Isobel Glover of Victoria is a quick learner, and when she likes something, she works at it.
Three years ago, Glover saw an advertisement that the Victoria Youth Paddling Club was offering a free, six-week program. She tried it, fell in love with it and immediately joined the club.
She is now the fastest under-16 female paddler in Canada and her abilities will be tested from today through Aug. 15 when the World Outrigger Sprint Championships are held at Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. The Victoria club is sending 15 juniors to the championships.
Glover has competed in three types of paddling this season - dragon boat, outrigger and sprint kayak - and she has won medals in them all.
"When I started with the club, I really liked it and worked hard at it,'' said the 14-year-old Glover, who will be attending Esquimalt High in the fall.
"I am strong physically and that helps with paddling. I also have the mental capacity to focus on my training and accomplish goals.''
As the fastest junior qualifier, Glover was selected as Canada's flagbearer the World Outrigger's parade of nations at the opening ceremonies.
"The World Outrigger Championships are the Olympics in this sport,'' said Marianne Pilon, assistant outrigger coach. "Some of the racers coming here are carded athletes. It will be a huge honour for her to carry the flag. There will be about 2,000 athletes competing from 20 countries. I think Isobel will be up to the challenge.''
When Glover is not busy on the water, she plays violin in the Victoria Youth Orchestra. She also has a unicycle, is trying her hand at juggling and likes origami (paper folding).
"With the violin, I practise at least an hour a day and then three to five hours when I'm with the orchestra. With the paddling club, we go an hour a day, five days a week and then another 90 minutes on Saturdays. I like being busy and sometimes it is difficult to find time for everything. I don't watch a lot of television as I would rather be doing something else.''
At the recent B.C. Summer Games in the canoe/kayak events, Glover came away with 10 medals and also qualified to be part of Team B.C. for the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.
In Calgary, Glover will be sitting in the stroke seat of the six-person outrigger boat for the under-16 Team Canada 1 squad and the under-19 Victoria team. The stroke has to be a very strong paddler, as she sets the rate and works with the stern for buoy turns.
When asked about trying for the Olympics, Glover said, "I'm not really thinking that far ahead. If the opportunity did come and I had the ability, I would work hard to wear Canada's colours.''
rrauch@timescolonist.com
