Keith Gorman has been a friend of Surfdock for many years and in 2012 he joined the team as one of our SUP team riders. He had an eventful year with performances at the World Championships in Peru, the SUP Nautic Crossing in Paris and a host of national races. We asked him about stand up paddleboarding, racing, his quiver and his plans for 2013.

You’ve been a windsurfer before you came to Stand Up Paddleboarding – how were you introduced to the sport?

I have been windsurfing for about 20 years now, only getting out once or twice a week, if it was windy. Alan Harris gave me my first paddle board to try about 4 years ago, I did not think much of it at first but got one anyway. It was strapped to the roof of the van for a year before I started to use it. I would drive home from the beach, frustrated about not getting in the water, because there was no wind and that’s when the penny dropped and I realised I could get out on the water on the paddleboard! So even if it was not windsurfing at least  I was getting out, and after a while I was paddling more and more and really enjoying it.

What brought you to SUP racing and what’s your favourite race discipline?

I have always liked to race, I used to swim competitively when I was in my teens and raced most weekends and I did some windsurf racing, too. Even when you are just windsurfing with some friends you are always trying to get by someone, so racing has always been there in my head. So when paddleboard racing started here in Ireland, it was something I was into from the start.

I love all types of racing whether it’s technical (short races of 4.5k and with a lot of turns) or the long marathon type race (anything form 12k to 18k). I really like the marathon racing, you are out on the water for an hour or two giving it everything you’ve got, and it’s not only about winning but giving it your best. The feeling when you’re crossing the finish line is always great!

 

Keith at the Surfdock Spring Race Series

Tell us a bit about your race year 2012

2012 was my first full year’s racing and what a year it was. It started in Peru with the World Championships in February, when I was selected for the Irish Team based on the 2011 race results. It was a great honour to paddle for my country and although Team Ireland were one of the smallest teams, we held our own and finished one place ahead of Team GB (which was pretty cool!)

My event was the marathon and I finished 26th so not too bad for my first world ranking. After we got home the racing was starting to take off here in Dublin with at least one race night a week and then we had 4 Irish ranked events for the Irish title.

I had some great events, with lots of 2nd and 3rd places, and I’m determined to get a few firsts in 2013.

Surfdock have been fantastic support to me and the rest of the team riders, getting us the best gear, whether it’s for racing or surfing to enable us to compete at the highest level all year. So a big Thank You to Colin and Nina for that. Now its time to get some training in for the 2013 years racing in!

How much training do you put in in an average week?

In the winter I train about 3 or 4 times a week on the super flat water of the Grand Canal Dock often together with my team mate Peter Kosinski, and then we get some surf training in over in Dollymount on the ferry waves. I also do some cross training, so I swim twice a week and get a few miles done on the road bike.

In the summer I often paddle after work with some friends, which isn’t really training, because you end up just having a chat when you’re paddling, but there is a lot more to paddling then just training and racing.

What is your quiver for 2013?

I’ve gone mad this year with my quiver!

There is a 12’6 Naish Javelin and a 12’6 Glide for racing, one is for flat water and the other is for open water racing. My new 14′ Glide is on its way at the moment as well. I got that to do fun downwinders over the summer and I’ll then keep my two surf SUPs for some surfing. I have a 9’6 Hokua for bigger waves and my 9’5 Mana for small fun waves. As far as paddles go, I’ll be hanging onto my ZRE paddle, as I dont think there are any better paddles out there.

 

Surfdock Team after the race in Paris. Photo: Cian T. Murphy Photography

You did a lot of national races last year as well as the SUP Nautic Crossing in Paris in December. What are your race plans for 2013?

I’m planning to do all the national races this year and I might even give the surfing a go. Even though I was offered a place on this year’s Irish Team going to Peru, I turned it down. A lot of the world tour races will be in Europe this summer, and I had to make a decision between them and Peru and decided to give the races in Europe a go, as I haven’t done any of them before. There is one event that has up to €30,000 in prize money (Lost Mills in Germany)!

But the big one for me this year is going to be the 11 Cities Tour in Holland, which is a 5-day 220k event that will be the one to really test myself. Before the 11Cities there is another cool event in the UK, which is called “Paddle around the pier” a 26 mile (42k) race, which should be good fun. If there is any funds left after the summer, I’ll go back to Paris to race the SUP Nautic Crossing in December again.

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Keith will be one of the Surfdock team riders you can meet at the Paddle in the Dock (SUP) sessions on Tuesday evenings in March and April.