My 2024 Year in Review

2024 was the comeback year from being in the hospital for 4 months with 4 trauma surgeries with the last one being at beginning of November 2023 from my appendix bursting for days because I thought it was gas. lol I didn’t realize how hard it would be to come back from this. I didn’t believe it when Seth outlined months structured come back for kayaking. If someone in 2023 told me I would end this comeback year with huge smiles and stoked, I wouldn’t have believed it.

To this:

I am stoked I was able to make it to GoPro mountain games in June and finished in 5th place for freestyle meeting my goal of just being there, competing, and enjoying time with friends which I highly missed in 2023. I had lined up a trip to the Ottawa and then to compete in Montreal Aeu Vive competition but wasn’t able to plan the trip not feeling 100 percent.

It took a lot more than I thought to come back. I am still working at it physically and mentally to be in top shape. Stoked to make it to GoPro basically off the couch and team trials in Wisconsin missing the team by 7 points. I was stoked just to be back in the water competing with everyone. I have put a lot of work in to be back to myself and ready to rip in 2025.

Overall: 2024 was freestyle focused for the time I was able to kayak:
• Got to spend time training at the NOC when I was healthy enough for hole time for go pro and training for US team trials
• Lots of flat water drills to build core and re build every muscle, edges etc
• Lots of laps on the James in Richmond, VA
Competitions:
• USA Team Trials, 5th spot by 7.1 points from making the team/ first alternate
• GoPro Mountain Games, 4th place
• Z Dam Rodeo 1st place, 2x

Participated:
• Organized and ran the pipeline rodeo in honor of little steven legay. Lots of sponsors donated swag including a ton from Jackson Kayak and my other sponsors: Appomattox River company, DripDrop, youtheory, ir, etc. We had food and a live DJ above pipeline
• Held freestyle rodeos at Z Dam & Pipeline to get community involved: worked on my judging ICF a little bit more this year, time, & announce
• Helped lots of junior kayakers w tricks, ride plans, &competing
• Wrote lots of Blogs for Jackson Kayak while I was out sick and currently have 11 more blogs to go
• I have made 2 Vlogs for JK (the second one is about to drop) which was a big goal of mine to move into speaking.
Sponsors: picked up a couple new sponsors
• DripDrop
• Youtheory
• Magic Mind
• Seattle Gummy Company
• Jackson kayaks
• In talks with IR for sponsorship as well

Joy even when no water in the end of some with flat water workouts. Also adjusting to this orange NRS shorty… my colors are black and red. 2024 brought some changes.

-Thank you to my family, coach Seth, friends, and sponsors for sticking with me during this stuff. It means a lot for all the support you backed me with

Skills worked and working on:
• Lunar orbits, space loops, air screws, kickflips, air screws, creek boating skills, judging

Upcoming Goals 2025 MAIN Goal: Continue to healthy and top shape to compete and paddle as much as possible.

During these winter months when it is freezing to go paddle I have been working it in the gym so I’m ready to go in the new year.
• Find and taking a judging course to I can learn to judge and learn more about scoring tricks etc when I am competing
• Train to be ready for the Worlds in Plattling if they need the alternate spot
• Get back to compete again at GoPro Mountain Games, Vail, CO and make top 3
• Montreal eau vive comp if I don’t do Plattling
• Race in boater cross at Dominion Riverrock, Richmond, VA and Race KOTJ
• Get on as many new rivers as I can with first up the UY and Goshen pass
• Continue freestyle rodeo events at Z Dam and Pipeline
• Continue spreading the stoke on freestyle and pass on knowledge to juniors and get more excited

Bring on 2025!

Catch you on the river.

Emily