Youth Olympic Games!

I've been chosen to compete for the united states in the world qualifications of the Youth Olympic Games in Barcelona this April! I'm very excited and nervous to compete, and hopefully I will qualify to represent my country at the actual event in Buenos Aires this summer. Here are some informative links:

Official 2018 YOG site:
https://www.buenosaires2018.com/en

Documents about race formats and details:
https://www.canoeicf.com/youth-olympic-games-buenos-aires-2018

Fun articles from former Olympians:
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/fox-urges-young-athletes-put-their-hands-youth-Olympics
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/youth-olympics-perfect-aspiring-canoeists-says-liebscher
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/canoeing-2018-yog-set-be-biggest-and-most-diverse-yet

Downriver Boat Outfitting

I'd outfitted some leg braces for my wildwater boat about a month ago, but only just got a chance to try it. It stayed well and was in the correct place, but I still have a serious problem with these boats.

My Wildwater Kayak

I've always had very intense and very painful leg cramps in all DR kayaks and most slalom kayaks. Canoers say that in the kneeling position (which also looks very painful, not knocking you canoers) their legs go numb in about 30 minutes. In my kayak, my legs go numb in about 7 minutes and are in constant searing pain that just gets worse and worse every second after that. It's either something to do with my flexibility, some nerves in my tailbone (which are also screwed up and have been for a while), or the way blood flows to my legs. It's really really frustrating because I can't even finish a 10 mile race in most DR kayaks because it hurts so bad! This concludes my rant to the empty void of the internet.

New sprint boat!

I tried a new sprint boat on the bay today. I'm still a beginner in sprint so I've been paddling a pretty slow, stable, boat, but my coach just moved me up today into another kayak.

Sprint K1

So I went ahead and tried it. I fell in 5 times and barely even got 50 feet. I was standing in the water emptying the boat once again when my coach yelled that I'd taken the wrong one. I'd accidentally grabbed a way more advanced and tippier boat than I was ready for, but I got in the intended boat and was able to paddle it well and really zero in on my technique. I felt like a bit of an idiot, but ultimately it was a relief.

I was supposed to take the boat below the blue one

Introduction

Hey! My name is Amanda Creek, and I created this blog today to share all my kayaking adventures. I've been competing since I was 12 years old, and I hope one day to make it to the Olympics. I paddle wildwater, slalom, and sprint, so there's always something new happening! My biggest accomplishment so far is representing the United States at the 2017 Wildwater World Championships, and I hope to attend many more. I absolutely love the sport and all the people I've met through it.

Team USA Wildwater

DSCKT Boat Trailer