David Florence believes all the signs are pointing towards another successful Canoe Slalom World Championships outing as he bids to sign off his season in style at Deep Creek, USA.
The 32-year-old has happy memories of last year’s World Championships, claiming the C1 title before going on to also collect the C2 gong alongside Richard Hounslow.
Lightning could strike twice this year if Florence’s consistent results are anything to go by, having begun the World Cup series by winning C1 gold in London before claiming silver in Prague and ending in the Augsburg Final with the C1 silver and a bronze in C2 with Hounslow.
And all this means that Florence heads back to Deep Creek, having enjoyed a two-week training block there earlier in the year, full of confidence.
“Sometimes I find I just tune in a little bit better to racing as the season goes on,” said Florence.
“I think that happened last year and I think this year certainly in C2 we have probably tuned in better to racing as the year has gone on. Things are going well.
“What we have done is good – to get a hard block of training on the course in the middle of the season and then go out to the Worlds feeling you already know it pretty well.
“And I think what's interesting is it’s no really strong nation’s home course.
“If you go to Augsburg or Prague you have got locals who are so good on their courses. But the Americans are based out of a couple of other places so Deep Creeks isn’t their home water.
“So it's quite interesting that for everyone it’s a new experience, even for the Americans to some degree, although obviously they will have trained there a lot more than others.”
Florence plans to continue doubling up as he prepares to compete in his third Olympic Games in Rio two years from now.
Racing in two boats is more intense and demanding, but any challenges are outweighed by the rewards in his eyes.
“I enjoy both and it's very motivating to do more,” he added. “There are times like the Olympics in London when on the day the C1 just didn't quite go right and I still had a chance in the C2 and was still able to come away with the silver medal.
“The aim is obviously to compete in Rio but just getting there is going to be really difficult, as it is for anyone.
“But things are going well and that's all I can really do for now, focus on one race at a time and train hard to the best of my ability. Hopefully to get to Rio in both C1 and C2 would be the dream.”
© Sportsbeat 2014