Best known as: Niamh

Hometown: Leicester

Living now: Leicester

Discipline: Freestyle

Class: K1 Junior Women

Current boats: Gui Gui Prod Helixer Carbon, Gui Gui Prod Helixer Plastic, Zet Veloc

Shaft of choice: Straight Werner players for my freestyle and Werner Sherpa for river running.

Big volume or tight and technical: Just happy to be on the water either way 

Favourite paddling spot: Will always be Holme Pierrepont, so many good memories!

Why should you be on the Peak PS team: I like to think of myself as enthusiastic and motivated on the water and always willing to help other people have the same experience. Over the years I have seen PEAK PS's relationship with the paddling community. I admire their enthusiasm for getting people onto the water and inspiring them to pursue paddling, this is definitely something I would like to align myself with and help encourage in any way I can.

What can you bring to the party?: Lots of paddling, followed by lots of naps!

How did you get into paddling: I got into paddling through my dad’s friend who invited us on a camping weekend with a paddle in between and absolutely loved it. Over time this led me to going to my local club, PaddlePlus where I discovered freestyle.

Achievements: Hurley classic winner 2022, current European open champion, current British champion, Silver medalist at Nottingham world championships, Bronze medalist in 2022 Columbus Georgia world cup.

What's next... ambitions / plans: To come home from my first foreign world championships, taking in everything I can and coming home happy knowing I achieved my dream ride. 

Do you have any paddlesport qualifications: Paddlesport instructor 

Best things about paddling: Growing up on the water with my dad and overall spending time surrounded by the paddlesport community has given me so many great memories.

Best boating moment: It’s difficult to narrow it down as there are so many, however the first few nights spent in America were incredibly overwhelming, I felt proud to be supporting my country while away from home competing for the first time. This stood out to me as I remember learning so much while out there and figuring out my future goals.

Worst boating moment: I would say the strain freestyle can have on your body is huge and dealing with injury sucks

Ultimate worldwide destination: New Zealand or Norway, such pretty places! 

Drink: Diet Coke

Music: Bit of everything

Movie: Anything Disney or a good horror

Read: What's that?

Piece of Peak PS kit: The only thing that kept me paddling in the winter for long amounts of time is their Dry trousers!