The Olympic Trials season is upon us and over the next few weeks I will stretch far to make a case why top-contending U.S. kayakers such as whitewater competitor Scott Parsons and flatwater competitor Carrie Johnson ought to be as relevant to you as some of our well-known, mainstream sports stars such as Brett Favre or Mia Hamm. But before sharing the touchdown-throwing and goal-scoring qualities found in our country’s best kayakers, here’s a rare glimpse of the opposite – the effect of kayaking-centric qualities on a small-town quarterback-in-the-making.
On a recent trip to California’s Kern River, I paddled with a talented young kayaker, Evan Moore. At 12 years-old, Evan is a Kern River veteran – his family owns and operates Sierra South, a fabulous raft and kayak company. Even at such a young age, kayaking is a big influence on Evan and he has some impressive results to show for it including winning a medal at last year’s Junior Olympics in Colorado. Evan’s kayaking pursuits do not make the front of t
he local paper’s sports section (yet) but as the quarterback of his school football team, his mainstream sports pursuits do.
The culture of sport in America reserves a special place for the quarterback on a football team. We typically associate such a position with leadership, status, and success. There’s also a natural tendency to examine the qualities of the people who take on these jobs and compare them with our own choices, work ethic, and abilities. So from where do these traits come?
Not often does the answer involve kayaking. But, in Evan’s case, a clear sense of humility, personal responsibility, and willingness to take risk comes straight out his life-lessons on the river. Kayaking is a sport where with each paddle-stroke through the water, you’re constantly reminded that you’ll never be bigger or stronger than the river but working with its strengths and power can get you places that you never thought possible.
It’s a different twist for the type of person whom the rest of us would typically label as “Everyone’s All-American” but this 12 year-old with a great head on his shoulders does an outstanding job of positioning the attributes of kayaking in his life and the game of football is better for it.
On a recent trip to California’s Kern River, I paddled with a talented young kayaker, Evan Moore. At 12 years-old, Evan is a Kern River veteran – his family owns and operates Sierra South, a fabulous raft and kayak company. Even at such a young age, kayaking is a big influence on Evan and he has some impressive results to show for it including winning a medal at last year’s Junior Olympics in Colorado. Evan’s kayaking pursuits do not make the front of t
he local paper’s sports section (yet) but as the quarterback of his school football team, his mainstream sports pursuits do.The culture of sport in America reserves a special place for the quarterback on a football team. We typically associate such a position with leadership, status, and success. There’s also a natural tendency to examine the qualities of the people who take on these jobs and compare them with our own choices, work ethic, and abilities. So from where do these traits come?
Not often does the answer involve kayaking. But, in Evan’s case, a clear sense of humility, personal responsibility, and willingness to take risk comes straight out his life-lessons on the river. Kayaking is a sport where with each paddle-stroke through the water, you’re constantly reminded that you’ll never be bigger or stronger than the river but working with its strengths and power can get you places that you never thought possible.
It’s a different twist for the type of person whom the rest of us would typically label as “Everyone’s All-American” but this 12 year-old with a great head on his shoulders does an outstanding job of positioning the attributes of kayaking in his life and the game of football is better for it.
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