The summer of 2010 was my greatest kayaking adventure so far. It took me from the river festivals in Colorado, to the U.S. Team trials in Montana, and it ended with the Junior Olympics at NOC in North Carolina. Besides being able to paddle every day with some of my best friends I also got the opportunity to paddle with some of the best and most famous paddlers in the world.
Lyons Outdoor Games is very special to me because St Vrain is one of my "backyard runs". To make sure I had the home field advantage I trained throughout the spring on the slalom course below the October Hole and in the Black Bear Hole for the freestyle competition. So I was kind of upset when they moved the slalom and freestyle competition upstream to Meadow Park because of high water level. But it turned out just fine as I finished 1st in cadet slalom and 2nd in cadet freestyle.
At FibARK I got to paddle and hang out with some of the best and most famous paddlers in the world like the Demshitz and Team Jackson. One of my favorite things about FibARK is that it is such a large festival and the kayaking events are so popular. So I was really proud of myself for winning both the cadet freestyle and cadet slalom. It really helped that I got to work out with Scott Shipley just hours before the slalom competition started.
At the US team trial I was the only cadet so I guess I am the US team trail cadet champion :). Instead I competed in the junior class and I became "bubble boy" as I finished 7th and the top 6 advanced to the finals. I really wanted to advance to the finals, but I am still very proud of my 7th place.
A kind of cool thing that happened at the US team trial was when Jeff Cambell (the US team trial announcer) saw me running around barefoot. He felt I needed a pair of shoes so we ended up making a pair of flip-flops out of some excess foam and a pair of zip-ties.
After the US team trials we drove across the country to compete at the Junior Olympics which were held at NOC in North Carolina. I won the freestyle event and placed 3rd in boater cross and downriver sprint, but I did not do as well as I wanted to in slalom. Oh well, there is always next year. One of my favorite things about this years Junior Olympics was that I got to help out with the freestyle clinic.
2010 was a great year for paddling, but i think 2011 will be even better. This year I have already spent two weeks in Alabama training with Jeremy Adkins. In March i will be heading back there to train with Jeremy again and to compete in the Alabama Mountain Games. My dad says that I am becoming a true whitewater vagabond.
Lyons Outdoor Games is very special to me because St Vrain is one of my "backyard runs". To make sure I had the home field advantage I trained throughout the spring on the slalom course below the October Hole and in the Black Bear Hole for the freestyle competition. So I was kind of upset when they moved the slalom and freestyle competition upstream to Meadow Park because of high water level. But it turned out just fine as I finished 1st in cadet slalom and 2nd in cadet freestyle.
At FibARK I got to paddle and hang out with some of the best and most famous paddlers in the world like the Demshitz and Team Jackson. One of my favorite things about FibARK is that it is such a large festival and the kayaking events are so popular. So I was really proud of myself for winning both the cadet freestyle and cadet slalom. It really helped that I got to work out with Scott Shipley just hours before the slalom competition started.
At the US team trial I was the only cadet so I guess I am the US team trail cadet champion :). Instead I competed in the junior class and I became "bubble boy" as I finished 7th and the top 6 advanced to the finals. I really wanted to advance to the finals, but I am still very proud of my 7th place.
A kind of cool thing that happened at the US team trial was when Jeff Cambell (the US team trial announcer) saw me running around barefoot. He felt I needed a pair of shoes so we ended up making a pair of flip-flops out of some excess foam and a pair of zip-ties.
After the US team trials we drove across the country to compete at the Junior Olympics which were held at NOC in North Carolina. I won the freestyle event and placed 3rd in boater cross and downriver sprint, but I did not do as well as I wanted to in slalom. Oh well, there is always next year. One of my favorite things about this years Junior Olympics was that I got to help out with the freestyle clinic.
2010 was a great year for paddling, but i think 2011 will be even better. This year I have already spent two weeks in Alabama training with Jeremy Adkins. In March i will be heading back there to train with Jeremy again and to compete in the Alabama Mountain Games. My dad says that I am becoming a true whitewater vagabond.
