Kayaking: Partners opt for new coach rather than Olympic icon Ian Ferguson

Steven Ferguson (R) is embraced by his father Ian Ferguson. File Photo / Kenny Rodger

Steven Ferguson's K2 partners have opted for a new coach over his father, Olympic icon Ian Ferguson.

Steven Ferguson made Olympic finals in the double with Ben Fouhy and Mike Walker and this year partnered Troy Burbidge.

Those crews were coached by Ian Ferguson but Walker and Burbidge have since elected to be coached by Gordon Walker, a three-time winner of the Coast to Coast multisport race.

Walker, who has a degree in physiology and sports science and a reputation for being meticulous, is also helping Fouhy.

Burbidge switched to Walker after a disappointing year in which he and Steven Ferguson placed 15th at the world championships. Though fast individually, Burbidge says, they couldn't translate that to the K2.

He also says this: "I was not happy being coached by Ian Ferguson."

"There is a lot of stuff behind the scenes that is a whole other mess and that's what we are trying to get away from. With my campaign this year and the failures we had, I knew I needed a change of direction and a change of help," says Burbidge, who moved to Auckland in 2003.

"For me, it's been a case of trying to find my way in a sport that has never supported me 100 per cent.

"I now find myself in a position where we have got a good squad, the right people with [former rowing coach] Wayne Maher, our high performance manager, who is doing the best job anyone could do in very tough circumstances."

Mike Walker says he couldn't be happier with his new coach.

"I've learnt a tremendous amount from Gordon in a short time and he continues to blow me away with how switched on and how knowledgeable he is. It's not personal. I don't have a grudge against Ferg. It's purely a professional decision," says Walker who believes his future remains in team boats. "I'm not looking through rose-tinted glasses when I say I believe we could win two Olympic medals ..."

Gordon Walker, who also coaches top woman Erin Taylor, has had his contract as "intern coach" confirmed. Andrew Towns has been hired in an intermediary coaching role while CRNZ looks worldwide for two more coaches.