Kayaking: Awesome foursome

One of the most exhilarating sights in kayaking is a K4 boat ploughing down a course, a quartet of paddles scything through the water like a giant turbine.

Such is the power generated that, given the right conditions, it is possible to tow a water skier behind the boat.

The re-emergence of a men's K4 has been one of the real positives to come out of the 2006 international canoeing season. The team of Shaun O'Connor, 19, Marty McDowell, 19, Travis Mitchell, 23, and Troy Burbidge, 25, has contested the world championships in Szeged, Hungary, missing out on the 500m finals but making the 1000m B final.

They also made the K4 1000m B final at the World Cup in Duisberg in May and spent time training in the Czech Republic as well as competing at a Grand Prix event in Australia.

It is a case of kayaking again developing talent from within surf lifesaving ranks.

That follows a line of illustrious transitions, including that of team coach and double Olympic gold medallist Alan Thompson, Ian Ferguson, Paul MacDonald and Ferguson's son Steve.

"Most of us got into paddling initially through surf skis - that's our background," said McDowell.

The four formed late last year and have already shown dedication by moving to Gisborne, Thompson's home, for winter training when they are not overseas, with Mitchell and Burbidge moving from Auckland.

The crew's main aim at this stage is to qualify for the Beijing Olympics as a "development" crew, with an eye on the gold medal prize at London 2012.

But Ian Ferguson is warning against writing them off as genuine contenders by 2008.

"I actually think they've got a bit of a chance at Beijing, I wouldn't discount them. They've never cracked under pressure but they just don't quite have the strength out of the blocks," he said. "They're fit enough but just need to build on their experience and maturity."

Coach Thompson is more circumspect. "The K4 is definitely a development crew for 2008 - it's after that when we'll hopefully see the true reward. That's why it's so important to keep coming back to Europe to race the best as part of your apprenticeship."