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but often your warm up rides are superior to the ones that count. Tell us why? All of us like to think that at the pinnacle of a moment, the height of success or failure, we’d do the right thing. What actually hap- pens is you get to that point and all the confidence, lippiness, and self-assurance you had earlier “I’m the greatest, I’m the greatest” goes and turns itself into “I’m a big sissy.” The moment comes where either YOU define IT or IT defines YOU. There will always be more losers than win- ners. For me, that is the only thing that sucks about competing.


You’re a two-time Canadian Freestyle Champion and paddle for Necky full-time, when do you think you will get a real job? “What work do YOU have to do?” I hear that so much when I tell people I have to get off the river to work. Well let me tell ya, I spend at least 50 hours a week on the computer and on the phone; writing, emailing, answering questions and keep- ing sponsors happy. This IS a real job and I am like everyone else, I just risk my good health on something that makes me happy.


From the outside, you’re living the dream. What’s behind the scenes, what do you do off the river?


Like I said, being a pro-paddler is a full- time job. It’s true that I love my job, but it’s a struggle as well. I may travel lots, but it means I’m not often at home in my own bed. I answer emails and write to spon- sors, but mostly I work on proposals to companies, take photos and video, and travel. You wouldn’t believe the monetary cost of doing this, so I am always looking for more. I write the MISSION on Wildrock.net, I am halfway through a book and do my very best to keep sponsors happy with me. There are a million things I do off the river that keep me in just enough money to get me by.


In our 2 Cents column we’re asking paddlers about the spirit of whitewater, what is it for you? To me, the spirit of kayaking is freedom. With a little time and some effort, whitewa- ter, flatwater, whatever you like to do, can give you a spectacular sense of freedom. When you’re paddling, you are at the helm, you hold the keys to the doors, you are the spirit and freedom you embody. 


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