PaddleStrong

In the mid 1990s, a junior kayaker named Brad Ludden from Montana would regularly travel with his family to Idaho’s Payette River during the summer time. On one such occasion, I had the opportunity to coach Brad during a national-level competition. The Olympic side of kayaking tends to quickly “size up” young athletes for their potential to be top performers on an international stage. From that standpoint, Brad had all skills you look for in a blue-chip competitor and the potential to go as far as he wanted to go in the world of Whitewater Slalom racing – World Cups, World Championships, even the Olympic Games. But Brad did better – he did none of the above.

From a very young age, Brad was one those people who was “wise beyond his years” and no matter how well he could paddle, you knew he was headed for bigger and better things. Polite, grounded, humble, and connective – the words that fit Brad then still fit him now. Using these qualities, he started “First Descents” in 2001 as a way to promote healing through kayaking for young adults with cancer. Seven years, later, Brad and a passionate group of friends and family have grown First Descents into one of the most significant and impacting kayak programs in the world. In each of this year's nine sessions in four states, First Descents participants will immerse themselves in the outdoors and gain new perspective on life.

Christian Knight was fortunate enough to accompany a First Descents outing and writes a fabulous article about his experience in the latest issue of Paddler Magazine – take a look at:

http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2008-2/article_.shtml

The work Lance Armstrong has achieved for cancer patients and research is nothing short of amazing. Better yet, the platform for getting this work done was built upon Lance’s success on a bicycle. You can’t do much better than that – applying your world-class talent and passion for doing favorite activity into your life’s most important work for the benefit of others. Nicely done, Brad.

For more information about First Descents, please visit their web site:

http://www.firstdescents.org/

Dancing vs Fighting

Whitewater kayakers learn and re-learn this lesson every time they head to the water – if you’re not working with the river, you’re working against it. No matter how proficient you are paddling through rapids, one fundamental rule of whitewater kayaking never changes – you’re never stronger than the river.

Life mirrors the river too in that the field on which we play also has energy to give and take – and in navigating its challenges, we either dance with that energy or fight against it.

In the world of politics, when candidates shout at me how much they will “fight” to win, the red flags go up. In the world of business, when CEOs use analogies of war, I tune out. In the world of sports, when coaches speak about the struggles of achieving success, I instantly wonder if there isn’t a better way.

For seven consecutive years, bicycle racing television commentator, Phil Liggett, has often used the phrase, “Dancing on the Pedals” when describing the way Lance Armstrong “glided” UP the sides of French mountains the way most of us could hope to “glide” down. Sure, there’s an output of serious work there but before that, there’s taking whatever you can get out the mountain first. Surfers use the same principle with the wave, mountain bikers with the trail, and kayakers with the river.

Of course there’s going to be challenge on the road to living better and perseverance plays a big part in overcoming obstacles. But knowing yourself and the field on which you’re playing are key “game-changing” dynamics throughout the journey of getting there.

As kayakers know, there’s plenty of energy out on the river and most of them will tell you, “It’s never too late to dance.”