By Fernanda Parodi
Paddling. What is it? Is it a sport? Is it another reason to compete? Is it something you do for fun?
It’s all of these things together and so much more! It is a lifestyle and a mental state.
My name is Fernanda Parodi, and I am a 13-year-old girl from Lima, Peru who moved to Australia in 2024 and discovered the passion of her life just by living in front of a lake on the Gold Coast. A lake with the most awe-striking natural beauty where I met the most incredible people and found amazing opportunities. I have been paddling for a year and a half, and I just love it.
This year in mid-March, I had the opportunity to compete in the Paddle Australia Sprint Kayaking Nationals; I won two silver medals and two bronze medals. This journey didn’t just begin on the start line; it started when I got an email from Paddle Queensland that confirmed that I had been selected to be a part of the PQ Team. I was completely stoked. Making the state team meant so much to me because I’d been training so hard over the past year to make it. I had just competed at States about a month before going to Nationals, where I won two gold medals.
I have been able to achieve these results by training six days a week and working out at home. After that, I took a week-long break before starting my training camp where all my sessions became harder and much more intense physically and mentally. One Saturday, I felt like I couldn’t reach my full capacity and that I wouldn’t be good enough for Nationals, but my friends and my coach Chris Hurley kept encouraging me, so I pushed past the doubt. During my training camp, I feel like I improved my mindset as well as my speed.
When we got to Perth a couple of nights before racing started, my dad and I dropped off our bags at the Airbnb and went straight to the course, which was about four minutes away and the venue looked massive, like no other place I’d seen before.
A big challenge that I had to overcome was that we had to take the rudder off my boat to bring it in the container, but when we brought it out, something was wrong with it and we couldn’t put it back in. Luckily Smithy (David Smith, 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist – QAS Coach) was there and managed to help me alongside Jason Keating (PQ Coach).
The first time I saw everyone I was competing against was actually ten minutes before the race started and I was really nervous about meeting them because most of them were older than me, except for a girl called Jasmine. When I lined up at the starting line, it was only my third time ever using gates, so I was scared I was going to fall in and I felt a huge rush of adrenaline through my body. The sound of the starter set off a part of me that I didn’t even know existed, but I just went with the moment.
All my races felt incredible and I experienced a completely new feeling that I would love to feel again. The opportunities I got during Nationals were all supported by my personal training sessions with coach Julian Norton-Smith (Former Australian and World Champion), who was always by my side sharing his experience, tips and racing strategies with me.
Nationals helped me learn that the most important things to reach high-performance levels are many: eating and sleeping well, exercise, courage and strong support from family, friends and coaches. I also learnt that even if you don’t win, you must keep trying, give it your best and always feel proud of the efforts you make. Being part of a team felt amazing because when someone won or lost, everyone felt supported and we could ask the older kids for tips and encourage each other. Something that I would tell my younger self is: “just keep trying, push yourself, don’t give up; because otherwise you’ll never know what you’re capable of.”
I would definitely like to go to Nationals again next year and the years after; it would be a great experience to have something big to look forward to while training and competing at States. Since I didn’t place first in any of my races this year, I’d like to focus next year on continuing to improve and hopefully finishing at the top in more of my races. Something I’d say to other girls thinking about paddling is:
“Paddling has genuinely made my life better in so many ways. I’ve met amazing friends, discovered what really matters to me, and found a community that lifts me up. If you’re even the tiniest bit curious, I’d really encourage you to give it a try.”
Paddling has not only given me a way to express myself, but it’s also given me a family outside my own and a home away from home. It has also allowed me to travel across Australia and meet new friends from other states. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be the best at something, and now I understand that I only need to be the best version of myself.
So, “She believed she could paddle… and so I did.”
Finally, I would like to thank the Currumbin Creek Paddlers Club, especially coach Chris Hurley, Paraka Mitchell and all the volunteer crew.
Also, special thanks to Julian Norton-Smith of Paddle 2 Fitness and all the legends who take care of me.
See you in the water, Fernanda Parodi