BY SCOTT
HADDOW
No one is telling Daniel Sabau to break a leg at this weekend's
Ontario Team Kayak Trials in Ottawa.
He already has one.
Back on May 15, Sabau broke the fibula in his right leg while
playing high school junior football.
To most athletes in his position, it would have been a
catastrophic injury.
The snapping of bone and ripping of flesh can have a
significant impact on an athlete's psyche, causing them to lose
focus and not reach their full potential.
To Sabau, the injury didn't even represent a bump in the road
on his way to provincials.
He missed only two practices after his leg snapped like a twig.
He had it set and put in a cast, and with the help of teammates
and coaches, hopped in his kayak and kept training.
"The doctor said I couldn't run...but he didn't say I couldn't
paddle," said the 16-year-old. "I could still move my arms so
it wasn't really a problem for me. It was interesting getting
in and out of the kayak, but it didn't hinder my training at
all. Actually, I wasn't out on the lake as much as I wanted to
be or was able to paddle as hard as I wanted to."
Sabau's steadfast commitment comes honestly. Last year, with
teammates from the Sudbury Canoe Club (SCC), he qualified for
nationals. Unfortunately they were held in Saskatchewan and
they couldn't go because of financial restraints.
This year, the nationals are in Ottawa, and if he qualifies,
Sabau is sure he will competing against the best in the
country. He will be competing in the midget boys' division.
Sabau leads a feisty contingent to provincials from the SCC.
(See side bar below for details on the other competitors.)
"If I don't make nationals, my coach said he would ring my
neck," joked Sabau. "I have to set some good times to even hope
to make Team Ontario. A big factor for me will be having strong
support from my family, teammates and coaches. It's a great
experience because I paddle against the best in the province
and I get to see where I stand compared to them. I see what I
have to improve and what it will take for me to get to where I
want to go."
Sabau is all business when it comes to kayaking.
"Daniel is a very determined person, and nothing slows him
down," said coach Cory Brunatti. "What really stands out about
Daniel's talent is the pure feel he has for sprint kayak. He's
very smooth when he paddles. I have watched him improve his
technical skill, strength and confidence to the level where it
has taken him from being a paddler who was one of the best in
the western Ontario region to one that is at the top of his
class in the province. Daniel has the capability to rise to
whatever level he wishes. He has the potential to compete
nationally and internationally."
Sabau is well on his way to reaching his seemingly unlimited
talent.
"Daniel has already established the correct path to realize his
dreams," said Brunatti. "He constantly works to refine
his technique, increase his strength and endurance; and, works
on the tactical elements of sprint kayaking."
Sabau has been religious with his training regiment. Every day
he wakes before 6 am and hits the water by 6:30 am.
He puts in about two hours of solid work. Then he will exercise during the day and goes back to the lake for 6:30 pm and trains another two hours.
"I do mind the early hours," said the Lo-Ellen Park student.
"Mornings are the most intense. I won't mind any of it if I
make Team Ontario."
Sabau's efforts always set a shining example for others to
follow.
"Daniel is an extremely focused person," said Brunatti. "He
establishes a goal for himself; he determines the path to that
goal and then does what ever is required to reach it. Daniel
never has to be pushed to perform the tasks demanded of him by
the coaching staff. At practices, he is the first
person to put his boat in the water and the last to take it
out."
What really makes Sabau tick is his passion for the water and
self improvement.
"I love being on a calm lake and seeing my boat make a few
ripples across the water," said Sabau. "It's a great feeling. I
love trying to beat my previous best times and working on my
technique."
Sabau is also a champion for his sport.
"This sport isn't just for people with big arms or muscles,"
said the paddler. "It's about technique and working your whole
body into the paddle stroke. It's a sport for anyone and
they'll have a lot of fun doing it."
