Junior Champion Lauren Burress

Posted in Blogroll - by snapdragon, on 22/07/2011

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
A Junior Women’s Perspective

  First of all I would like to state that traveling over 20 hours in cars, buses, taxis, trains, and planes really takes it out of a person. But overall, the trip was well worth jetlag and more. Of course.

  I couldn’t possibly explain what an amazing experience Germany was. So beautiful, and everything so intriguingly different. Granted it was my first time out of North America, but I don’t think that really mattered it’s still a gorgeous country, I’d take another trip back in a heart beat. 
My mom and I flew out June 10th, and arrived in Plattling the following day around noonish. I immediatly got directions to the wave, and made my way down for my first training session at World Championships! I quickly found a lot of other people had the same idea… But I had an awesome session anyways,  loops were big air, spaces bigger, and right mcnastys were sweet. Left me feeling pretty confident with my first paddle in Plattling.

  Open training went on for about a week, the 17th started team training. We seemed to be pretty organized with our time slots, and used our time efficiently. We were split into two groups, and we alternated who went for the first half everyday. Which worked really well, I think everyone got in at least four rides a session, if not more. It doesn’t sound like much but those were four competition rides, so 45 seconds of wave to yourself. Very helpful.

  I believe opening ceremonies was when it really hit me, I was in Germany, competing at my first World Championships. The coolest feeling, walking down the streets of Plattling with my team. It started to sprinkle during the march, and the speech but it didn’t bother anyone, we were all used to this weather and some came prepared with umbrellas! Huddles began to form, and I remember seeing Stephan Wright on top of Collin Kemp’s shoulders. Picture perfect moment.

  They spoke mostly in German during the speech so most of us got preoccupied in conversation, that was until they lit off some cannons!! I don’t actually know what they blew up, but it was loud, and unpredictable. I was looking for my mom when they decided to light them off, and it got my attention. I believe everyone said they also heard Dustin Urban make an odd noise that sounded about the same as my teenaged girl shriek. (Sorry Dustin, had to throw that in there.

  After the ceremonies was the noodle party! Free food, what kayaker doesn’t like that. The spaghetti was pretty delicious, and I hear the lasagna was a hit too.

  Before I start explaining the details of the actual competition, I’d like to say I’ve never been so nervous in my life over a competition, it was tough not having my dad there to keep me focused, and tell me I was just going kayaking. I know he would’ve loved to see my winning ride in person, and be the first person to hug me after I won. I wish I could’ve seen the smile on his face, when I walked on to the podium, but he couldn’t make it this time… But I’d like to give a big thanks to Jud Keiser, not only did you coach me, but you supported me, and believed in me. It’s always nice having someone other than your parents believing in you. You gave me courage when I needed it, picked me up when I was down, and kept me in line when necessary, just like my daddy would’ve done. Thank you for all your tips, high fives, smiles, hugs, and encouraging words, it would’ve been crazy without you there. Thank you.

Preliminaries- Cut to 10
  Junior women’s started two days after opening ceremonies.  I was the very last junior women to go in the last heat, sweet spot right? Two rides both count. Well my first ride wasn’t so sweet, maybe it was the adrenaline or the super high water which turned the hole into more of a wave. Not making excuses! But the ride left me with a score of 10 points. So I kicked it up for my second ride, ensuring my spot to semi’s in 3rd. I wasn’t very impressed with my paddling that day, but luckily it was just that day. I still had another cut to make, and then the final round to give it all or nothing!

Semi-Finals- Cut to 5
  The day of semis I was pumped. The water was a little lower, and I felt like I could get my ride down consistently, as long as my moves counted! Judging was tough, but it was like that for everyone so no complaints. Two rides, one counted. I don’t remember how I did on my first ride, but my second ride left me  leaving semis in 2nd place. Courtney Kerin (Kiwi) from New Zealand took first in semis, and I believe she jumped about 5 spots from her previous placing in prelims! Well done Courtney!! Tora Heggam, from Norway placed 3rd in semi-finals, and the other two spots were filled by the two lovely British girls, Kim, and Gabby. That evening we were informed the competition would be postponed for a day and a half, due to high water levels up stream. In the afternoon was the finalist only training session, and the hole was sweet! I prayed it’d be the same level for finals.

  The next day, I just used as a rest day and soaked up as much German culture as I could. And got a goodnight sleep for finals! That night I layed in bed trying to flood my mind with visions of clean air loops and huge space godzillas. Well maybe not, but I did go through my ride about a million times! 

  The next morning I remember my mom woke me up and I literally jumped out of bed. I was excited and I could already feel the butterflies in my stomach, plus I was hungry so I went downstairs for breakfast. I for one am glad I don’t live In Germany, because I’d fill myself with those pineapple sugar topped pastries they serve at breakfast every morning. But since we don’t have them in the states I found it necessary to consume as many as possible while they were in stock. Which meant my breakfasts’ were pretty sweet! But I did have fruit every morning, and the casual strips of protein (bacon) every once in awhile. Breakfast of champions right? That’s what I was going for!

  After the normal breakfast routine, I called my dad, had to get the talk in with him before it was do or die time. Dad wished me luck and I hung up with a hope I’d be calling him later and be able to tell him I’d won it all.Then I headed down to the wave to check out todays levels. I debated with Jud if I should paddle the morning of finals or not, but it was decided for me when I got to the hole and the eddy was EMPTY! No line up the morning of finals at world championships, uhm who could pass that up! So I got dressed quick and literally ran to the put in. Sure enough, the level was just about the same as it was during finalist training, so I practiced my routine and worked on a few miscellaneous tricks. And then I made myself get out after a few more rides than I probably should’ve taken, but I think the extra time on the water helped the nerves.

Finals- Top 3 podium
  For finals I told myself I went up one place already, now I just needed another chance and I knew I could do it again. It was just like any other competition Jud told me, and it was, aside from the fact the winner would be given the title of World Champion and get a shiny gold medal. Well I didn’t think about that, I focused on my ride every chance I got, dialing in every move perfectly. If I could envision it, it’d be that much easier to do. Plus I think it kept my mind from wondering into the forest of the unknown, and what if’s, not a good place to be before competition. So it was finally here, the time to make it or break it, three rides one counts. I believe my first ride I scored a 193, which put me in first place with one more competitor to go. After the first round I was still on top, but two rides with four other girls to go. Second ride, I completed the first part of my routine, but had a flush pretty close to the end, I remember looking up and seeing 3 seconds on the clock. I thought to myself go in and plug, I don’t know how it happened but that plug threw me to the sky just in time for me to rotate and hit one of my highest space godzillas of the entire competition. What a day and time to throw a move on the buzzer. That ride scored me a 196, and ended up becoming my winning ride. But at the time I obviously didn’t know that, after my third ride I watched Courtney, and then we both waited. I was floating right by the judges platform where Jud was siting with me. One of the most nerve wracking moments of my life, just waiting! Knowing there wasn’t anything more I could do, it was all up to our previous performances, no more chances. After my third ride I was still in first, but Courtney was after me. So I knew I was at least on the podium but I already knew how second felt, and I wanted the gold. 

  One of the greatest moments of my life when I heard the announcer say I had won. I started crying, and I’m pretty sure I had the biggest smile I’ve ever had in my life. Jud grabbed me hugged me, kissed me on the cheek and told me I’d done it, then I remember EJ hugging me and he had a huge smile on his face too, then out of no where comes Dane bolting down on the judges platform, yelling and screaming that I did it, I don’t even know where he came from! But he was there, then of course came the hug and the shaking of the helmet, and more screaming and smiling from Dane, EJ hugged me again, and then Kristine Jackson was there hugging and congratulating me as well, all the meanwhile I was still trying to grasp my biggest goal of my kayaking career had finally been achieved. I finally made it over to mommy for my hug, and she probably had one of the bigger grins on her face out of everyone, of course. I then went over to my competitor and friend Courtney to congratulate her on her win as well. 

  After the short interview with the announcer, I remember the paddle from the hole to the take out I couldn’t stop cheesing, or crying! But it was an amazing feeling, leaving the water knowing I’d just won World Championships.
A dream come true, I look back and It was like riding cloud nine. It’s still that way, it doesn’t seem like I actually did it. But I did, and I’ve got the gold medal to prove it. 

  Hearing our national anthem while standing on the podium, and watching our flag be raised, proudest moment of the entire competition. Thats why it’s called World Championships, we’re competing not just for ourselves, but for our country. 

  Being a part of the US team meant so much more then just coming from America, or being an ‘American’, it was a unity. We all worked hard for the same opportunity, and were all competing for the same title, we shared the same passion, and had the same drive. They were your team mates, you rooted them on like family would,  and always had a high five hot and ready. I’m proud to call myself a member of the US Freestyle Team. Not only because we’ve got someone (Dane Jackson) dominating every class they compete in, but because on and off the water were talented,  confident, & poised. We do not boast, and we lose with grace. But truthfully we do have some pretty kick butt boaters. What can we say, were good at what we love…

  My first Worlds is something I will never be able to forget. One of the best experiences of my life, good people, good food, great paddling, and I left with a pretty sweet medal! What more could anyone ask for. Well done everyone.