Dunedin sculler Lucy Strack was brought down to earth with a thud when she failed to make the A final at the Lucerne World Cup last month.
Strack (21) made the final of the lightweight double sculls with Julia Edward at the world championships at Lake Karapiro last year.
But it has taken time for her to adjust to new partner Louise Ayling over the past six months.
The goal of the pair is to qualify their boat for the London Olympics by finishing in the top eight at the world championships at Bled, Slovenia, next week. They did this at Lucerne by winning the B final and finishing seventh overall. But they want to make the A final at Bled.
"I was pretty disappointed after Lucerne not to make the A final but, on reflection, it was probably just the kick in the guts we needed," Strack told the Otago Daily Times from Bled.
Strack and Ayling were part of the New Zealand team that then trained for seven weeks at Gravelines, France. It had been a productive time, the North End club rower said.
"I feel very confident with the work we have done. I don't think it would have been possible to train any harder, so I think that is a good confidence boost going into the championships."
Strack has found the training courses in France and Belgium different from the lakes in New Zealand.
"All the rowing courses and training venues we go to are 2km long, so we are turning around during the session rather than rowing hard up then back at an easier pace like we do at home.
"We have been working as a tight squad in almost every session and have competed against each other in handicap races. In every training session, we have the big boats chasing us down."
The training venue in northwest France was on the coast and this meant a lot of wind.
But it is not all hard work. Sunday is a day of rest, when the New Zealand squad has day trips and sightseeing.
Strack said Bled was "absolutely stunning".
"The lake is tucked into a valley and we are surrounded by jagged mountains. It reminds me of The Sound of Music. There is an island at the 500m mark with a castle on it. It really is spectacular."
Strack believes it is a realistic goal for the pair to make the final.
"It would be a big ask to make the podium but nothing is impossible," she said.
Otago rowers
At the world championships
• Hamish Bond with Eric Murray (men's pair)
• Lucy Strack with Louise Ayling (women's lightweight double sculls)
• Fiona Bourke (women's quadruple sculls)
• Fergus Fauvel (travelling reserve)
