In the news

[Jim]

FINALLY some good press coverage of the most exciting sport in the Olympics. From the Hartford (Connecticut) Courant, (with a good picture in the paper)
http://www.ctnow.com/sports/hc-olylocal ... nes-sports

U.S. Paddlers Keep Their Head Above Water
By TOMMY HINE
Courant Staff Writer

August 20 2004

HELLINIKO, Greece -- It has the whirling eddies of the Housatonic River in Cornwall and the deep-water holes of Granby's Tariffville Gorge.

Thursday, the rolling whitewater rapids at the Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Centre nearly capsized Matt Taylor's two-man canoe.

"We almost flipped," said Taylor, a Yale alum and Salisbury School grad. "The crowd probably didn't notice it. We knew it was close. We were on the edge and somehow, we held it. It was a close call."

Joe Jacobi, Taylor's paddling partner and a 1992 Olympic champion, thought it was over.

"He was halfway under water," Taylor said. "He thought he was going in. It was pretty close. I held it long enough to right us. We called it our learning run."

Taylor, who now lives in Atlanta, and Jacobi, from Washington, learned enough in their first of two runs to finish sixth and qualify for the semifinals today. The pair finished with a combined time of 223.43, 22.39 seconds behind the top time turned in by the brothers Pavel and Peter Hochschorner of Slovakia, who won gold in Sydney.

"We don't really like to make our first run our learning run but today, we were forced to," Taylor said. "Our second run was very solid. We had two touches in both runs. That was disappointing.

"But we know how to come back. We're good learners. We moved with the water real well in the second run. We were more comfortable. We were able to work together."

They are known as the Paddling Pappas. They are both 34, and they are both married with families. Jacobi has one child. Taylor has two, and his wife, Kieran, is eight months pregnant and due within three weeks.

Taylor and Jacobi have been paddling partners for years, and they have made many runs together on the Housatonic and Farmington rivers.

"This course is like the Rattlesnake rapids in Falls Village," Taylor said. "When it's running, it has the same aerated water that creates whirlpools and eddies like this.

"Tariffville Gorge, when it's up, has similar holes, too. This is an artificial course that feels more like it's natural. It's a Greek amphitheatre where thousands of spectators look down on foamy whitewater. It's the greatest whitewater venue on the planet."

It also is the most unique.

Tepid saltwater is pumped through the whitewater course with man-made formations creating the whirlpools, rapids and holes.

"The saltwater makes the water more buoyant," Taylor said. "There's a lot of protein in the water and more aeration. It's like paddling on powder. You can really lean into holes.

"The only thing surprising in our first run was that our strategy didn't work. It's a very choreographic sport. There are all sorts of places you want to put the boat. A gymnast's balance beam is this wide."

Taylor held his hands 4 inches apart.

"Our slot is this wide."

And Taylor held his hands about 10 inches apart.

There is a rolling, whitewater surface throughout - a Class 4 designation in paddler's terms.

"In a Class 5, there'd be the risk of getting really hurt," Taylor said.

He and Jacobi put the two-hour break between runs to good use. That's why their second-run time was so improved.

"We watched videos from the live feed, a coach's video and a simultaneous video of the two so we can see what the differences are," Taylor said. "By the time we raced the second time, we knew where we made mistakes, what our weaknesses were.

"We're both analytical. We use our brains as well as our brawn."

[citizen x]

yeah, you know -- seeing that olympic course, it actually reminded me a little more of the Farmington River in New Hartford -- actually the section near Black Bridge. We usually call it "the section behind Jim's House."

When are we going to see some slalom gates back there?
Alden

[Jim]

Alden:

Gotta watch out for the fierce Farmington River- I swam there yesterday.

I was paddling at Satan’s Kingdom state park with a couple of old paddling buddies (1 from Arizona was passing through on work travel) who are, unfortunately, kayakers. 1 guy was practicing handrolls (in flatwater) and asked for a spotter. When he missed his roll the other guy placed his boat right there for him to grab, but he was missing it. Not wanting to place my bow there (I was picturing him grabbing the other guy’s boat and then banging his head on mine as he came up) I decided to help out by guiding his hand onto the kayak. Well, as soon as he felt my hand he gave a big pull, and over I went (and of course he stayed upside down), much to the enjoyment of the 1 upright boater in the group. No problem- I just roll up. Well halfway up a hand comes out of nowhere and grabs the top of my lifejacket and, as he tries to roll up, sends me over again. Now I do not want to attempt a roll and smack him with my paddle, so I bail out. We ended up with 2 swimmers, in flatwater, and a good laugh.

I actually thought about gates along my back yard just so I could train with them. However, between the limited current and fishermen all over the place I never bothered. Besides, if I head west for 40 minutes I get to practice at the HACKS gates, and 35 minutes east is the great set-up Mike has made at T’ville. Then there is reality (eg, dad duties)- this year I have been to those courses a total of 3 times.

The good news is that I will be at T’ville tomorrow.

Will you be at the Riverfest Slalom (Manchester NH) in 3 weeks? How about the other NESS people? We need to see if sake and geisha girls have taken their toll on Kaz.