Interview - Moe Kelleher

Moe Kelleher has set a new standard for Irish freestyle kayaking since he burst onto the competition scene just a few short years ago. His powerful style and big sense of humour have become a common sight on the world competition scene, justified by a 6th place at the 2005 world championships in Australia. I caught up with Moe, just days before he flew to the world surf kayaking champs in Costa Rica, to find out where Irish freestyle is at...

Name Moe Kelleher
Age 20
From Dublin, Ireland

Summary of Achievements • 9th Lachine rodeo men’s pro Ottawa ’05 • 14th Garb rodeo men’s pro Ottawa ‘05 • 12th Quicksilver Wave & Wheels men’s pro class competition Switzerland • 6th World Freestyle Championships, Australia ’05. • 7th in the men pro class of The Ottawa River Festival in Canada ‘04 • Joint 10th at the Hawaii Sur Rhone River Festival in Lyon France ‘03 • 22nd position (junior) at the world freestyle championships in sort, Spain ‘01 • 5th in European cup in sort, Spain ’01

What is it about freestyle kayaking that floats your boat?

Well freestyle kayaking gives you that adrenaline buzz just like you'd get if you went to Disneyland or a cool water park. Except that there's no one at the endless cool rides or slides (our equivalent being big standing waves & holes) telling you when to go or even if it's safe. I love the freedom and feeling you get being able to call the shots on what you can/can't or shouldn't do. Then there's also the endless number of places you can go throughout the world, the cool friends you meet along the way that are also passionate about the sport. The list goes on...

Is this really something people can achieve at while living in Dublin?

It's a great place to be living to kayak. The biggest kayaking club in Ireland Wild Water Kayak Club, is located on the bank of the River Liffey at the strawberry beds in Lucan and it offers excellent facilities. As it doesn’t get extremely very cold here in Ireland during the winter, freestyle kayakers can paddle all year round unlike the Canadians for example as their rivers freeze over. So we’ve already got an advantage there when you think about it. And as it rains a lot in Ireland.

It’s a great sport to be in while living in Dublin. Word of advice though - invest in a good cag/dry top and good thermals to go with it keeping your upper body as warm and waterproof as possible. Dry tops are expensive but having a good one is key if you want to progress or to just simply enjoy kayaking during the winter months.

Why should we bother going to the Liffey or Boyne, when the sport seems to be all about big air at Lyon or buseater?

Because it’s fun. The sport isn’t all about going big on waves. Most competitions are still held in holes not waves. But the reason big air moves have been focused on so much these past few years is because it’s more impressive to look at than tumbling in a hole. But I think both waves & holes are just as fun. To the beginner doing a vertical ender will probably offer the same buzz as a more experienced paddler gets from doing an aerial blunt on a big wave. It’s whatever floats your boat. But the better you get at freestyle the more you realise is possible in those playspots on your local play river. The Boyne and the Liffey offer some great play to hone your skills.

Tell me about your attitude to training - is it something you take seriously?

Yes, I love training. I like to be able to paddle hard for as long as possible when I’m out paddling. It’s all fun at the end of the day but when you are having a great ride on a wave for example it’s annoying when you start getting tired. So I like to train to be able to enjoy my time on the water every time I go paddling.

Do you cross-dress... sorry I mean cross-train?

Yes. Freestyle kayaking is like gymnastics on water so flexibility and strength are very important. Preventing injury is another great reason to cross train. Some gym work and cardio work will go a long way for your freestyle. The key is to have a good weight to strength ration. I’m still working on that one.

What is the attraction of competing?

It gives you motivation to keep training and doing the sport in a professional way. Football players train a lot, way shouldn’t freestyle kayakers. Then there are the places you have excuses to go to around the world because of competitions and training. The international scene is really friendly, positive and professional.

How much of a mental game is it?

It’s 30% physical and 70% mental. That is if you can actually do most of the moves but not necessarily consistently. On a big competition day, whoever can control their anxiety will do the best.

What mental tricks do you use to succeed on the big stage?

It takes practice to achieve your personal best performance or close to, every time. I’m still working on it. I thought I had it sorted but looking at my summer results ‘05 I need a lot of work in the area of mental training. There are a lot of different things that will help you control your anxiety. I find tuning into the basics like what you specifically want to achieve and spiritual mediation is great.

What is your ultimate goal in the sport?

To do a double air screw on a 20+foot man made wave in the X-Games.

What do you think about the Irish competition scene - is it helping produce world class competitors or is it just a bit of craic? How would you change it?

It’s mostly just a bit of craic. I remember not entering the sluice rodeo in ’99. I think it was because I was put off by the lads that where ripping it up back then like Joules, kipper, Brian Smith, Dave C & Steven Hynes to name a few and I think there’s a lot of paddlers out there that won’t even take part in a competition/rodeo because their afraid they’ll do terrible. I know that’s what I first thought looking at the talent back then. So I’d advise more paddlers out there to try it out and come along to a competition. It’s not that bad. Most of the spectrum just want to have a bit of craic and that’s why you’re seeing a lot more fun rodeos because for most paddlers out there it’s more fun and you can’t argue with that.

Getting back to it I believe you can become a world class paddler but not by just doing the Irish freestyle circuit as its too relaxed and chilled out which isn’t bad but you just won’t be world class any time soon. You’ve got to get abroad during the summer and practice and there are always a few people that take it that step further.

I think the freestyle scene in Ireland might change over time with the new younger generation of paddlers coming though. It would be nice to see more full on freestyle rodeos but we have to cater for the larger spectrum at the end of the day. I hope it gets as competitive as it was five years ago again as that was a cool and exciting time to be in freestyle.

What changes do you see happening in international competition?

The rules will change to just variety increasing the level of competition like we’re already seeing in America and Canada. There will be a big European tour to accommodate paddlers form all over the world which will run into the American tour. So I think we’ll see a big world tour scene in a few years on one mother of a well scheduled timetable.

How could we improve facilities in Ireland for freestyle kayaking?

More funding to improve organisation capabilities and direction in terms of competition and events.
Will freestyle ever be BIG - ie highly sponsored, highly paid? Is that where you'd like to see it go?
For the foreseeable sort term future I don’t think so however if the sport got into the X-Games / Gravity Games I think it be massive. The increase in white water parks in the states is making kayaking more popular and could have future repercussions. I’m not sure if getting highly paid would improve the whole freestyle scene - I think it’s good the way it is.

What was you favourite moment / river / day out...?

Surfing the Mini Bus section of Buseater Wave in Ottawa, Canada, in July of 2004 for two weeks straight.
What advice would you give to young sprogs trying to succeed in kayaking in Ireland?
Kayaking is so much fun that you can easily miss the opportunity to improve.

Do you like creeking? Do you think it’s possible to be really good at both creeks and freestyle, or do you have to make a choice?

Anything is possible and you don’t have to do anything. However I think if you really want to progress in one area fast you should make a choice between the two but not totally excluding one as they’re both amazing sports.


See Moe in action on the Huck'd DVD - more

View Huck'd trailer and video of Moe competing in Australia here




Moe is sponsored by:

Wave Sport, Rough Stuff, Kokatat, Gath Helmets, Snap Dragon