The Drive

Many things have changed in my life. All have been extremely positive changes. Turning Point is thriving and growing. Goals have been set and exceeded. For the past year, Turning Point Boatworks has been my primary focus. Constantly willing it toward a self supporting business, so I could make a living at what I do best and what I love doing. Being self employed also allowed me to pick up the pursuit of a goal that has been eluding me for several years.

I started Turning Point to be able to turn two passions into my vocation. Boat Building and Sea Kayaking, in particular "Ocean Whitewater". Now that the business is doing well and growing, it was time to return to my goal of being a ACA Certified L4 Paddler and ultimately Instructor. Rewind a couple of years. I had to withdraw from my first attempt at certification due to exhaustion. I knew that I was not up to the task mentally and physically and therefore, a liability. Attempt number two was set, but I broke my right hand the night before the event. Third time, I had one of the worst weekends on the water I have ever had. The self debrief was sobering and harsh. I considered quitting, but my heart would not let me.

Several Months ago, Tom Nickels of Riverwind Kayak contacted me about being a coach for his Beating the Bump event in St. Augustine Florida. Without hesitation, I said yes especially since it was my opportunity to step up the the L4 award. Teaching is one of my favorite things in life. Sharing a passion and seeing a student expand their skill set is extremely rewarding. The event was being held in the same two inlets that humbled me two years ago and can be notoriously challenging at this time of year. I would return leaner and stronger, physically, mentally and emotionally. It was my time.

The first day was to be a "Coaches Only" paddle to suss out the area. Two hurricanes in the last year had changed the area and we needed to find out what our classroom now looked like. A quick survey from the Inner Northern edge of the inlet revealed that the North Bar was a definite "No Go". The Southern side looked a little less chaotic, but viewing it from over a mile away could be deceiving.  Stepping out into the outflowing current left us little choice should the excrement hit the proverbial fan. The group decided that we would go for it, so we paddled out into the current to ride out and check the conditions. The farther out we ventured, the larger the conditions became. On this day, it was clear that Mother Nature was in charge and we were just along for the ride. After it was all over, I had cracked a paddle blade and matching bruises on my knees from getting wedged in the cockpit by a particularly large wave. It was quite a chaotic day on the water.

Day two is where things started to click. I was sore from the beating I was dealt the day before, but I was more prepared for what the day was to bring. My focus was clear and it was time to perform. The conditions were slightly less punishing and more organized from the day before. Getting knocked around a few times was just what I needed to turn on that inner drive that had been missing from my paddling for too long. From there, it was pretty much a blur. All of my training, all of the beatdowns and my unrelenting desire to master the conditions, came together in one weekend. At the end, the goal had been realized and I was now where I had envisioned several years ago. An L4 paddler.

I've been asked why I like to put myself into these types of conditions. In the grand scheme of things, rough water paddlers make up a very small percentage of the paddling community. Everyone that does this has their own reason. Some like the challenge and some think it is just plain fun. For me it comes down to this. The water has been a part of my life, for all of my life. When Mother Nature starts imposing limitations through rough conditions, I feel a strong draw. As if the ocean is calling me out to go play. I know the risk, but I also know the commitment required. I've always given anything I pursue, my full effort and leave nothing on the table. The ocean requires that and is always changing and always unpredictable. This is where I find my happy place. Things happen quickly, but time slows down. Seconds seem like minutes, because the mind starts processing at warp speed. Staring down a breaking wave gives the paddler very little time to strategize how to react. In that moment, time slows and a sense of clarity arises once the decision is made. For me, it becomes a zen moment in the zone. Catching a wave and outrunning the break is a moment of pure elation. Every action, every paddle stroke can range from aggression to pure finesse. Being in the chaos and able to react from a calm center is magical. It is a place that I want to stay as long as I can.