The US Open.  It is a fun, but interesting race, in that it basically serves as the Nationals of the spring.  This race draws many of the nations top kayakers, and is a gauge for each athlete’s winter training. It is the last major
race before the US Team Trials.  Two days of testing, and judging your abilities to see if any last minute changes need to be made.

For me, it was the second major race that I have been able to do since having my shoulder reconstructed (The first being the US Nationals last August).   This would however, be the first race that I would be able to do with an actual winter of training behind me since taking three years off due to my shoulder injuries. I was very excited, and I knew I had worked hard, but there were still some nerves.  I felt like I had done all that I could do to prepare, but I still was getting used to being back in the game.  The race was a great way for me to also test my ability to deal with all of the challenges that racing would present.


To start with, on Saturday, the weather was less than warm.  Hovering around 50 degrees, the sky would spit rain almost constantly through the first runs.  We did not find out the order that our classes would run until 8:30 at the competitors meeting.  Usually, the K1 women’s class trades out with the C1’s to be first out of the start, so I hit the water at 7:45 to do my double warm-up and be prepared (The doing a double warm-up consists of warming up before the event, and then warming up again before your run).  The water was a cold 50 degrees, and with the rain and morning wind, the warm-up was necessary, but hardly warm!  At the competitors meeting, I was very surprised to find out that the K1W class would be the last class to compete, and that two more last minute competitors had been added to the K1W class.  Jamie Burns, and Paris Robinson both being past US Team members were now added to the list.  This would be a good race, with good competition. With the class order announced, I now had another 2 hours to go before my first run.  The good thing was that I now had plenty of time to watch the men’s kayak runs to polish off my race plan.  The challenging part would be making sure that I had eaten enough that morning, and not getting nervous in the extra time.  I put on all the layers I had so I could stay warm as long as possible. 


The course was straightforward except for a tricky offset right above the main drop (Nantahala Falls).  I knew that I had done a harder move than that during practice, but if I missed it in the race I would not be set up well for the move in the drop, possibly costing me a lot of time in a loop.  So, after watching a good number of the men take hits on the move (consequently taking 2 to 4 seconds worth of penalties), and then having to force the move at the bottom of the falls, I made up my mind to opt for the safe option of the spin which would not stress me during the run any and insure that I could set up the move at the bottom of the drop the way I wanted. 


It was time.  I got my gear and headed up top for my warm up.  I felt pretty good, but a little jumpy, and more than ready to get this first run over with.  When I reached the starting line, I saw an old friend.  Steve Zarnowski has been working races at the NOC for years.  His daughter Laura used to race, and even though she no longer does, he continues to dedicate his time and his amazing good attitude to our sport.  It was wonderful to see him there.  He joked with me and suddenly I was able to relax, smile, and that starting line felt like home again.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go…. I took off with good speed, but making sure that I didn’t overdo things.  I was having a smooth clean run when I approached the tricky offset.   Without thinking, I executed the spin, and shot through the falls.  I landed just where I wanted to right behind the upstream.  The next move was a ferry to a down-stream on the other side of the river.  I had done this move a thousand times, and yet this time, I came out of the gate too tight and was about to miss the ferry.  I immediately began to paddle backwards and I was able to just get my head under the next gate.  I then had to loop back up for the next upstream.  Finishing the last few gates, I headed for the finished line.  I crossed, and breathless in the eddy, I felt dismayed that the run that started out so well had ended up being rubbish.  Well, I would have to depend on the next run.  Imagine my surprise when over the lunch break I checked my time and found out that I was in first place and had had a clean run!  In my frustration about the botched move, I had forgotten that I had indeed had a clean run!  Quite relieved, shocked, but determined to do have a better second run, I tried to relax and get ready.


My second run did indeed go better, although, I still had trouble with the same easy move at the bottom of the course.  Only this time, I was able to back-ferry, get the gate, and spin quicker to avoid any type of loop for the next gate.   At the bottom, I felt much better, and was glad that at least I had one good run.  The first day of racing was done, and I was just relieved.  I paddled down-stream to do a cool-down, and to just relax and enjoy the water. 


When I was walking back toward the car, Colleen Hickey, one of our top C1 women, told me congratulations and that I had won the day with a 116 clean! (This had been the exact time that I had in all of my practices beforehand!)  I was pretty happy, and a little overwhelmed.  When I checked the scores for myself, I was surprised to see that my 116 had put me not only in the lead; but also in the lead by 10 seconds!  I gathered my things to head up to my cabin with a smile on my face.  One day down, and one day to go!


Sunday morning, I headed down to the river early to warm up, not sure if they would switch the starting order around.  Sunday was supposed to be warmer than Saturday and I had been hopeful that it would be better. However, the rain of yesterday had been replaced by a bitter wind that kept the day quite cold.  The weather was not pleasant, but I tried to focus on the task at hand.  What did I need to do right now? That was the most important thing.  They kept the starting order the same, and I stretched and watched the men’s kayaks once again further refining my plan. 


My first run went very well up top, but I was feeling a bit stiff.  At the offsets at gates 8 and 9, I cut the move a bit too tight, and had to throw my head back and pray as I went through the gate.  I then finished the course, and felt like the run was OK, but thought that it would be slower that I would have liked, and I was not sure about the call on the head-duck.  When I checked the scores, I was taken aback. Not only was I only given one touch, but also the time was much faster than I had thought was possible!  A 108, and I was once again in the lead by over 10 seconds! I couldn’t believe it to be honest, but I was relieved.  Then the thought hit me, combined with my run yesterday, I could actually win this race! I had never won a national level race, and it just might happen today!

I decided to just go for it my second run, but to make sure that there was no doubt in the judges mind on any of the gates.  To just lay it down and have some fun!  The run was good with only 1 touch! It was a little slower than I had wanted, but still fast enough to put me in first place.  I was later informed that my time on the first run had been a blip, and that my time was being changed to guess what, 116! I could not have cared.  That time made sense, and did not change a thing.


I was pretty much overcome!  I could not believe what had just occurred.  I mean I knew the work I had put into this, but it still seemed surreal.  I could not quite believe it!   At the awards ceremony later, still freezing and wind-blown, I was finally able to stand on top of the box!  It felt like I was watching someone else’s life!  I was having fun, and at the same time so relieved that my training was working, and so grateful to have this opportunity!  Later that evening, with the reality setting in more and more, I was able to go out to dinner with some great long time friends, and some new ones made during the week.  There was nothing better! Later, Nick Wilkening, a very promising junior from California, and his mother graciously took me to the grocery store (huge treat after 2 weeks without my car!!).  What at day!! 


This race has given me the confidence to face race challenges that I had not had in a while, while learning to trust my training, and just to be able to focus on what I needed to do at that moment.  It has given me a bit of a confidence boost going into trials, and I am very excited to see what is possible there.  There are still many challenges ahead, but I am ready more than ever to face them.


I want to thank everyone who has sent all of their congratulatory messages these last few weeks.  It really is wonderful to hear from everybody and all of your encouragement means a ton!  I also want to thank my very supportive husband, Ben, who knows what it takes, and has continued to give me all of these amazing opportunities!  Also, a HUGE thank you to everyone who has made this possible by taking classes, and being involved with the dream that is the Olympic Outdoor Center!  You are making a difference in many peoples lives!!