Joel Brennan is preparing for the biggest event of his kayaking life.

As a member of Team Canada, Brennan is gearing up for the Junior World Championships in Plattling, Germany, next week.

The Vanier Catholic Secondary student arrived in Europe on June 5 to train.

"When I arrived with the rest of my team, there were a couple of countries here, including Ireland, Poland, the United Kingdom, as well as part of the German team,” Brennan told the Star via e-mail from Germany.

"In the past six days, the paddling grounds have exploded with competitors from many countries. Japan, Norway, the United States, Spain are just a few.”

In the midst of the mad preparations, Brennan, who is attending Lakefield College School, a private school near Peterborough, Ont., is dealing with exams.

He said a typical training day is as follows: wake up 9 a.m., paddle by 10 a.m., break for lunch at 12:30 p.m., watch competitors, return to water from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. before final practice session from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Study in there somewhere, he said.

"Exams have been a tad in the way of practice but it is not hard to work around the times.”

Brennan earned a spot on the junior national team by taking second at the National Freestyle Kayak Team Trials Kananaskis, Alta., in August.

Since, his kayaking has come had major boosts from spring training at the Alabama Mountain Games, the M.A.C.K. Fest (the Marmora Area Canoe and Kayak Festival) and the Level Six Capital Cup in Ottawa.

But he credits paddling in the southern U.S., especially at Rock Island, Tenn., with the famed Jackson family, makers of Jackson Kayak and world champions, with being the best prep for Germany.

"Since last year, I have improved substantially, mainly because of the practice I have gotten while in Alabama and Carolina. I am feeling good about competing against the best junior paddlers from every other strong paddling country in the world,” Brennan said.

As a member of Team Canada, Brennan is the lone representative of the west.

"Everyone else on the team is from the Ottawa area. Living in Whitehorse has given me the opportunity to learn to paddle with the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club. This is where I first learned to paddle.

"Being able to use gear with only a cheap membership really helped me get into the sport.

"Living in Whitehorse has also given me the opportunity to paddle at the spin wave located under the blue bridge. I forget the name of it. This wave has been a perfect practice place for me.”