World Championships

I spent last week training with the U.S. Team. We had one hour of practice everyday. We split the team in half so that we could all have adequate time on the wave. In addition to team practices there were also open times on the wave when everyone was free to practice.

The first couple days of team practices were hard because the wave kept changing. The wave is controlled by a dam that has to be set in a particular sequence for there to be a wave at all. In addition to team practices I did a night session at 8pm and then an early session one morning at 4am. Even at 4 in the morning there was a queue of 10+ people but looking at the stars was amazing!

During one team session the wave “greened out” completely, meaning it changed so that there was no wave. This was super frustrating considering we had limited time out there anyway, but we made the most out of it and just played. It was great being out there with friends doing what we all love to do.

After a week of training it was game time...I was a little bit nervous and as I was getting in my boat for the competition I slipped and fell on my ass in front of everyone in the grandstands! They went crazy with cheering! I was the first to go in my heat which was stacked with awesome paddlers and great friends, Anthony Yap and Peter Czonka. My first ride went very well! I stuck a wave-nasty (and almost flushed off because I was cheering myself on), my score was 350 ish. My other 3 rides weren't as good as the first but I had more fun during those four rides than my entire week of training. My total combined score was 450 which put me in 35th place out of 103 competitors. Though I won't be competing in the finals I have the opportunity to help announce the rest of the competition.

Thanks to everyone for cheering me on back home; I wouldn't be here without your support.
Cheers!