Susan's Evolution: Wildwater 2010 National Championships and Inevitable Racing Frustrations

Bursting through a wave on the sprint course. Photo: Adam Elliott

Athletes often quickly fall into a whirlpool of frustration when a competition/race does not go as planned. Ideally, this stage does not last long, especially for those athletes who understand the deeper joys of the river.

When this much boat is out of the water, you know there is power behind your stroke. Photo: Chris Norbury

The amount of disappointment possible after my 3rd and final race at Wildwater National Championships this weekend could very well have been unbearable. Yet, somehow, it didn’t even make it past the finish line with me. Only now as I write do I understand why.

I had swam. Not just through the finish line of my first sprint race the day before, disqualifying me from the sprint class, but also in the middle of my longer, classic race. I swam twice. I also would have been the sprint National Champion had my head been above the water for those last three yards of the race course.

National Women's Champion Tierney O'Sullivan heading into the rapid

As for the Classic race, I felt like I had a good chance for a win. I love longer events, stretching the mental focus and attention required for competition over a longer period of time.

Yet, I’m not upset. Why would I be?

Going into the weekend, I knew that I had spent more time in my kayak over the past 3 months than any previous 3 consecutive months. Just the wrong boat.

Confessing to the other athletes, I spoke of how my creek boat had stolen my attention during the past few months, leaving little time for fun with the Wildwater kayak. I spoke of unexpected rainstorms and an abundance of eager new river friends. I even used the excuse of participating in the Eddyflower Total Vertical Challenge, a competition based on

running the steepest rivers you can find. I almost had to spend that much time in my creek boat.

The championships were also held on an infinitely clear river inside a National Park I might have otherwise never visited.

The North Cascades, in the northwest corner of Washington state, blew me away. Massive trees filled in the jagged mountain views on either side of our vehicle as we wound our way deeper into the wilderness.

Some ladies from the Women's Team giving perspective on boat length. Photo: Adam Elliott

Finally, the race brought in kayakers from all over the country.

Kayakers who revel in the meticulous break-down of the forward stroke.

Kayakers who extensively talk about each micro-wave and eddy line within a rapid.

Kayakers who like to read and run their whitewater faster than any other boater.

Tom Weir, C1 National Champion

I identify with this particular group of kayaks for their dedication to improvement of skill and development of understanding the currents we slice across.

So really, I had no grounds to allow a few silly swims to ruin my experience.

I’ll admit, the frustration visited me momentarily. I secretly hoped that my head had somehow remained above water as I crossed the finish line, pulling my skirt just after. I wondered if I had paddled hard enough after the second swim to make up for the time lost.

But I immediately knew that it is what it is. It just was not my race this year, and I’ve got all winter to look forward to the next. With all of the upsets, I still got a spot on the US National Downriver Team, allowing me to participate in coaching and training for an upcoming Worlds event.