A bit about Adam Harvey junior surf kayak world champion

My name is Adam Harvey, I am the junior surf kayak world champion, and ranked 7th in the world overall. This article is a bit about myself, how I got to where I am today and the sport in general.

Ok, so firstly what is surf kayaking? Well apart from being the best sport that has ever been invented. Surf kayaking is surfing waves using a specially designed kayak preforming tricks on the wave as you would with a surf board, just sitting down.

It is a fairly modern sport, and has been picking up over the last 20 years, new a better deigns being introduced every year, with my favourite just been realised, the WaterTech ONA (Our New Air machine).

Well i first sat in a kayak when i was just a little kid, i suppose about 7 years old, on the Sunday afternoon family outings. It was always as flat as a mill pond, but for me that was the first step in becoming a surf kayaker.

The main thing that helped me get to where I am today is my brother Chris Harvey, as I watched him fly through the rankings while I grew up the dream to beat him and be better than him, as brothers do, was created in my mind! Ever since I was about 11 he has coached me, dragging me out in all conditions. However I still can’t work out how beating me up helped….but apparently it did!
One memory I have was a cold winters day down at the local surf spot, with the wind and sea ice cold it wasn’t the most pleasant experience in my life, especially because I cold not yet role so spent half the time swimming around…. and of course it wasn’t good enough for him to go in, so he stood on the beach all wrapped up nice and warm just shouting what to do! I wasn’t best pleased with him at the time, but I thank him now.

Another thing that has encouraged me and really help me push my self is the complete high you get when you pull your first air, or get your first barrel, it is such a amazing feeling, you could not even begin to describe the pure rush you get. It is an addiction, once you have done it once, you want to do it again and again, slowly getting them bigger and better. It makes getting up at 4 in the morning on a cold winters day, hands feeling like they are going to drop off all worthwhile…well almost!

So what do I enjoy about the sport? As all passionate surfers would
understand there are no words that can describe the many emotions felt
whilst you battle to tame the power of the waves. It is the mixture of
adrenaline and danger with a chilled vibe twisting and moving itself
through each slight movement you make. The stereotypical view of a surfer
is a drugged up gypsy, this may be, though it’s not through any drug
created by man but the effect of the wave on the soul, you become addicted
to the wave and the buzz that this creates. Aside from this it is just a
great way to fill the days, especially on a hot summer’s day with a few
good mates who get the same thrill for this amazing sport.

What drives me to compete? Well as I mentioned before, I want to be better
than my brother! But that aside they are great fun, normally consisting of surf, sun, good people and even better party’s! My first ever competition was when I was 13, it was a small one in Widemouth, Cornwall. I came away with the bronze meddle, it was a handicapped competition though, so not as good as it sounds! However I was still over the moon, and that’s when the competing side of the sport grabbed me, I then decided that I was going to be the Junior World Champion, no matter what, it was also a good excuse to surf even more! So in July 2009 I went of to Portugal to compete in the Surf Kayaking world championships. It was a very eventful drive down, with one guy trying to high-jack us, resulting in a car chance… and another guy trying to steal are surf kayaks! Once the competition had started I was more determined than ever to get the gold. After a exhausting and intense final, I heard the words I had been waiting for….Adam Harvey first place, the new Junior Surf Kayaking World Champion! This is another thing that drives me to compete, the feeling I got was indescribable, it was amazing!

Of course none of this would be possible with out the great support form my sponsors, Watertech, RunandJump Clothing, Stream Lyte and Nookie. Many thanks to all of them!