THRILLSEEKING brothers from Winsford will represent Great Britain in an adventure sport which makes run-of-the-mill adrenaline junkies go weak at the knees.
Ash and Michael Rose are off to Austria in August to represent Team GB at the European freestyle kayaking championships.
Freestyle kayaking - or playboating - is a whitewater sport where competitors do terrifying tricks like summersaults, flips, loops, and spins as they make they way down treacherous torrents in special, extra-manoeuvrable kayaks.
More points are awarded for tricks linked in quick succession as in gymnastics, and the bigger the trick, or the ‘more air’ they get, the better.
Ash did his first European competition when he was just 14, and he's now an apprentice kayaking coach at Winsford Youth and Community Forum (WYCF).
He's also studying adventure sports at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, as well as working at Go Ape in Delamere Forest.
Ash (right) and Michael Rose are both representing Great Britain at the European championships this year (Image: Kyrsia Rose)
The 17-year-old said he’s proud to make the squad along with 15-year-old brother Micheal, who’s a pupil at St Nicholas Catholic High School in Hartford, especially as it’s an experience not many siblings get to share.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be picked to represent my country, especially in such a niche sport as freestyle kayaking.
Ash says everyone who does freestyle kayaking has 'the same mindset' (Image: Dan Clohessy)
“I love it because it’s different, and everyone who does it has a similar mindset. As a team, we all get on really well.
“I’ve now got friends all over the world who I could call up and go paddling with wherever I am. It’s great fun.
“It's great to be able to compete at this level alongside Michael. It’s not something many brothers get to experience together.
Ash and Michael were water babies from a very young age (Image: Kyrsia Rose)
“I’ve been kayaking since I was seven, and with WYCF since I was 10.
“Nottingham has the best white water to train on, so we’re there most weekends.”
As freestyle kayaking isn’t an Olympic sport yet, it doesn't attract a huge amount of corporate sponsorship.
Ash and Michael’s family are now fundraising to help meet the costs of training and competing in Austria. You can help them with their journey by clicking here.
Points are awarded in a similar way to gymnastics (Image: Dan Clohessy)
Bob Barton, Ash’s boss at WYCF water sports section, said: “Ash is an amazing coach and gets on great with all the kids and adults.
“We’re over the moon to have him working for us. He knows what’s got to be done without being told and he just steps up and gets his hands dirty.
“He’s so laid back it’s unbelievable, but at the same time, he’s very driven. He just wants to go further and further in whatever he puts his mind to.
“He’s a real asset. I only wish we could get a few more like him.”
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