This is the third interview in a series of couples interviews where we catch up with famous sports couples in the wonderful world of paddlesports. The first two interviews were freestyle couples: Peter & Nina from Slovakia and Pringle & Katya from Great Britain/Russia. Helmut aka 'Heli' and Violetta aka 'Vio' are the first slalom couple in this series.

Sportscene was curious to learn how Heli & Vio make it work 'on the road' and of course on the water...

Where did you meet, how long have you been together now and when did you get married?
We met at a race in Lofer in Austria in 1994. Later that year Vio travelled to the World Cup race in Augsburg to watch the race & see me again. Since then we have been a couple & got married in September 1999. Our first son Milo Apollo Noa was born in April 2009, our second little boy, Ilai Hiro Phoenix, a couple of weeks ago, in late February 2013.

How do you collaborate when you travel, train, paddle and do competitions together?
Every one of us takes over different duties, which have evolved over the years. With our new family members, we need to plan a lot more & are therefore less flexible, but also incredibly proud every time we sit in a packed car! During our long & intense trips Heli is the driver (easy job) & Vio has to entertain the kids in the back (hard job).

Training together is a challenge at the moment because Vio's training times are very unpredictable (they mostly depend on our 6 week-old's breastfeeding intervals). But when we can train together, we coach each other & do the video analysis together.

In races, we do mutual coaching, help each other to choose the right race strategy plus do organisational & logistical work. Of course we follow one another down the course & cheer - this has also become slightly more difficult as we have to run down whilst taking care not to trip over our own kids.

Our families help us out at the main events as well. They play with the kids... but there is still plenty of work to do for us beside the paddling. Our day never ends before midnight & of course starts early, because Milo wants to play with his cars from 6 in the morning...

What makes you good canoeing companions?
We know each other & usually get along very well. We share good & bad moments & support each other on the way to our individual goals. Because we are together 24/7 we know when the other is tired from a bad night or from training & can therefore judge his/ her performance better. We also have a pretty similar understanding about what makes a slalom run good & or bad. 

Has your relationship evolved as a result of your travels and canoeing together?
We met through canoeing & decided to stay together in order to share costs. ;) Unfortunately, our original plans had to be altered & we now have (more than) doubled the costs due to our family additions...

No, the moment we started going out together, we tried to travel as much as possible together. Vio still had to finish school at that point & then moved to Austria for me (Heli).

Any other tips for surviving 24/7 together?
Be honest but look for the right partner first. ;)

HE SAYS, SHE SAYS...

Did you travel and canoe much before you met your partner? What changed when you met?
Heli: When we met in 1994,  canoeing wasn´t that professional or at least not in Austria. I spent most of the time at home, even in winter time, training on flatwater only & only did some training camps & races abroad. Now, everything is very different & we spend most of our time travelling the world for training & racing.

Vio: I was still in school when I met Heli & could therefore only join him on some of his trips. As soon as I moved to Austria & started going to Uni, I became his shadow & have been ever since ;-) What changed when we met? I help Heli pack his bags (in fact, he packs, then I doublecheck & change a few things which drives him mad when he unpacks...).

What do you bicker (argue) most about when you travel/canoe? How do you work through disagreements?
Heli: At the moment we really don´t find the time to argue. We have two kids and are both full time athletes (unique constellation). Vio is already working on her come back later this season & so our days are filled with training, getting Milo ready for preschool, taking care about Ilai, preparing food (kids are pretty impatient most of the time...) etc. Everything has to be on time plus the work for sponsors & funding take over the rest of our "spare time". Also, I am a man - we can ignore things ;).

Vio: I fully agree with Heli about the time factor, but I HATE it when I want to argue during a training session & he just paddles away & doesn't listen! I usually follow him & keep on talking, but unfortunately the whitewater is too loud & makes me go quiet eventually.

What do you enjoy most about canoeing as a couple?
We both turned our hobby into our work & can do it together. Could it get any better?!  And now, we are travelling, racing & training as a family. Not many parents have the privilege of spending that much time with their offspring.

What makes him/her an ideal canoeing companion?
Heli: Vio works as hard as me & she is a perfectionist. She has also a different approach when it comes to racing.

Vio: Heli is very analytical yet sometimes an intuitive person. He is my perfect counterpart & especially in racing & training we complement each other.

What annoys you most about your partner when you are canoeing together?
Heli: That girls need longer to get changed..

Vio: See above (argue about...)

What have you learned about your partner as a result of traveling and canoeing together?
Heli: That I can always count on Vio, no matter what! Plus that she has far too many clothes...

Vio: That he can live perfectly well without me, but that will never happen ;-)

Website Heli & Vio: www.wildwater.at