Tony Schumacher

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Career Highlights:

Kayaking

- Selection to the 2008 Australian Olympic Team to compete in the K4 1000m

- 2nd World Cup 3 (Poland) K4 1000m - 3rd World Cup 2 (Germany) K4 1000m

- World Championship Finalist K1 200m

- Australian Champion K4 1000m, K4 500m, K4 200m

- Australian Champion K1 200m

- NSW Champion K1 500m

Surf Lifesaving

- 2nd Australian Surf Ski Championships

- 2nd World Surf Ski Championships

- NSW Champion in the Surf Ski

- Multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the NSW State and Australian Championships

- Competing in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series and winning numerous races

Tony Schumacher was born in Sydney Australia. From an early age he showed a talent for sport. From the age of 5 he was involved in surf life saving (in Australia) in which he still competes today some 28 years later.
It wasn’t until 2004, however, that Tony took up the sport of kayaking, having had good success in surf ski paddling (SLS surf ski racing). This move to sprint kayaking proved a good one, and he was selected to the 2005 Australian team, where he went on to finish 8th in the k1 200m A final at the world championships in Croatia.

After having a season off Tony was back in the kayak to make a push towards the 2008 Olympics - in Beijing Tony would race in the K4 1000m along with David Smith, Tate Smith and his paddling hero Clint Robinson. The crew had good success throughout the world cup season, however they fell short of their own expectations at the Olympics.

In 2009, Tony was introduced to ocean ski paddling, a sport which he enjoyed immensely and achieved some great results (particularly in Australia). In 2010 Tony joined Team Epic and is looking forward to even greater success riding the premier ocean skis on the circuit.

Tony’s future focus, beyond this season, is to again represent Australia at the Olympic games in London.

Age: 33 years old

Residence: Australia

Family: Married to wife Kristy with one 2 year old son named Jack, a daughter named Shenae (and a dog named Rex)

Occupation: NSW Police (Water Police on Botany Bay & Port Hacking River)

What do you like doing when you're not paddling (or working)?:

Play with my two kids Jack and Shenae and if I get the chance an afternoon nap doesn't go a stray either

What ski do you paddle and why do you like it? :

Epic V10 or Epic V12 depending on conditions. I like the V10 in sloppier and larger conditions but the V12 seems to go really nice in the smaller less technical conditions.

Nutrition ideas and what you eat before a race:

I’m not that big on nutrition, battered fish and chips does me fine before a race!

What is your training schedule?:

My goals for the season determines what and how I train. Last year focusing on ocean paddling, my training involved a majority of aerobic work (long distance paddling, running and swimming.) When preparing with a kayak focus, I find I don’t have time between work and family to keep up the swimming and consequently it gets replaced by a gym session. I still try and keep the miles up in the kayak or ocean ski throughout the winter before cutting back on distance and increasing intensity later in the season.

What you need to do to improve?:

Early morning sessions - I avoid them like the plague ... gentlemen's hours only for me! I can't say I'm a big fan of the cold weather either.