In May 2017 I was allowed to go to the World Cup Canoe Marathon in Hazewinkel, Belgium. It was the first time for me to represent the Netherlands.
I was allowed to borrow a marathon canoe because my own canoe was too heavy. And it was all very official, with a pass, a NED sticker on my canoe and special NED competition clothing.
I sailed two races: 3.5 kilometers with 2 portages and 19 kilometers with 5 portages, fortunately both races were not on the same day, because it happened to be very warm that weekend (above 35 degrees Celsius), so from the national coach you had to keep drinking, drinking and drinking.
My father was with me and he provided breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days, so the athletes didn't have to worry about that.