U.S. National Team Trials

2nd Place: Caroline Petersen, 1st Place: Hailey Thompson, 3rd Place: Mickie Reeves

For a refreshing change, the U.S.A. National Witewater Canoe Team Trials were held in my home state of Wisconsin this season - and I was spared the drive cross-country to the event! Several of my friends, fellow competitors, stayed with me and my family in Stevens Point, and the event was made better by our shared friendship and support for one another.
I spent the week leading up to team trials diligently training for the competition, in addition to attending my AP classes in the morning - quite a juggling act, and it made for an energy draining week! It was wonderful having trials so close to home, but I found difficulties because being at home was far more distracting than being away and solely focused on the trials. Friday, April 30th was the first day of team trials. I knew the course exceptionally well, but I could tell I wasn't as rested as I should have been. To add to my energy dilemma, I chose to paddle not only womens' canoe, but also womens' kayak. Two classes in a team trial means 4 race runs per day, rather than 2...over the course of 3 days, that rate would have been exhausting. Because of this, I felt that my runs were solidly mediocre, although my friends and family insisted that I had performed well. I finished Friday's competition in 2nd for C1W - and feeling very dejected. Saturday I woke feeling determined and motivated. I wanted desperately to perform excellently, and my first canoe run was solid. I had two touches, but I was much faster, and made up the time. Because I felt so good, I elected to skip my first kayak run, and
conserve energy for my second canoe run. This worked astonishingly well, and I laid down another solid run n(even faster!) and then took my second kayak run as an enjoyment/cool down run. I had needed those two solid runs to move me up to first boat - and it worked. I finished Day 2 30 seconds ahead of the next female competitor.
Sunday, the third and final day, came bright, hot, and preposterously windy. The course was painfully long. The course worked for me however, and I put down two speedy-fast canoe runs (once again electing to skip my first kayak run). After the second C-1 run, I hung in first place and for the first time ever, I claimed first boat on the U.S. Senior and Junior National Team in womens' canoe! I also made the Junior National Team in my kayak, for the first
time.
Team Trials was an ordeal, a challenge, but also a growing experience. I felt incredibly fortunate to compete alongside such talented athletes as I was given the opportunity to. I can't wait to see where this journey shall take me!
See you on the river,

Hailey

The U.S. Open and the Charlotte Open

This spring my family and I made the annual pilgrimage back to the mountains of North Carolina for two of my favorite races of the season – the U.S. Open and the Charlotte Open. I love these races primarily because they are a challenging but enjoyable re-entry to the racing circuit after a long winter on the snow, and it’s always fun to see the members of the paddling community again. We arrived in the misty Blue Mountains surrounding the Nantahala Gorge a week before the U.S. Open. I spent the week training hard on the chilly waters of the Nantahala River. Entering the race weekend I felt confident and comfortable on the course…the first day of racing hit me like a bag of bricks. I was racing both Women’s Kayak and Women’s Canoe, and in both classes I consistently failed to smoothly complete moves that I had made in practice. I was frustrated, and realized that I needed to change my racing approach on the day of Finals. Finals day challenged me – mentally, but also as a difficult course – however, my race runs were clean and quick, and I pulled in a 4th in Women’s Kayak and a 1st in Women’s Canoe. I was pleased with the race – although as a competitor, I’m always seeking perfection – and sad to be leaving the beautiful Gorge, but excited to hit the road to Charlotte to train for the World Ranking Race, the Charlotte Open. Charlotte is home to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, the most difficult and demanding artificial whitewater course in North America. It has a tendency to run race nerves higher than usual – but for some unknown reason, Charlotte also happens to be one of my favorite courses on earth. I trained with several other C1W’s, and enjoyed coaching from Joel McCune and Cathy Hearn, as well as the camaraderie of the generous and loving paddling family that exists in Charlotte. The training week flew by, in a blur of sunny 80 degree days filled with long, hard sessions on solid whitewater – my idea of heaven – and I was anticipating race weekend with a static buzz of nervous and excited energy. The course set for the preliminary day of racing was deceptively simple; easy gates on difficult whitewater, which could have tricked me if I hadn’t raced at Charlotte before. I was racing only the C1W class, and I laid down a totally clean and fairly quick run. I laid down an even faster run in the afternoon, but received and unfortunate penalty for missing a gate. I finished the first day of racing in first place, and moved on to Semi-Finals. The Semi-Finals course was composed of more difficult moves, but ones I had been practicing all week, and felt confident with. My Semi’s run was not nearly as fast or clean as I would have liked, but it landed me in second, to Canadian C1W, Sindy Audet, a good friend and great competitor. I moved on to Finals. I rested up and rehydrated, then hit the course for my run. It flew by. I was still not as clean as I would have liked, but I finished 89 seconds ahead of the next C1W, and I received my second first place in two weeks.
I have had a great beginning to my 2010 racing season – 1st place finishes at both the U.S. Open and the Charlotte Open – I hope it carries through!

Outdoor Nation

I've been given the incredible opportunity to become an Ambassador for Outdoor Nation - a community that encourages youth to become involved with the outdoors. This association is one that I feel really good about. Getting more teens active and passionate about their natural surroundings is an exceptional undertaking, and one that I have personally believed in for years. To support the nation, and their mission, please join the online community at*:
http://www/outdoornation.org/
*and if you wouldn't mind, in the box asking for which organization referred you to Outdoor Nation, please choose 'Other' and enter: HThompson
Along with Outdoor Nation's good vibes, I'm gearing up for Canoecopia 2010! Canoecopia is a fantastic event in Madison, Wisconsin, held from March 12-14 at the Alliant Energy Center. Canoecopia is sponsored by Rutabaga Paddlesport Shop, and is one of the world's largest canoeing expos. Speakers, vendors, and paddling movie premiers are all a part of this fun-packed three-day weekend. If you have never experienced a Canoecopia before, you may want to pencil this into you calendar.

The Winter

Abby Devita, Olivia Steinmetz, Hailey Thompson, Chase Benzine, and Gibson Hladky

Skating up a hill at the Iola Norseman...

My wonderful ski team....

Skiing in my backyard....

Winter has always been a season for me to contemplate my past season, and plan for my next, but it is also a time for me to savor living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I love everything about this season, from the quiet peaceful snow that covers the woods to the way the sun rises over the frozen lake. Not only do I love this season for the serenity it brings, but also, the opportunity. I find my life to be consumed by paddling in the spring, summer, and fall (not that I'm complaining), but the winter brings me the chance to swap my paddle for poles, and my boat for skis.
So, in addition to dedicating myself to my school work, I've been skiing up a storm. I am a member of the Iola-Scandinavia Nordic Ski Team, where I Skate ski and Classic Ski three times a week, and race for on weekends at State-wide Highschool competitions. Nordic Skiing is an incredible sport - not only for the enjoyment I find in it, but for the intense dedication and endurance it demands. Nordic is a gift. I have the opportunity to really enhance my strength and endurance, while enjoying the company of other teens on the team who love the outdoors.
As well as Nordic Skiing, I have been weight training. I had to make the difficult decision of working with a new trainer this season. My former trainer, Jennifer Dombrowski, is a wonderful woman, without whom I never would have gotten to where I am. The decision was made by the fact that the Lake Placid Strength and Conditioning Coach for Canoe and Kayak works in my home town. Kevin Ebel is his name, and he has had a lot of experience training Elite-Level Canoe and Kayak athletes. I realized that I would be able to attain a high level of performance working with Kevin, and working with him has been very rewarding so far.
On top of all of these activities, I've still been getting in a little time on my Telemark Skis. I've telemarked since I was ten years old - skied since I could walk - and I love it. I still dream of that 'someday trip' out West, floating through 6-foot-deep powder...but that will have to wait.
I hope all of you who read this have the opportunity to get outside and savor the winter!
Peace,
Hailey