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aliesha and emily GReve
14/13 STRaThRoy, on
AT THE AGE OF 12, Aliesha Greve ran a 15-foot waterfall in her custom-
built, pint-sized solo canoe, the brainchild of devoted paddling dad, Alan
Greve. Her audacious accomplishment made it into the pages of Rapid
(V9, I3) and seated her firmly in the saddle as one of today’s most talent-
ed young open boaters. One year later, younger sister Emily, then 11, sat
in the same eddy above the Tellico River’s Baby Falls. “I wanted to beat
my sister and be the youngest to run it,” boasts the feisty teenager.
Despite their friendly rivalry, the girls have similar feelings when it
comes to paddling. “My boat is my oasis, somewhere I can go and clear
class v
my mind,” says Aliesha, now 14. “Paddling has taught me perseverance,
courage and patience—you don’t realize how much you need those
things until you try and overcome something that seems overwhelming.”
After a winter break where they focus on typical kid things like starting
high school and skiing with friends, Aliesha and Emily immerse them-
selves in paddling. They spend five days a week in the summer training
sisteR act
with coaches that have included former Olympians and World Champi-
ons. They’ve outgrown an impressive line-up of boats including a short-
lived attempt at paddling tandem in a C2 race boat. “That was Dad’s
wishful thinking!” Emily says.
Alan Greve admits to falling into the “hockey dad” pitfall on a couple
of occasions. “I struggle to be there for them without being in their face,”
he says. “When the girls went from paddling with me to competing, sud-
denly there was a lot of money and pressure involved. It became an
investment in their future and it’s hard not to get too caught up in that.”
While the sisters say they’ve met few doubters, they agree there’s only
one way to handle skeptics—convert them: “We just show ‘em what we
got!” Behind the bravado, both concede there are still some butterflies
on the river. “Just above a drop, my heart is in my throat,” confesses
Aliesha, “but it feels so great afterwards. It’s exhilarating, there’s nothing
like it.” —V.M.
K.I.S.S: Keep it Simple and Safe
WheRe to staRt hoW BiG? When fun factoR Younger keepinG WaRm Kids scoutinG teaching RiveR siGnals as
Choose somewhere deciding whether kids don’t have get cold much faster kids how and where kids start to run
familiar and warm like a river or waterway egos like adults. than adults. Dress river features form is more challenging
a pool or protected is appropriate, be When something little ones in a full- critical to giving them water, they will need
lake. Make your kids’ conservative and ask is boring or scary length wetsuit over the knowledge they to learn and use
first experience a yourself, “Would i be kids lose interest or top of polypro or need to some day river signals. teach
positive one so they okay with my child become upset. avoid wool long underwear. scout and choose them the standard
finish wanting more. swimming here?” repetitive drills and their own lines. You’ll hand and paddle
instead play a game, be surprised how signals—they’re easy
build a sand castle or much even toddlers to understand and
just goof around. will remember. you can use them for
in a nutshell
fun, like a code, off
listen to your kids and pay close attention to their moods and interest levels.
the river.
When kids think about kayaking they attach the entire experience to that thought. Keep kids
comfortable, safe and having fun and you will have paddling partners for life. —Simon Coward
www.rapidmag.com 1
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