After stellar 2017, Rice looks to raise the bar higher in 2018

In many years’ time – at least a decade, probably more – Ken Rice will be asked when it was that he first realised he belonged in the big time of canoe ocean racing. The South African will have no hesitation nominating 2017 as the year it all came together for him. When he finally got a chance to catch his breath at the end of last year, the enormity of what he had achieved on the water in the previous 12 months took his breath away again. “2017 was nothing short of incredible for me with some really special moments lived,” Rice said this week. “I think in terms of break through moments, 2017 will be that year for me and I really hope to be able to continue with the momentum I ended the year off with. “I was surrounded by the most incredible people and supported by the best sponsors - they really are the best, considering they saw a tiny bit of potential in a 95kg 14-year-old!” A 95kg 14-year-old with an older brother forever raising the competition bar, and already entrenched in an ocean racing community arguably the strongest in the world. But that was a few years back now; as of today, Ken Rice is the U23 Ocean Racing World Champion, courtesy of a strong performance in the rollicking surf of Hong Kong last year. He finished fourth overall, after threatening for a podium, and maybe even a win, at crucial times during the race. He took three weeks off at the end of the year, but didn’t want to spend too long away from the water, lest he lose some of the magic he tapped into in 2017. “This year should be a very interesting year for me with everything being so different now in terms of benchmarks,” he said. “My main goal is to try narrow down the average positions at races and really enjoy what I am doing, rather than just throwing all my focus on winning. “Saying that, every race I go to I will be sure to throw my back into it and be there to win or defend a title, but learning from every step should I win or come 15th! “There's no better feeling than being...

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