Alexandra whitewater kayaker Nick Collier finished 2025 with an international silver medal in China, before returning home to Central Otago for Christmas and straight back into training.

Nick competed at the China Wildwater International Open in Yunnan Province, arriving back in Alexandra at 11pm on Christmas Eve, he said.

The three-day competition was held on the Nu Jiang River from December 19-22 and featured five disciplines.

Nick placed second in the short distance event and finished inside the top five across all five disciplines, which also included long distance, kayak cross, a challenge race and a rafting race.

The silver medal marked his third consecutive podium finish at the China event. He previously placed second in the challenge race in 2023 and third in kayak cross in 2024.

Nick Collier: 'A top five in every discipline was an epic achievement'. Image: Supplied

Nick said Christmas Day was spent with family before he returned to training on Boxing Day, making use of the rebuilt Clutha slalom course near his hometown.

He then began the new year with five days of training on the Tekapo Whitewater Course, alongside Olympic silver medallist Luuka Jones and supported by Central Otago Whitewater Club coach Alex Goñi.

The China result capped what Nick described as an "exceptional year" across multiple disciplines.

In 2025, he was crowned under-23 Oceania and New Zealand champion in canoe slalom, won the under-23 world title in kayak cross, and placed 10th at the Whitewater World Championships.

Nick is now preparing for the first races of 2026, starting with the two-day New Zealand Open at the Mangahao Whitewater Course, which kicks off on Saturday, followed by the Oceania Championships at Auckland’s Wero Whitewater Park later in the month.

Both events double as selection trials for New Zealand age-group and senior teams.

Nick said he would be trialling in his final year of under-23 eligibility as well as for the senior squad.

On the Nu Jiang River in Yunnan, China. Image: Supplied

He has already been pre-selected for the New Zealand under-23 kayak cross team after winning gold at last year’s world championships in France.

Nick said early-season selections would determine whether he competes in a full European World Cup campaign, alongside the under-23 world championships in Poland and the senior world championships in the United States.

Now based in Auckland to train full-time at Wero, Nick said Central Otago remained a crucial part of his development.

He said growing up paddling local rivers including the Clutha Mata-Au, Kawarau and Hāwea, and spending countless hours at the Hāwea Wave, had shaped his career, and returning home was something he continued to value during a busy international season.

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