2015 ICF World Championships Slalom
 
1
2
3
K1M
CZ J. PRSKAVEC
PL M. POLACZYK
US M. SMOLEN
K1W
CZ K. KUDEJOVA
DE R. FUNK
DE M. PFEIFER
C1M
GB D. FLORENCE
SI B. SAVSEK
GB R. WESTLEY
C1W
AU J. FOX
CZ K. HOSKOVA
ES N. VILARRUBLA
C2
DE ANTON/BENZIEN
FR PICCO/BISO
FR KLAUSS/PECHE

Sportscene Editor Nick Harding steps down

nick nicolaas harding sportscene editor contributor canoe kayak paddlesports journalist video articles

After 2 years with Sportscene, Editor Nick has decided to move onto new challenges.

“I am sad to announce my leaving from the Sportscene family to pursue other ventures in sport media, but I am very proud of the opportunities and experiences that the platform has given me.”

Nick has been working behind-the-scenes for Sportscene since 2012 when the paddlesports platform was only one year old. He has interviewed an expansive list of current and past champions and athletes alike as well as leading industry figureheads. He has written in the region of 60 articles that were published on the site together with invaluably proofreading and sourcing countless others. Nick has not only worked on content, he has also hosted several online videos and written the platform's internal/external communications.

“It has been an absolute privilege to have been involved with the ongoing promotion of paddlesports globally including increasing media exposure of youth achievement, legacy schemes, paracanoeing and of course working that little bit closer towards equality in women's canoeing in the Olympic programme. I would love to see the world media really getting behind our sports as the potential, with different disciplines on different types of water, is enormous. My passion for being out on the water and spectating at competitions has grown even more, almost to being an addiction, thanks to my time with Sportscene.”

nick nicolaas harding sportscene editor contributor canoe kayak paddlesports journalist video articlesNick will not be leaving the paddlesports community entirely as he will still be involved with The World Paddle Awards, Sportscene's partner site. As well as going freelance, Nick will be moving on to study part time professional courses in journalism and public relations.

Interesting and memorable

“For me, the most interesting part of my role has been being able to share the fascinating stories that have come from within the paddlesports community. I would like to personally thank all of the athletes and remarkable individuals I have spoken to and got to know for their time and honesty. My project on GB paracanoeist Patrick Mahoney, one of my first for Sportscene, will always be memorable.”

Words about some of his collaborators:

John Gregory, Sportscene Slalom Expert – “John is the ultimate paddlesports fan! A talented on-screen presenter and skilled coach, he has a brilliant mind for canoe slalom statistics with a rare ability to write fast, entertaining and informative copy combined with a lifetime's knowledge of the sport. To write like John does, is truly the pinnacle of canoeing journalism.”

Gonzalo Melero, Sportscene Marathon Contributor – “Gonzalo, from Spain, has an incredible level of written English and I have greatly enjoyed collaborating with him. His writing on marathon racing and the likes of the Sella Descent truly captures what it feels like to be present as both an athlete and spectator. His ability to write about every detail of race observationally really engages the reader.”

nick nicolaas harding sportscene editor contributor canoe kayak paddlesports journalist video articlesPam Boteler, President WomenCAN International – “Pam really knows what's she talking about when it comes to canoeing, she has always been more than willing to help me with the specifics of my copy relating to high-kneeling sport, despite our British-American differences in vocabulary ;-) She is an incredible woman who has achieved greatness in her career by challenging the norms like competing/winning against the men in the early days of canoe sprint. Her ongoing work promoting girls' and women's canoeing is admirable and sets a benchmark internationally for all sport.”

Richard Fox, Performance Director Australian Canoeing – “Richard was one of my childhood heros; to have met and interviewed him was a proud moment. A genuine top-bloke, he is a visionary that is helping steer paddlesports to its bright future.”

Not forgetting Rob van Bommel, Sportscene Director – “Rob is a true pioneer and entrepreneur that has helped raise the popularity of paddlesports globally. It has been inspiring working with him and learning from his mentoring. His work setting up canoeing websites, publishing books, supporting athletes, providing much-needed video coverage of events and so on has been so important for the future of paddlesports. I would nominate him without hesitation to become a member of the International Canoe Federation.”

Advice for budding writers

  1. Specialising in specific sports will make you more employable, if you can specialise in a sport that you are already passionate about, like for me with paddlesports, it is already that much easier for your passion to shine through your writing.
  2. Maintain your own blog – this is how both I and John got discovered by Rob (separate blogs though!). Blogging also gives you physical evidence of your writing for employers.
  3. Volunteer at sporting events, learn how they are run and how their communications are managed. Talk to as many people as you can.
  4. Know your audience, this affects the tone and register of your copy.
  5. Don't be afraid to pitch your ideas for stories. If they do come about research is your best tool, never be afraid to ask for advice from your fellow collaborators on the angle or your article.
  6. When starting out, approach as many online platforms as you can to see if you can write for them. There are plenty of writers out there so competition is high, but if you have a flair for writing and passion, you will get noticed.
  7. Take an umbrella and a jacket as it more often than not gets chilly down by the river!

Details of a replacement Editor will be announced soon.