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French Slalom Canoeist Nouria Newman Says “Do what you love, Believe in yourself and Follow your dreams”

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

Nouria Newman is a French slalom canoeist who has competed since the late 2000s. She won two medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with a gold in 2014 (K-1 team) and a silver in 2013 (K-1). She also won a bronze medal in the K-1 team event at the 2014 European Championships in Vienna.

French kayaker Nouria Newman had one of her two successful runs through Site Zed, the largest signature rapid on the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. Though Newman ran the rapid on back-to-back descents of the 45-mile canyon gauntlet, her first run of Site Zed during a one-day descent marks the first time that a woman has kayaked the entire canyon without portage, one decade after New Zealand’s Nikki Kelly became the first female to kayak the storied section of whitewater regarded as one of expedition paddling’s
benchmark runs.

Newman, at 23, has already made her mark in slalom (finished 2013 ranked 14th in the world in women’s K-1) as well as in downriver creek racing and finished 2013 as reigning Whitewater Grand Prix champion, Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship winner, and recipient of the Canoe & Kayak Awards’ Female Paddler of the Year award. Now she can add her name to the list of expedition kayaking greats.

“When you commit to it there’s no way you can turn back,” Newman says of Site Zed after describing all the elements coming together on the recent one-day descent with Jules Domine and Mountain Mind Collective’s Brendan and Todd Wells. “All the conditions were there for me to run it and I felt really good about it.”

Achievements of Nouria Newman

Nouria Newman is an exceptionally talented french slalom canoeist. She is winner of gold medal at ICF Canoe Slalom World Championship in 2014 (K-1 team). She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.

Full Interview on Next Page!

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You started kayaking when you were 5 years old. You did your first competition at 7. When at 9 years of age you learned how to roll and became more confident. Then you slowly discovered whitewater in all its form starting river running, freestyle and extreme kayaking. You reached the pinnacle of success when you won in 2013 Extreme Kayaking World Champion at Oetz, Austria, and placed 2nd at Slalom World Championships. Tell us about your journey that took you to where you are now in the world of kayaking and as a slalom canoeist?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

When I was 5 I wanted to kayak because someone came at our home with a plastic kayak and I thought it was a big playmobil toy. Kayaking was just a game. It was also a great adventure. I remember exploring the local lake (it seemed so big at the time), leaving my parents to go camping with the kayak club, rappeling down to get to my first big river trip, make a fire, cook pasta…Then I started competing.

At first I wanted to win races to get some presents at the award ceremony. Slowly I became more competitive I was no longer doing it for a medal and a bag of candies. I was always trying to get better, setting up goals, dealing with race pressure…In the meanwhile I learned how to roll, improved my technique and my whitewater abilities. The game rules changed. I was not only playing with other kids anymore, but I started playing with the water, feel it’s power, overcome fears, getting adrenaline rush when running big rapids…As a result kayaking to me isn’t just a sport in which I compete, it’s also a game and a great adventure. I love it !

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have selected a sports of slalom canoeist, freestyle and extreme kayaking that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

When I was younger. Some people told me I wouldn’t be able to succeed if I kept trying to do everything at the same time. First I had to choose between slalom and freestyle, then between sport and studying at Sciences Po Toulouse. The truth is that I wasn’t able to make these choices so I ended up doing different things I love. It’s not always easy, I’m not sure if I will achieve all my goals. Maybe they’re right. Maybe you can’t do everything but I think it’s worth trying. How could you overcome the element of fear in extreme kayaking as a sport?

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

How could you overcome the element of fear in extreme kayaking as a sport?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

First I only run a rapid when I’m confident. When I can see the line and picture myself doing it properly. If I don’t feel it I don’t do it. But even if I know that I can make it, I also know that things don’t always go as planned. Like any other extreme sport, it’s always a little risky. When I decide to run a big rapid I’m never terrorized : I know I can do it, but I’m also aware of the risks. I’m confident enough to avoid beeing too nervious but I’m also a little scared and it’s a good thing because it keeps me on your A game. Before dropping in I usually take a few seconds to focus on my line, I take the time to enjoy the scenery when I’m in some incredible places, sometimes I close my eyes to hear the river and feel the water better, I take some deep breathes and when I’m ready I go.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

I paddle almost everyday but I also run and I do some core workouts. When I’ve got time I also like to do some other outdoor sports (ski touring, mountain bike, climbing, hiking…). I never did a lot of weight lifting workouts but I think I will start doing it more in a near future to prevent injuries, gain power and hopefully go faster.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

I don’t have a special diet. I eat a little bit of everything and avoid junk food (but I love chocolate !).

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

Kayaking is definitely not a good sport to have a glowing skin and gorgeous hair ! Wearing a helmet isn’t great for your hair and when I travel for a while or go on an expedition I get super messy hair. I usually end up using a lot’s of conditioner lotion to get rid of the knots ! For the skin I use hydrating cream because the water, the sun, the wind and the cold…usually make your skin very dry. I’ve recently been using the Rexaline Youth line because I have a friend who works there. She made me try the products and I really like it.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding canoeing girls who all are your fans, what should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in field of canoeing and extreme kayaking?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

Work hard, play hard. Hard work always pays off so take one step after another and make sure you enjoy what you do. It can only work.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have won and participated in many extreme kayaking championships. Share with us your most memorable experience?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

I had an awesome time at the 2012 Whitewater Grand Prix and it was probably my favorite competition of all time. All the participants competed, travelled and lived together for two weeks. The whitewater was great, the competiton stages were super intense and beyond kayaking it was also a great adventure shared with friends from all over the world.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Who has been your inspiration and motivation that led you to your success in the world of canoeing and kayaking?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

Many different paddlers and role models inspire me. It goes from Gisèle Halimi or Simone de Beauvoir (French feminists), to famous journalists, historical personalities, writers (or even book characters) to champions like Tony Estanguet (3x Olympic Champion) or stylish paddlers such as Aniol Serasolses & Evan Garcia…

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You won Gold Medal in ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 2014 (K-1 team), 1st Place: Ottawa XL – Freestyle Ottawa, Canada 2013, Extreme Kayaking World Champion Oetz, Austria 2013, Female Paddler of the Year Award as voted by Canoe & Kayak magazine 2013, Rider of the Year Awards 2012, Best trick women 2012, 1st Place: Whitewater Grand Prix Chile 2012, 1st Place: Voss Extreme Week Norway 2012 and Four-time French National Champion – Slalom (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009). What responsibility these awards and winnings bestow upon you in your future efforts and activities in the field of canoeing and kayaking?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

I’ve had some good results but I also had a lot’s of really bad results. When I was a junior one of the older paddler told me that high level sport involved more hard times and tears than good results. It’s probably true but the good times are totally worth it !

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

With exceptional hard work you are credited with all your achievements. Do you believe that does the hand of Providence (Supreme Being) played a role in your success?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

I don’t believe in any God or kind of supreme being. I believe that things happens for a reason. As a result of a context and action. Sometimes we can’t explain it you can call it “the hand of providence”, “God”… maybe there is a little bit of “luck” or “bad luck” but I see things as construction, causal chain and probabilities.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Nouria Newman:

It’s interesting to see a website with such a large range of different topics, I think everyone can find some good reads and helpful tips. And my message to the visitors : don’t let anyone tell you what you have to do, do what you love, believe in yourself and follow your dreams.

To know the latest from Nouria Newman, Check her out at:

To know more about Nouria Newman, Check her out at:

http://www.redbull.com/fr/fr/adventure/athletes/1331665270589/nouria-newman

Women Fitness Team thanks Nouria Newman for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.

 

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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness
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