EKAITZ SAIES

The morning air is crisp, biting at the skin. A delicate mist hovers over the still waters of the Holme Pierrepont National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, catching the pale winter sun. On the water, a group of athletes paddle with quiet determination, their breath curling in the cold air as they prepare for their…

Phil Jackson, the legendary basketball coach, once said that during Michael Jordan’s first six seasons in the NBA, he was by far the best player. Yet, despite his individual brilliance, he failed to win a single championship. In his book Sacred Hoops, Jackson explained: “A great player alone can only succeed to a certain extent,…

This week, I had the privilege of attending the ICF 2025 Paddle Summit in Hangzhou, China, as part of the Sprint Committee. It was an inspiring experience, filled with meaningful conversations with people who are deeply committed to our sport. Many of the discussions were both necessary and constructive—highlighting the challenges ahead while also opening…

Last Saturday, I gave a talk about training periodisation at my club in Oxford. Afterwards, I went out for dinner with my business partner, who attended my talk and whom I originally met at the same club a couple of years ago. We get on incredibly well, and one of the things that makes our…

Last Thursday, I had the chance to visit Norwich, a city I knew little about before setting foot there. My knowledge was limited to a handful of scattered facts: that it boasts a magnificent cathedral, that naval hero Lord Nelson was from there, that Stephen Fry was on the board of Norwich City FC for…