Jakob Weger: “Technology is more important than strength” - INTERVIEW

Jakob, how did you actually discover canoeing?

Since my father was already involved in canoeing himself and still is, I was able to gain my first experiences very early on. As a little boy, I often paddled back and forth in the swimming pool for hours. I just liked that.

What requirements do you have to meet as a canoeist?

In principle, no special requirements are required. You just shouldn't be afraid of the water. Technique is clearly more important than strength in canoeing. Of course, both qualities are needed, but with good technique you can save a lot of energy.

How important is mental preparation to you?

Mental training is very important in canoeing. You have to be able to fully concentrate on one thing for a short period of time. This ability separates good athletes from elite athletes.

What does a classic training week look like and how do you practice during the competition week?

A normal week for me looks something like this: From Monday to Friday I have two training sessions every day. Depending on the season, either one time with a canoe and one time in the weight room or two canoe training sessions. In the summer I train with the canoe much more often than in the winter. The week before an important race has the same structure in terms of content. However, the intensity of the units is reduced in order to recharge enough energy for the upcoming competition.

Do you also do other sports?

As a form of compensatory training, I often go snowboarding, surfing or biking.

How important is dry training? Which parts of the body need to be particularly focused? Dry training is absolutely necessary at a certain level, also to prevent injuries. The entire core muscles and the upper arm and shoulder area are particularly important. There are also classic exercises such as the bench pull and the bench press, although I personally prefer to work with my own body weight.

What advice would you give to a beginner? Design your training so that it is fun and enjoyable for you. This is one of my basic rules.

What features should a beginner canoe have? A beginner canoe should be stable and easy to maneuver, although you can also start with a racing boat without any problems.

What equipment should you never be without? A helmet and a life jacket should never be missing for safety reasons.

Where can you paddle in South Tyrol? In this country you can paddle on almost every river, but the best waters are the Passer, the Etsch and the Eisack.

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Jakob Weger: “Technology is more important than strength” - INTERVIEW

The two-time European kayak singles champion from Meran tells us how he got into canoeing and how he organizes his everyday training routine. He also reveals what is important in his sport.

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