{"id":14957,"date":"2018-01-03T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T19:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=14957"},"modified":"2017-12-11T10:10:54","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T18:10:54","slug":"kayak-racing-101-go-fast-or-go-slow-trying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2018\/01\/03\/kayak-racing-101-go-fast-or-go-slow-trying\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayak Racing 101: Go Fast or Go Slow Trying"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t we all love to cheer on the greatest show in sports from the river left side of Gorilla every year? Haven\u2019t most of us wasted precious time at work watching Sickline<\/a> coverage or highlights from the North Fork Championship<\/a>? There\u2019s something about a little competition that feels good pulsing through our veins. While most of us aren\u2019t going to find ourselves sliding down that ramp into the Payette or blazing through the Notch to the tune of a dozen cowbells anytime soon\u2014but good for you, dear reader, if you aspire to!\u2014there\u2019s no reason why you can\u2019t seek out a little healthy competition in your corner of the whitewater world. Competitions can be excellent motivators for fitness, improvement, and goal setting.<\/p>\n

The Tennessee Valley Canoe Club puts on a race down the Middle Ocoee<\/a> every fall, and this was the first year I was able to set the time aside to make it happen. I learned a few lessons along the way, including the virtue of longboats and the magic and pain of (trying) to go fast in whitewater. If you\u2019re searching for something to light a fire under you, seek out a chance to go fast and use the list below to help you get to the finish line with style.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: Chris Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Find a race that caters to your strengths.\u00a0<\/strong>Let\u2019s be honest, while the allure of the Southeast\u2019s Green Race<\/a> is great, it is not a beginner-friendly race in the least. Luckily, there are plenty of more accessible downriver events for paddlers not wanting to, or who don\u2019t have the ability to, go fast down Class V. I chose the Middle Ocoee for my first race because it\u2019s a section I know extremely well and feel comfortable with a variety of outcomes. If that stretch of river you know like the back of your hand doesn\u2019t have a race, consider taking a step down from the top end of your skill level when selecting a first-time race venue. Even downriver in Class II can be challenging, exhilarating, and a great place to start.<\/p>\n

Many paddling festivals have race events that range from flatwater and mild current to head-to-head and time trials on steeper rivers. Events like the Alabama Cup Races<\/a>, the Saluda Iceman, or even the Cheat Race<\/a> are accessible to paddlers with a wide variety of comfort, skill and strengths. Kayaking is also making its way into multi-sport adventure races where you can bite off multiple disciplines at once or participate in a relay team, like Captain Thurmond\u2019s Challenge on the New River<\/a> in West Virginia, the Silverback Race at the Green River Games<\/a>, or the King of the James<\/a> in Richmond, Virginia.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: Chris Wing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don\u2019t just talk about training\u2014actually train.\u00a0<\/strong>I had high aspirations of flatwater workouts, attainments, and practice laps on the Ocoee for the race day and, well\u2026it didn\u2019t happen. I was able to paddle my long boat a few times on a beginner stretch of river near my house, but ultimately, my first time paddling my longboat on the Ocoee ended up being during the race itself. And that was my first and most important mistake.<\/p>\n

In retrospect, those attainment workouts\u2014yep, turn that boat back upstream and see how far you can go\u2014and especially a few practice laps, would have gone a long way in familiarizing me not only with the fast, smooth lines on the river but with my boat itself. If you\u2019re just out for a fun cruise during the race, you might not feel the need to overexert yourself with copious preparation workouts before you get to the start line, but I at least recommend paddling the way you plan on paddling during the race. And, if you\u2019ve got goals for yourself, make sure your training leading up to your big day is congruent with your goals and vice versa.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re really looking to train, starting with flatwater sprints and aforementioned attainments will set you up for some success. You may also do well with basic slalom circuit training in flatwater or mild current (this can help improve your efficiency in maneuvering whatever boat you plan to race), and you can set your own course<\/a> using fishing buoys from a generic sporting goods store. Such training can be difficult, however, so I recommend setting a plan for yourself before hitting the water. For example paddle for 30 minutes, or complete one race lap, or push through five attainment circuits, etc. Setting a training goal mentally prepares you so you don\u2019t get overly frustrated when the workout gets tough.<\/p>\n