Great Lakes Canoe Club's new coach may not have been in the position for long, but she certainly brings a wealth of experience.
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Amanda Montesin took on the role in October after previous coach Phil Koch stepped aside to focus on family and job commitments.
A former member of the Australian junior and under 23s team, the mother of two is enjoying watching the club's keen young members improve from week to week.
"They're really nice kids and are very motivated," Amanda said.
"I suppose I can just bring my experience and help them to improve their technical skills."
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Apart from bringing an impressive resume of results to inspire her young charges with, Amanda also offers proof that someone from the local area can reach an elite level in the sport.
Raised in Forster, Amanda first tried her hand at canoeing as a Year 7 student at Forster High School and quickly developed a passion for it.
"I thought I'd try it and then I enjoyed it and got good at it and went from there," she said.
Training up to twice a day, Amanda soon found herself on the State team working with the NSW Institute of Sport, before graduating to the Australian junior team and then onto the under 23s team.
During this time she competed extensively and enjoyed strong results at both a national and international level.
She also travelled extensively, spending plenty of time training and racing throughout Europe and other parts of the globe.
"It was amazing," Amanda remembered.
"It's pretty cool that a sport can take you to those different parts of the world that you wouldn't otherwise go."
All up she spent around six years racing competitively, before a shoulder injury sidelined her for some time.
"It was a long recovery," she said.
"By the time you do all the rehab and stuff you lose a bit of time in the sport and then I decided it was time to finish up."
Living back in Forster for the past six years after an extended period training and studying in Sydney, Amanda now works as a financial planner and is once again enjoying life in the picturesque Great Lakes.
With work and a young family to keep her busy, she no longer spends the time on the water she used to and she admits she has no desire to take up racing again, but she can see herself doing some more recreational paddling when the time allows.
For now though, she's happy simply passing on her knowledge and experience to the Great Lakes' next generation of paddlers.
"I do enjoy coaching," Amanda said.
"I just like seeing the kids."
The seven members of the canoe club are currently preparing for the regional titles at Mann River in March of next year.
From there they'll look to progress to the State titles at Grafton, which will be held in either April or May.
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