 50cm fish which was a good result.”

When did you start your training for next season?


“As soon as I got back home from Hawaii. After the first week of training and only 30 kilometres of paddling, I decided to take part in the Krumlov marathon race. I regretted this decision about 15 kilometres into the race and I now consider finishing this race one of the most heroic sports performances of my career. It hurt so badly! I was out of it between the 15th and 25th kilometre. The pain in my rib cage was unbelievable and I had problems with cramp. After the race I was unable to breathe or walk.

Before you left for the USA you also visited Portugal. I have heard that the canoe manufacturer Nelo has designed a special boat for you. Is that correct?

“Nelo`s marketing manager invited me to test boats. It was partly a training camp and also a bit of a holiday. I had a blast, they treated me like a star while I was there and I really enjoyed it. They drove me around in nice cars, and had no issues with me eating loads. In one restaurant, I cleared them out of seafood, so they had to stock up on more. Then the following day I went out for lunch with the factory owner who also likes to eat, so we ate half a pig each.

Nelo designed a boat intended for rough conditions which slowed you down a bit at the European Championships in Brandenburg. How did these latest tests go?

“We tested the boat on the sea. The nose of the boat is as big as the nose of a C-2 boat, which is in stark contrast to most K-1 boats. While I was there I also helped to test an XXXL boat, which is a completely new model. When I saw it for the first time, I wondered whether the boat was facing the wrong way.”

So for next season you are going to have two boats ready for races, one of them for rough conditions?

Yes, but no-one will notice the difference, unless the boats are next to each other. People always come to have a look at my boat because it is huge. Once they have seen this latest one, goodness knows what they’ll think.”

There is still lot of time remaining until the start of next season. What are your plans for winter training?

“After I return from the USA, I will be contending with physics, mathematics and one more subject at university. In the New Year I will be heading to Livigno in Italy for two weeks and then I will spend two weeks at home. After that I am planning on going back to the USA before starting the new racing season.”

Facebook Page Josef Dostal: www.facebook.com/kayakjosefdostal