Second generation Tasmanian paddler following Fox’s lead on the water

A young Tasmanian will be hoping Jess Fox’s Olympic success will rub off when she comes up against national competition this week in her home state. Here’s how she has Fox’s gold medal winning canoe.

17-year-old Freja Boocock and the canoe she brought from Olympian Jess Fox at the 2025 national age championships at Forth. Picture: Elise Kaine

Freja Boocock is determined to follow the trail blazed by Olympian Jess Fox — going as far as competing in one of her Olympic gold winning canoes.

The second generation paddler gets more than a “real buzz” from competing in canoe slalom- she gets to develop her confidence and resilience while building a community.

“I get quite scared and have to really push through the fear to try and get the fun out of it,” she said.

“But once you push through it, it is so much fun.

“When you get to the end of a run you just feel great, that’s really why I do it.”

The 17-year-old Hobart College student is the daughter of Justin Boocock- an Australian Olympic slalom canoeist and she has been lucky enough to meet and train with one of the sport’s biggest ambassadors — Fox.

17-year-old Freja Boocock and the canoe she brought from Olympian Jess Fox at the 2025 national age championships at Forth. Picture: Elise Kaine

Freja said it was “cool” getting to train and watch Fox and see “how good she is and what you can do”.

“She brings a great atmosphere to the sport as well, she’s super humble, nice and pleasant to be around.

“She gives lots of tips and it feels great when you do something and she says ‘that looked really good’.”

Freja even purchased and uses the boat Fox used at the Tokyo summer Olympics in 2020. Mum Jen Boocock is a kayaker and said Freja was on the water from birth as she was taken along with her parents but started taking the seriously at age 8.

In 2024 Freja again made the national development squad and this year will make her first solid attempt at making the Australian team to go to the junior world championships which would be her first stepping stone to representing Australia in a future Olympics.

“That’s my goal and then potentially the Olympics one day,” Freja said.

Tasmanian Canoe Club at Forth where 2025 canoe slalom national age championships are being held January 3-5 2025. Picture: Elise Kaine

“It’s hard to get into though, and it’s a lot of work and a long time in the future.”

Paddle Tas organising committee member Cam Folder said the Age Championships were aimed at getting as many people on the water as possible with competitors from under 14 up to masters and seniors competing over the weekend in both canoe slalom and kayak cross.

He said the sports have been growing in popularity the last several years, but the outside interest really exploded following the successes of Jess Fox and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Mr Folder said Tasmanians, especially in the junior category, represented a large contingent in the national championship being held at the Forth River canoe slalom course.

From 3-5 January paddlers from West Australia, Victoria and South Australia and Tasmania will compete across hundreds of runs on the Forth River.

Club commander Russell Horton said with around 160 competitors taking to the waters over the weekend it was one of the most well attended Australian Canoe Slalom Age Championships in years.

He said there was a good female participation in the sport and when families come to camp and kayak on the river there are “just as many girls out as there are boys”.

Originally published as Second generation Tasmanian paddler following Fox’s lead on the water