Growing up with the magnificent Okere Falls outside your house must be as good as it gets for a canoe slalom paddler.

George Snook would certainly agree with that.

The 16-year-old Rotorua Lakes High School student is one of the prominent athletes who is fortunate to call the Falls home.

He has grown up training with the likes of his neighbour Zack Mutton who has been in the New Zealand under-18 team for four years and this year steps up to the national senior team.

'It is pretty crazy living here. My dad got me into a boat from before I was about one and just growing up in this community with so many nice people and such an awesome vibe,” says George.

'Zack is like a brother to me. I am about three years younger than him and he would always be doing stuff and I would always try and catch up with him. It has been good and we always have fun on the river.”

George has reset his goals after finishing fourth at the Canoe Slalom Junior World Championships in Italy last July as part of the New Zealand under-18 team.

At just 15 then he was the youngest competitor in the New Zealand team and from an outsider's view, it would seem a great achievement.

But George came away from the event feeling like he had not performed at his best. A podium finish was what he was after.

'I don't think that was my best performance. I was a bit disappointed with that result but that's okay. I learnt heaps and it was a crazy experience.

'It has just motivated me to get to the Olympics.”

George is focused on doing his very best at crucial events to come in 2020 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Junior World Championships.

He is a likely selection again for the New Zealand under-18 team to compete at the junior worlds in Tacen, Slovenia in July.

George has set lofty goals but is not getting too far ahead of himself.

'I am really excited for those (world champs). It is the pinnacle I guess. Winning a medal is more of the by-product and outcome, If I can perform my best run and paddle my best then I will be super-stoked.

'If I do that then the results will come if I was fast enough, but if not then I have still done the best I can do.”

George is involved in selection trials coming up for Tokyo which he is excited about.

'I am a bit of an underdog. I just want to race my best and see how I go. There is always a chance. Nothing is impossible.”

If it doesn't happen this year then certainly selection for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be high on George's agenda.