Whitewater canoeist and kayaker Žiga Lin Hočevar wants to become the best in the world. Photo: Luka Cjuha
Žiga Lin Hočevar: Sydney is like Planica
Slovenian whitewater kayakers and canoeists in the slalom finish the winter preparatory period and are already competing in the first races. The season of major international competitions will begin at the end of May with the World Cup match in Tacno. Žiga Lin Hočevar, who competes in kayak, canoe and kayak cross-country, is very enthusiastic about his preparations.
Eighteen-year-old Žiga Lin Hočevar, together with his sister Eva Alina, spent five weeks training in Australia at the Penrith Olympic track near Sydney. After spending the winter in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean and Pau in France, his wish to train in Australia was fulfilled.
One hour of training costs 25 euros
“I had a wonderful time in Australia. If you go there for long enough, the minimum is at least five weeks, there are many benefits. The conditions are much better than we have in Slovenia. What kayakers have in Sydney is comparable to what Slovenian ski jumps have with Planica. I try to spend as much time as possible abroad every year, because it has a lot to do with the quality of rowing and my well-being. At the moment, I don’t have the finances or the support to be able to afford it several times. I have a lot of respect for what I have right now and I try to make the most of it,” he enthuses Stamped by Lin Hočevarwho admitted that he had a lot of work adjusting to the ten-hour time difference between Slovenia and Australia.
He revealed that the cost of training on the 2000 Olympic track was extremely high. “One hour of training on the water costs 25 euros. Eva and I were on the water for at least two hours every day, which means 100 euros. When you’re there for five weeks, the cost is high. But at the same time, you have the opportunity to delve into the details and you can take your time, because there is no need to rush. When the temperature in Tacno is below zero degrees Celsius, such analyzes are not possible. The use of the fitness center must be added to the costs, only when I went for a run, it was free,” revealed Hočevar. In the past, the entire Hočevar family attended the winter training, but this time only father Simon, who is their coach, joined the two children for two and a half weeks. At the same time, as a coach, he has many obligations in his club KK Simon.
This year, he moved from the youth category to the member category. After winning all possible titles in the youth competition, he wants similar successes in the member class as well. He is well aware of what awaits him. “I’m still growing and developing, so I have to constantly adapt. My body is changing, my weight fluctuates more than Božič and Savško, who have been the same for ten years. This means that they can row with the same equipment throughout. We went about things a little differently this year and I’m enjoying the boat a lot more. I want victories and podiums, but I don’t feel pressure from other people and the media, but only from myself. I dedicate all 24 hours of every day to being the best in the world one day. In matches, I have to show what I’m doing in training, in which I’m doing very well so far,” said Hočevar, who was a very promising goalie in ice hockey in his younger years.
He is most respected by the French
He does not hide that his older sister Eva Alina has a lot of credit for his career. “We’re both very competitive. Since I am physically stronger than her, it is difficult for us to compare. On one track it gets close to me, on the other it is not possible. Much more important is that we are very supportive of each other. She has a lot to do with the fact that I am successful today,” explained Hočevar. Due to his innovative rowing style, the competition constantly observes, analyzes and tries to imitate him. “It is logical that they try to imitate me and learn from me. I also sit behind the screen for hours, studying how the Olympic canoe champion Gestin paddles and what he does better than me. I’m missing someone in my training group who is at least as good or a little better than me. The French respect me the most, I can feel it and of course I like it.”
He will also compete in all three disciplines this season: kayak, canoe and cross-country. “First of all, I have to qualify for the national team through the selection matches. Three of the four races will count, and based on last year’s results, I already have two victories in the canoe, and Luka Božič has one. In kayak, Martin Srabotnik has two victories, but the rest we have no bonuses and we are starting from scratch,” revealed Hočevar.
Another big challenge awaits him this year. Matura at the secondary administrative school in Ljubljana. “I am studying remotely to become an economic technician. They are very understanding about my sports obligations and help me a lot. I even took one exam during my stay in Australia. It’s a little uncomfortable because I’m alone all the time. People do not realize how much social contact with classmates and teachers means. If I had gone to a classical high school class, learning would have been much easier. Remote work has pluses and minuses,” admitted Hočevar. He revealed that he will have a problem how to be at the graduation and the World Cup match in Tacno on the same day: “I have obligations at the graduation on the same day as the World Cup match in Tacno at the end of May. If I make it to the Slovenian team, it will be a very stressful day for me to be able to compete and write my graduation thesis. It will be very tight.”
