Longford kayaker Jake Bermingham makes big waves at European Championship in Austria

A talented Longford kayaker has returned home from the European Freestyle Kayak Championship in Graz, Austria.

Jake Bermingham, 15, from Ballymahon, is a member of Inny Kayak Club and a student in Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon.

Jake proudly represented Ireland alongside 19 other Irish participants in the competition which saw 140 athletes from 14 European countries take on the challenge.

Freestyle kayaking is a fun, fast and dynamic discipline of the sport of Kayaking. Freestyle paddlers use the white-water waves and holes to perform surf and gymnastic style manoeuvres and tricks. The sport uses short kayaks designed to surf and spin across the water and release into the air.

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In competitions, freestyle kayakers gain points for every different trick they perform, with bonus points awarded if they can get their boat out of the water and into the air. Competition runs last 45 seconds.

Jake has been preparing for his first international competition with daily flatwater sessions on the canal along with training on the River Inny, Clonmel, Dublin, Tuam and Clifden.

He flew out to Austria early August to train on the feature and started Irish Team training on August 23.

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Jake has had a very successful kayaking career to date winning the Junior Liffey Descent 2023 and 2024, Inny Wildwater Race April 2023.

He also took three bronze medals in Southeast Fest and will be travelling to the UK next weekend to attend the European Open Freestyle event in Nottingham.

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All his hard work and dedication paid off placing 15th in Europe and 1st place in Junior Mens for Team Ireland.

Jake has a bright future ahead in this sport and we wish him all the best.

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