Women of Wildwater

One of the aspects of kayak competition that is fascinating is that age is not specifically a handicap (the Hearn/Lugbill line up of winners in the ’96 Olympics were just about the magic age of 40, while this year Hailey Thompson, the women’s C1 slalom racer that everyone is watching, is only 16). We have young boaters being inspired by “experienced” boaters, and vice-versa.

The women’s wildwater event is a great example. This weekend 17-year old Haley Popp will be competing for a berth on the women’s US wildwater team, competing against the likes of Jennie Goldberg (who has been paddling whitewater for 30+ years). Both trained together this past weekend. And now will compete in wildwater at this weekend’s Nantahala Double Header/US Open.

A sincere thanks to both Jennie and Haley for taking time out to answer a few questions before the big event this weekend!

Jennie- What brings you from Washington State to WNC this week?

I came to Western NC this week to compete in the USA Wildwater Team Trials which are being held on the Nantahala. I arrived last Saturday so I'd have plenty of time to practice on the course!




Haley – being from Chattanooga you have not had to travel quite as far. So what have you been doing to prepare for this year?
I have been training since last fall, getting out on flatwater daily, doing gym work five or six times a week, and training on the Nanty many weekends. I started with a base fitness and have worked on technique, strategy, and mental toughness, all in prep for this year's racing season.

Jennie - How long have you been wildwater racing?
I have been racing Wildwater for 10 years. (Slalom for about 20). I've
been paddling whitewater, though, for 30 years. I just can't stop!

And over the years, what changes have you seen?
Once I added slalom and wildwater racing to my paddling activities I noticed that my confidence and my river running skills vastly improved. I definitely became stronger but I was also able to make very technical maneuvers,learn to use the water features to my advantage and nail all my moves! I also learned how to quickly scout a rapid and then actually remember it once I got back on the water! And it seems that improvement keeps coming. Just this year I have learned to apply even more power to every stroke. It's very empowering to feel the kayak surge forward under your command when you want it to! And, of course, along with all that training comes big pecs and biceps and rippling abs.... :-)

Pec, Biceps and rippling abs…is that what keeps you motivated?
That and the fact that I find it easy to keep motivated because I just love being on white water and paddling a kayak. I also enjoy a good work-work and I certainly get that every time I get in a wildwater boat; those boats are so much fun to paddle when you're going fast! Whitewater racing also keeps me in shape for being able to enjoy my most favorite paddling activity which is being on a multi-day wilderness whitewater run.

So Haley, how is the competition looking for this weekend?
I don't know all my competitors, but I know some great racers out there. Tierney O'Sullivan has only been a senior for a couple years now, but she's probably the toughest woman out there. Close by are Lane Errickson, Jeannie Goldberg, and a few others. I'd say I'm well matched as anyone, on a given day we all might do quite better than the others.

And what is it that is really impresses you in the field of women?
I love meeting new paddling women! Right now, I really look up to Tierney, but I love to watch all my amazing friends! I enjoy watching the progress of Hailey Thompson, a 16 year old c1 slalomist, because she is pioneering women’s canoe and dominating while she's at it! I'm big about promoting progress in women's paddling, for all types of women and all types of paddling, and my inspiration is all those women I see out on the river!

Jennie – any words of wisdom for up-and-coming women?
I encourage more women to try this sport. Now is a perfect time to try racing because the field is small....need I say that this ups your opportunities to win?!! But, of course, I'm only giving away my secret because racing is more fun with more competition. So hop in a boat and try it! I've found that women naturally have better balance and finesse and that counts a lot in whitewater racing.

Ladies, what are your goals for 2010?
Jennie? I really want to race at the World Championships in Spain this summer, but that means that I have be one of the top 4 women finishers at the race. My next goal is to not come in last in the Senior World Championships, then to medal in the Masters Championships and before the end of the year to get more women to paddle wild water with me!

Haley? This year, my main goal is to make progress. I have a lot of little goals, like certain races, but I really want to just move forward, always be getting faster, stronger, and more confident on the water. I would love to compete in Spain, at the Senior Wildwater Worlds. It's a bit of a challenge, as I'm only 17, but if I can make the team, it'll be a great opportunity for me to race with the best.

Well you both are inspiring to all of us. Good luck, good lines, and good fun!!

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Kayaking is not always love at first wet exit!

Initiating our newest team member, Courtney into kayaking this summer was not just for orientation, but also the challenge of getting a Minnesota girl fired up about our great sport!! Here is Courtney's take on that first wet exit experience....

How to become a whitewater kayaker…

“How can you work at Endless and not be a kayaker?” People often ask me. I normally laugh a little and tell whomever is asking “I am working on that one”.

Having grown up on an island in northern Minnesota, I am not a stranger to water and most things water related. From taking a boat across the lake to catch the bus when I was in school to canoe trips in the B.W.C.A., I was pretty confident that I could knock this kayaking business out no problem. Ha!

One day in early June last summer, Juliet asked me if I would be up for a day of instruction with her and Joe Ravenna, I was excited at the prospect of finally trying it out and happily agreed.

The day of my instruction came, after a quick check of the office email, Joe, Juliet and I headed out to turn me into a paddler. As we drove up to Queen’s lake, Joe and Juliet gave me a run down of how they day would go. First we would get me comfortable being in the boat-in the water-upside down, then teach me how to wet exit, work on some paddle strokes and rescue techniques. Depending on how the morning went after lunch we’d head to the Little T and get me out on the river.

By the time we got to the lake, my confidence was slowly diminishing but, I was gonna do this one way or another. I got in the boat and Juliet stood next to me in waist deep water, next thing I know, I am being water-boarded, WNC style…

Juliet was great about talking me through what was happening and kept reassuring me that she was right there and I would be ok. No matter how hard I tried to keep it shut, every time my head went under, my mouth opened and in went the lake water. By this point in my morning, I am wishing that I was back in the confines of the shop listening to Ken keep things running and fighting off O-dog’s relentless requests for a snack. Back to paddling, I am fighting off tears and trying to stay calm, I’m not going to let Joe Ravenna see me cry. We spent some time working on my ‘wet exit’, and not to toot my own horn but, I’m pretty darn good at that now. A lesson in paddle strokes and boat maneuvering and we were heading to the opposite shore of the lake.

As we paddled across the lake, Joe and Juliet praised me at how well I was doing and talked me through the steps of a bow rescue, the next skill I was going to learn. At this point in the day, I am feeling ok about this paddling nonsense and have convinced myself that by the end of the month I’ll be running the Nantahala. Three bow rescues, one successful and two failed, later and it’s time for lunch.

As we headed back down the mountain, I sat in the back of the mini-van and brainstormed ways to get out of the whole fiasco. It was oh so obvious to me that I am way too big of a pansy for this and I should just quit while I ahead. No such luck. We grabbed lunch from the Burger Basket (check it out if you have not been, it’s just down the road from the shop) and headed to the Little T. A pep talk from Juliet and a lesson in how to ‘ferry an eddy’ and we are off. Again Juliet had assured me that she would be only seconds away from me as we went down the river and Joe gave me a ‘your doing really well pep talk’. I think by this point, they were fully aware of how much I was not into this nonsense. I had been given the option to call it a day but there was no way I was backing out now.


I have no idea how far I actually paddled down the river, but I know that I did it shrieking like a toddler, I was terrified but I toughed it out and made it to the take out. I was pretty quiet on the ride back to shop and did not have much to say about my experience when asked by co-workers, I had done my best to convince myself that I was never going to get in a boat again.

A few weeks later, I was hanging out with Danny, a fellow co-worker after work and out of nowhere I say “If Ken will let me borrow a boat, will you go take me to the lake?” What the heck is wrong with me? Both Ken and Juliet looked a little surprised when I popped my head into the office and asked if I could borrow a boat. “Of course you can” was their response, later Danny told me that he was told,”He better hurry before I change my mind about going paddling”.

So there we are at the lake, I’m in a boat, Danny is standing in the water next to me and our dogs swimming circles around us. We spent the evening working on my paddle strokes, hip snap and my least favorite, the wet exit. I went home that night, with my hopes of being a white water kayaker renewed and was pretty darn proud of myself. Danny and I had made plans to go out again soon and I was looking forward to it.

Soon, came a little longer than expected and it was almost a month before I was in a boat again. We decided to paddle the Tuck through town and then have dinner at the Mexican restaurant. I think the offer of food was merely a bribe on Danny’s part. We put in at Island park and everything was going well, we were playing around and having a great time, until I decided that I should work on my hip snap with Danny a little way down river from me. What happened after this is all really a blur still. But I can tell you that not only were my nose and mouth full of water so was my boat, by the time Danny made it over to right me and there was no way to hold those tears in. One look at me and Danny announced we were done and I agreed without hesitation.

I have not been back in a boat since. But I am not giving up. Once it’s warm again, I’ll spend my evenings at the lake with friends, co-workers or any one who wants to help me with this. I’m lucky to know people like Juliet, Joe and Danny, who have been so patient with me and who after all of this are still encouraging.

I am not a whitewater kayaker, yet, but I am going to be one.

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The Ability to Let Go

Mariann Saether is a kick ass paddler. And when we ran into an article she wrote about being able to be the boater you want to be, we just had to share it with everyone.


The Ability to Let Go - Mariann Saether

When you take away the obvious differences in strength between men and women, I have found that the biggest difference between us as paddlers is the ability to let go. For many women, it seems very hard to come to terms with this simple fact: Sometimes you have to let go and push yourself out of that eddy to allow yourself to grow as a kayaker. It is ok to have somebody (like the boyfriend :-)) to hold your hand for a while, helping you to reach decisions on the river as to which rapids to run and which to walk. But I guarantee, there will be a moment where you need to let go of irrational fear and push yourself to paddle towards a horizon line, without anybody telling you to do it but yourself. I am not saying that you should go and huck a class five when you are only a class three kayaker, but if it is a safe class four rapid, that you can actually set up good safety for, why not go for it? We all swim, we all get trashed from time to time, and it is OK! It doesn't mean you are a bad kayaker, it means you are trying to get better.

To me, the biggest challenge when it comes to Class V, is to realize when to push through that mental barrier and let go. I have gotten to know myself quite well over the years of sitting on top of horizon lines. If I am scared, doubting my line on a class five, I will not paddle it. I will not allow myself to let go, and paddle out of that eddy. But if I know my line, I know I can do it, but am still feeling really nervous, that is when this ability comes into play. To force your mind to stop playing tricks on you and get out of that eddy.

There is a certain time in kayaking where you need to stop holding your boyfriend's hand and make your own decisions. If those decisions are walking 80 percent of the time, well that is your choice. If you have portaged the boat and you are still happy with your decision as you get back in the water, well then everything is good. But for the rest of you out there that hate it when you cave in for your fear and feel really down after having portaged a rapid you could have run, then it is time to start letting go. Because the reward you get at the bottom of the rapid is extremely addicting. To be able to push yourself, whether it was a class three, four or five is an amazing feeling of accomplishment that you can take with you outside of the world of kayaking.

I am never more in the moment than when I let go and paddle a hard rapid. My focus is 110 percent on my line and moving with the water. Sometimes I think back after a big one, realizing that it is probably as close to deep meditation as I will ever get. A full focus, and an entirely blank mind, emptied of the normal small thoughts about laundry, dinner tonight, plane ticket to Chile, kayak, the clean blunt, lunch etc etc....

It is about enjoying the ride, and if you don’t enjoy Class IV at all, then don't do it. If you don’t enjoy Class III, don't do it. If you don't enjoy Class II.. well... Maybe you were born a base jumper, not a kayaker... Be honest to yourself.

Mariann

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Going for the Gold in C-1

I sat one afternoon at the takeout on the Nantahala watching a C-1 boater attain upstream. It broke two of my rules: #1 Going Upstream and #2 Paddling on your knees with just half a paddle! But hey-women are smarter and don't paddle C-1s. But as the C-1 boater headed downstream I realized it was in fact a girl! And not just any girl, but once I chatted with her I realized that this was a very determined one. Jennifer Singletary is a female C-1 boater with aspirations to win gold in the newly-formed Women's Canoe Event. The Women's Canoe Event is a big deal because there has never ever been a Women's C-1 event. But this year it was added to the International Canoe Slalom program and just this past week was a demonstration event at the World Championships.

I again ran into Jennifer at the Gates on the river and asked her to take time out of her training routine to share her ambitions in this new event that is gaining attention in the international field of canoe & kayak competition.


A C-1 boater and with big ambitions. Where did this come from Jennifer?

J- I'm originally from South Carolina, but I've lived in a bunch of different places on the East coast. Right now, I am working on my PhD in Ancient Mediterranean Religion from Brown University in Rhode Island-- there's not a lot of whitewater here, but I have plenty of flatwater and I'm pretty close to some rivers with slalom courses in other states.

What inspired you to get into a C-1?

J- I first hopped into a C-1 (or awkwardly climbed into one!) last summer, in 2008. I've kayaked occasionally for many years, but I didn't get serious about paddling until I came down to spend the summer with my brother in North Carolina. My first few times paddling with a single blade on the Nantahala River were in a C-2 race boat-- I got hooked on the gates but my C-2 partner kept bailing on me, so I borrowed his old C-1 instead! His name is Philip Young-- he works with the Nantahala Racing Club. I ended up actually buying that boat from him (he gave me a good deal!) and having it cut down to the new specs, at 3.5 meters. Wayne Dickert was also a big inspiration for me when I started paddling C-1-- he still is a major motivating force for my training. He taught me how to roll, and he pushes me to get on bigger water, like the Ocoee. He was really great when I competed at the US Open last spring, encouraging me and helping me learn how to compete.

What is the most challenging part of paddling C-1 and training for competition?

J - Paddling flatwater. It can get really boring, but you need to train on it to race well. I was never really into lifting weights before I started training to race C-1, but now I usually try to lift three times a week. For me, it is challenging to eat well enough to stay strong-- I'm a terrible cook!

How supportive has the USCKT been towards Wmns C-1 as a new class?

J - A lot of people are very supportive of C-1W-- Joe Jacobi was just in Seu at the Worlds, and he posted Facebook updates about the C-1W's. I personally have received a ton of support from the Nantahala Racing Club and their coach Rafal Smolen, who has been helping me out with training. It's tough to get a new class started, especially working out what the standards are going to be. You want the class to be competitive, but you want to encourage participation too.

How supportive have the other women been that you have encountered in the races?

J - The other C-1W's are amazing! Hailey Thompson and Colleen Hickey both raced in the Glacier Breaker and US Open in 2009, and they were awesome to hang out with and train for the race with. It is all supportive in the eddies above and below the course!

There is a 15 year old that appears to be major competition. Is she inspiring you?

J - You must mean Hailey Thompson. She is definitely tough competition-- she has been racing C-1 for a while, and she is a fantastic paddler. There are several other C-1W's in the US right now who are racing really well too. Three women from the US went to World's this month, and they all placed in the top 15! I admire Hailey for her dedication to the sport and for encouraging other girls to get into canoes. She is also just a really fun girl. I don't think I would have had the discipline at her age to compete in slalom. I don't see my age as a bad thing though, especially in a new class like this. I think that being older helps my ability to focus.

What is your favorite way to wind down after a hard day of training?

J - More training! Actually, I fall asleep pretty early after a long session or two. I like to eat a good meal, and watch a movie. Frequently I have to work on school stuff after I train.

Wow-thanks so much for taking time out of a very busy schedule Jennifer. The best of luck to you! We will be following your progress :-) Joe gave us a good link to check out.

J - For a new class like C-1W slalom to succeed, we need all the support we can get! Thanks helping to get the word out about the sport!

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Chick Boat for Creek'n-Testing out the Fluid Solo for Size

Testing out the small FLUID Solo for size

-brought to us by Maria Noakes

So there I was with no boat and its raining, what to do? Indebted to Juliet forever she loans me the Fluid Solo. It happens to be orange, my favorite color.

It looks great but how will it perform? My initial impression is it’s a roundy creeker. But then to your surprise you lift the boat up and find those cute little chines running under there and what do you know, a semi displacement hull awaits you.

For those if you who know me, I am a true medium chick in the sense of medium. 5ft 5 inches, Medium build, medium centre of gravity etc…

I leap into the Solo in haste, (after all, it is still raining!) Its easily adjustable, but being used to my Hefe couch, the seat feels rather hard and unforgiving under my bottom.

Phaffing around in the eddy, it immediately feels like it is the perfect size for me. It spins on a dime. I know it is a boat I can control with ease.

And that’s not all. I discover what a wicked little boofer the Solo is, it lands perfectly, whether I am landing flat or need to carve through a boil. It tracks into eddies through waves with ease and is remarkably light and maneuverable. I really like a boat that I can rely on to hold its track and the solo does.

I felt stable and safe in this boat, a great boat for women in world where you often feel when you get in a creek boat, it’s likely to swallow you up whole.


Happy paddling in the Solo
Maria Noakes
A Happy Paddler


PS Translating the Kiwi word "phaffing" to American English: "Phaffing" is like cruising around, as Shaner says screwing around, so lets see....call it “paddling around in the eddy," would be a fine translation that all can cope with.

Another PS! Maria also wrote an awesome article about paddling through pregnancy.....

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Managing the spring head case

With spring in the air and the rivers flowing…it is definitely time to brush all the cobwebs and leaves out of your boat and get on the river! Don’t be surprised if your first trip to the river you have some hibbie jibbies rattling around in your head—even if you are heading to your back yard run. You have been out of your boat for a while!

Here are a couple of suggestions for helping work through the head games:


• Remember is it a head game. You are a good boater and you are heading to a river that you know well.

• If you are not feeling 100%, think about backing off a bit and paddling a run that you are really comfortable on to build back up your confidence and remind yourself you are good! Even putting in a bit lower/taking out a bit higher than you normally do just to make it a good positive day.

• Make sure you are paddling with people you enjoy being with. Kayaking is a social sport and having good supportive friends along will keep you smiling/laughing, reminding you how much fun it is to be on the river!

• Focus on the positive. You know the run. You know you are a good paddler. Relax. Do not spend the entire drive to the put-in thinking about how nervous you are and/or how you might crash & burn. You might—but chances are good you are going to have a great day. Don’t ruin it by focusing on negative stuff.

• Sing a song! Sure it is a distraction. But sometimes the way to get negative thoughts out of your head is to crown them out with something positive. So find a song that will get you fired up/relaxed/feeling good about yourself and everytime the negative creeps in shut it out with your song.

• Have a smile on your face. This is fun!! And have a super good day.

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Big Thumbs up for the Diesel 60!

Having spent very little time in the Diesel in the past few years, and never in the new Diesel 60, the Cheoah was definitely going to test whether I liked the redesign or not--and I loved it!

I have always enjoyed the Diesel, but not spent a lot of time in it because I always felt the D65 was just a bit too big for me. All this winter paddling the Mutant down the rivers of Costa Rica and Ecuador, I kept thinking that it would be great to return home and check out the new 60 as it sure seemed it would be the right size.

The Cheoah was cold and rainy yesterday--not the kind of day you want to spend any upside down time (not that Cheoah is ever particularly the upside down kind of river!). So I was hoping that all the chatter about stability was true. And true it was and more.

I remember the day I paddled the original prototype of the Diesel and came away thinking it paddled "sexy." I still think that. It moved so nicely down the Cheoah; super responsive to correction strokes, and steered well from either the bow or the stern.

I saw my friend Taylor Cote in her D60. Taylor is a tiny person that paddles big (I missed seeing her run Bear Creek). So going from Taylor's diminuitive size, to my fairly normal size, up to maybe ball park 150 pounds, this is the 2009 boat of choice for you--especially if you want more of a river runner than a play boat,but not a river runner so creeky that it feels corky and slow--you need to check out the D60.

Great day out with the boys, in a super fun boat. Nice work TeamWave Sport!

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