newlyweds: playing power at rock island.
Photo CoRey RiCh/aURoRa PhotoS
Despite their youth—Emily recently celebrated her 18th birthday and
Nick Troutman
Nick is 20—Emily says marriage was an obvious next step. “We
realized that we work great together as a team. We thought of
how we are not only better people together, but we are making our
&
Emily Jackson
dreams a reality.”
On Love and Paddling: Why is it great to have a partner who paddles?
proFeSSionAL kAYAkerS
“Think about how special kayaking is to you, and then being able to share
ROCK iSLAND, TENNESSEE
that with the most special person in you life,” says Nick.
emily Jackson and nick troutman are rapidly emerging as the new Secret to Success: Travelling, training and playing together whenever they
power couple of freestyle kayaking. two of the most talented and want is a rare luxury for paddlers who spend up to eight months of the year
decorated paddlers on the freestyle circuit, they have cheered each away from home on the international competition circuit. it can have its
other on for the past five years, shared glory on the podium at the downsides, however. “The biggest challenge is when one of us does well
2007 world Championships and the 2008 Freestyle world Cup and and the other doesn’t. it’s hard to balance your excitement and sympathy,”
were wed in mexico in April. All this before they are old enough to says Emily. The secret to a strong relationship, the pair agrees, is respect.
rent a car or drink alcohol. “You have to respect each other’s decisions—whether it’s to huck over a
Falling in Love:
70-foot waterfall or to surf a big nasty hole. it’s damaging to a relationship
it started with the usual playful teasing when Nick was
if you don’t allow your partner to do what they love to the full extent,”
barely a teenager and Emily was just a girl sleeping over at his best
Emily continues. Nick warns that there is a fine line between supporting
friend’s house near the Ottawa River. Both raised on rivers, the two saw
each other and being too pushy or critical—one that he’s learning to walk
each other frequently over the next few years. When Nick was invited by
carefully. “Sometimes i want the people in the eddy to be my father, brother
Emily’s father, Eric Jackson, to travel to paddling events in the Jackson’s
and husband; not coach, coach and coach,” admits Emily.
family RV, EJ had just one condition: Nick would not date Emily while on
the road. And he didn’t—for two whole years. During that time, though, What’s Next: The couple recently purchased and is busy renovating a
Nick decided Emily was “a keeper.” he recalls, “She’d never tell me that i lakeside fixer-upper on the Collins River just a mile from the Rock island
couldn’t kayak, or that i was kayaking too much. As their feelings became Rapids. Between training at their new house, they will be entering a
mutual, Emily’s parents were more open to the idea of a relationship. host of freestyle kayak events such as the Reno River Festival and Teva
After that, Nick remembers, “We lived together in an old Westfalia for a mountain Games before journeying to Switzerland in August to compete at
year and i thought, ‘i really like this; i could do this for the rest of my life.’” the World Championships.—Clay Wright
www.rapidmag.com 2
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