2022 USA Freestyle National Team Trials

The 2022 USA Freestyle Team Trials were held on March 19 in Oklahoma City, Ok at Riversport OKC. The athletes competed for a spot on the team to represent the USA in the ICF Freestyle World Championships in Nottingham, England this summer. Riversport OKC is an adventure park with lots of activities including kayaking, 80 foot slides, skatepark, ziplining, and tons more along with the Big Water Grill overlooking the venue. Riversport OKC was the perfect spot for the competition allowing easy access to the water, multiple view points for the spectators to watch the athletes training and competing throughout the week, and great facilities when coming off the water. The hole feature used was created on the artificial course by pumping water into the channels. The feature was a very consistent hole that allowed for every trick to be thrown and allowed for lots of combo tricks. It was also a great feature to learn new tricks in without it being super sticky. We had access to the water each day from 10-4 pm leading up to the competition.

I competed in my first team trials ever. I have been training for this event for what seems like a few years due to the fact it kept getting moved because of Covid. I had no idea what to expect at an event like this but I had a blast. It was an epic week training on the water with everyone and getting a consistent whitewater feature was also great. The weather was amazing minus the fact it was slightly breezy (OKC people say that is normal) and it was fun hanging around with friends off the water and meeting new friends.

Left to right: Me, Jordan Poffenberger, Levente Gal each making the team in our respective classes representing Richmond, VA.

On competition day right before the senior women’s heat, the pumps had something obstructing them and had to be shut off to remove that object. They got it fixed and turned the water on right before we were set to go. The feature was slightly flushy and different from what we trained in all week. My rides did not go as I had practiced mostly due to nerves and levels, but I did what I had to do and made the team. I have work ahead of me but I am stoked to be representing the USA in World’s this summer.

USA senior women’s freestyle team.

If you get a chance to go to Oklahoma City, I would highly recommend checking out Riversport OKC. There is so much to do there and the staff were amazing. It is also a short distance away from Bricktown where you will find the Oklahoma Thunder NBA team along with the Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball team along with tons of restaurants and bars to enjoy.

Catch you on the water!
Emily