Fluid Kayaks Team

I recently returned from my trip to Montana for the US Team Trials. This event was held to determine the US national team for next years World Championships that will be held in late june 2011 in Plattling, Germany. The gist of my story is that I placed third in C-1 qualifying me for the US Team and allowing me to travel to Germany and compete in Worlds next summer. I'm really excited about this opportunity to represent my country and Fluid at an international competition once again. I have been able to qualify for the US Team and compete at Worlds in '03, '05, '06, and '07. My best finish was 2nd in the World Cup in 2006, which I was really stoked about. Various life commitments and obstacles including college, and work/money have kept me from being able to make team trails, and, thus Worlds since 2007. So it's been three years since my last international competition, and I am itching to get to another World Championship. This summer I had three summer classes at my college that conflicted with the dates of team trials and my funds were tight so I thought that i was gonna have to settle with not going trying out for the team for yet another year. But then I realized that I had no summer classes next year at the time of Worlds and that's when I knew I had to take whatever actions necessary to make it to trials so I didn't miss the perfect opportunity to travel and compete in Germany next year. After talking with my teachers and arranging to take tests early/late I was able to organize a week and a half window of time to trip out west to Montana. So I bought a plane ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah where my friends Jeremy and Kate Laucks kindly picked me up on their way to team trails from Colorado.

We arrived in Missoula a few days before the competition started so I had some time to get used to the wave and practice.

Clean Backstab Back Loop

Prelims for C1 were on Thursday 7/1. Prelims went really well for me. I didn't have the greatest first ride but my second ride went really well and ended up putting me in first place going into finals. There was a big trick competition Thursday night which was pretty fun. It was pretty informal but a definite crowd pleaser. Team trials was held on the Clark Fork on a feature called Brennan's Wave which was right in downtown Missoula. The location of the feature was great because there was many spectators all day long. They also streamed the whole competition live through worldkayak.com and Ustream. Here are the links to world kayak where you can find articles and full results from the comp and to the archives of the live stream from the finals and the big trick competition.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8019521 Big trick (my ride starts around 25:30)

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8029766 Finals I have 3 rides

http://worldkayak.com/ Event coverage and results

In finals the format was three rides, best score counts. My first ride had an unfortunate flush on my second trick leaving me a little nervous. My second ride went better but still not as well as I knew I could do. I was in third place after my second ride which qualified me for the team because there was three spots for the C1 team. My final ride was pretty solid but I didn't hear the first buzzer and threw two of my tricks after my time was up so that left me in third place. I was still really excited about that placing because I made the team and that was my main objective, so i can go to Worlds. My friend Jordan from my home river and my friend Dane Jackson also both made the C1 team which is awesome. We're a young team, at 22 i'm the oldest C1er this year, but I believe we're a solid team.

Looking upstream from the bridge above the hole.

After awards and helping to clean up the event site it was time to hit the road. I road tripped back across country with Jordan and his dad, Ned. They were most kind to accommodate me for the three day cross country drive. We had to strap one of the boats onto the back of the car in order to fit them all. It was a sweet set-up.

A beautiful sunset in Colorado on the trip home.

So all-in-all it was a short trip, but it was a very fun and successful trip. And i look forward to competing in Worlds next year. Time to go get a tasty strawberry milkshake and then go paddle and practice my tricks. Til next time - Happy paddling :-)