Interview with professional canoeist Noah Hegge

WashTec is now the official sponsor of Augsburg professional canoeist Noah Hegge. In the interview, he talks about his sport, his dreams and his ambitions as a professional athlete. 

Thank you for taking the time for an interview with us. Please introduce yourself briefly to the readers.

My name is Noah Hegge, I am 23 years old and come from Augsburg. I have been an army athlete since completing my apprenticeship as a pastry chef in 2018. My sport is canoe slalom, and I compete in the discipline Kayak Single.

You have been a canoeist since you were seven years old. How did you get into canoeing?

My elder brother Samuel took part in a taster course run by the Kanu Schwaben Augsburg club. He liked it so much that he joined the club. My other brother Jonas and I often watched him train. It didn't take long for us to get on board as well.

You've been doing it for more than 16 years now ... What fascinates you so much about canoeing?

That's not easy to say. On the one hand, I am fascinated by the element of water. And on the other hand, I like the challenge of finding the perfect line (on the water) so that I can pass through the gates as quickly as possible. It's important to use the water currents to your advantage, because if you fight against the water, you have little chance.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a professional athlete?

At first, I had no intention of becoming a professional athlete. Canoe slalom was initially a hobby that I enjoyed a lot and still do. When I qualified for the junior national team during my apprenticeship, I realised that I wanted to test my athletic ability further. I wanted to continue to work on myself and develop my sporting abilities. So, in 2018, I decided to apply for the Bundeswehr sports promotion section. Since then, I have been able to fully concentrate on the sport.

What is your training schedule, and how often do you train?

My week consists of six training days. On average, I train twice a day on the water and once in the weight room. The content of the water sessions alternates between technique, endurance, speed and competition distance. In the weight room, in addition to general strength building, I focus mainly on strengthening my core and shoulder muscles.

How do you manage to keep yourself motivated to do the hard training? What drives you?

My greatest motivation is to have the perfect run. It is part of overcoming your inner weakness and sticking to the training, even if there are phases when it is less fun. The feeling after the training session is all the better for it. Keeping the goal you are training towards in mind is important for me in every training session. It also makes me mentally stronger.

What are your goals? Do you dream about the Olympics?

My goal is to win a medal at a major international competition, for example at this year's World Championships, which are being held in Augsburg. I think every athlete dreams of participating in the Olympic Games, including me.

Who supports you?

My family and my girlfriend always have a sympathetic ear for me. I can talk about the sport particularly well with my brothers, as they both know the sport. Talking to them helps me immensely and means a lot to me. I also get a lot of support from my sponsors and partners.

How do you spend your free time? Do you also enjoy being by the water in your leisure time?

Yes, I love spending my free time outdoors by the water or in nature. I'm also always up for a coffee. I am also often drawn to the water on my holidays.

If children or young people are interested in canoeing, how should they get into the sport?

My club offers a taster course every summer. Just sign up, join in and have fun.

What qualities do athletes need to have if they want to make it to the top?

I think you should always enjoy what you do and enjoy spending time in training. In addition, you should be prepared to always work on yourself and your skills and to push your physical limits. It is important to learn from defeats and grow from them.

WashTec is now your official sponsor. What do you like about WashTec?

WashTec is a world market and innovation leader in car wash technology with its headquarters in Augsburg. With water recovery, they can reuse almost all of the wastewater and, in doing so, make an active contribution to environmental protection. I see WashTec as a regionally based company that shares my passion for water. Therefore, I am convinced that sponsorship can work very well. I am looking forward to working with them.

Do you have any interesting experiences with WashTec?

As a child, I always had great fun at the car washes and was fascinated by the large systems. Thank you for this interview!

Thank you for this interview!

More information: WashTec sponsors local Augsburg professional canoeist Noah Hegge