Whitewater Kayaking and Crossfit

I started whitewater kayaking because it’s pure fun. My pursuit of kayaking and other river sports led me to this question:

Outside of kayaking more, how do I remain capable and build capacity to kayak for as long as possible throughout my lifetime?

This is where my fitness journey began. It took a few years, but I finally found Crossfit. So what does Crossfit have to do with kayaking? I’ve found there are numerous parallels and benefits of these two sports.

Hosting a kayaking clinic for brand new boaters.

Community

The whitewater kayaking community is friendly and welcoming to all. I’ve often found experienced boaters are approachable, down to earth humans who are more than willing to help new comers learn and hone skills. When I stepped into my first Crossfit gym, it was a similar experience. The coaches and members graciously welcomed me in my first class and coached me on all things Crossfit. The community aspect of both these sports is special. Take the time to find your tribe, both in the gym and on the river. Try out a few gyms/paddling communities and align yourself with those who share your style and goals.

Building strength and technique in olympic lifts

Strength and Conditioning

In Crossfit, having the raw strength to perform lifts and gymnastics movements is a huge benefit. Then, having the conditioning to perform these movements in WODs (workout of the day) is a continual test of your skills and strength. This is one of the reasons I keep coming back for more. The strength and conditioning I’ve built in Crossfit transfers to the river too. I’m more explosive in my freestyle kayaking as I learn tricks. My core and shoulders can tolerate slicing in my Mixmaster for hours. Running rivers and any portages that may arise are easier to handle than they use to be. These are just a few things I’ve noticed thus far in my kayaking and I aim to continue working on it more.

Summer and fall low water, means slicing in the Mixmaster all day long.

Freestyle practice.

Learning

In both sports, there is always something to learn and work on. It’s challenge by choice. Select your goals and work towards them. For me, it’s figuring out how to perform freestyle tricks in my Rockstar and continuing to work on balancing in my slice boat. At the gym, it’s honing my olympic lift technique and practicing gymnastics skills. To assist with these goals, I’ve sought out mentors and coaches to help me reach my aspirations. These coaches and mentors are some of the best people I’ve met thus far. Their perspective of the sport and on life has helped to shape me into the human I am today and the future version of me I’m striving to be.

Prairie Rapids Paddlers enjoying a day at the river.

Fun

What more do you need…it’s FUN! Sure, there’s less fun things and more fun things in each sport, but in the end it’s always at least 51% fun for me These are some of the things I find fun about each:
The weightless feeling when surfing on a wave.
Letting the barbell full of bumper plates hit the gym floor after a clean and jerk PR (personal record).
Flying through the air after timing my loop perfectly.
Looking down to the ground from the top of the rope climb.
Styling a rapid I wasn’t sure if I could run.
Finishing a WOD that looked nearly impossible.

Powering through a hole with control at a higher level than I’ve run this rapid at before.

I’m enjoying the benefits of both sports. Crossfit gives me strength, stamina, and consistency to pursue my whitewater endeavors wherever the river takes me.

Question time for you: Have you found a regimen that keeps you in your kayak and on the river? Let’s hear it.

-SYOTR…or slightly above it
Hannah RayJ