At the young age of 18, Emily Jackson is a champion. She is the reigning US Women's Freestyle Kayaking Champion. She is also the current World Cup Junior and Senior Champion. Emily won every event she entered in 2008, except one which she tied for first.
Getting Started in Kayaking
Suite 101: How long have you been kayaking?
Emily: I have been kayaking for fun and fitness since 2002.
Suite 101: What do you like best about kayaking?
Emily: Kayaking is an individual sport. I like the freedom, how everything that happens on the water revolves solely around my own personal actions. You get what you give.
Suite 101: In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits of kayaking?
Emily: The biggest benefits are meeting amazing people. The kayaking crowd is one of the most friendly, down to earth groups I have ever met. Also, it helps keep you in great shape, physically and mentally.
Suite 101: What are some reasons you might suggest kayaking to others?
Emily: It gives you a sense of freedom and it helps remind you of the little good things in life. I find even if I am having a bad day the minute I am on the water none of it matters and I can just relax and be myself.
Suite 101: What advice do you offer to beginners?
Emily: You need to be comfortable swimming and be willing to let your shoulders get sore. The biggest thing for beginners is to make sure you have a partner and never go on the water alone.
Kayaking For Fitness
Suite 101: Do you use kayaking as your sole exercise or part of a cross training program?
Emily: Kayaking is my sole exercise because it is something I strive to be the best at. I kayak for fun first and the fact that it is a great physical exercise is just a big bonus.
Suite 101: I understand you originally started kayaking as a means to lose some weight. Did it work?
Emily: At the age of 12 I weighed around 145 and was just around 5 feet. I had no muscle so it was all fat. I started noticing that I wasn't losing weight about 3 months later, but that I was much stronger. At about six months, I was stronger and weighed 115-120. Now I am a comfortable 5'3" and 135 pounds. I didn't eat as much but I didn't change my diet. It was mainly the kayaking.
Emily Jackson, Professional Kayaker
Suite 101: I understand that you did not take so naturally to the sport. Why did you choose to persevere when it did not come so easily?
Emily: I grew up with the best kayakers in the world (Emily's dad, Eric Jackson, is a four-time and reigning world kayak freestyle champion and founder of Jackson Kayaks.) and I admired what they did so much that I feared it. I was terrified of being under water in my boat for the longest period. I chose to persevere because I had everything available and figured I should take advantage of it.
Suite 101: Do you have any specific recommendations for those just starting out in the competitions?
Emily: Never give up. You're going to start out not being the best in your class, but you have to keep pushing and striving to improve. Also, you don't want to get so worked up on competing well that you forget you're doing it for fun. Keep having fun with it and you will soon be competing well.
Suite 101: Can you tell us about your training regimen?
Emily: I train every other day in the winter and every day in the spring, summer and fall. There are no expectations from competitors unless you start doing well. I found after winning a ton of events that people start expecting you to do well. There are no specific tricks required for competing.The tricks are still scored so you can compete with the easiest moves, they just score less than the big ones.
Suite 101: What are your current goals?
Emily: To change to sport in the women's class. To make it more exciting and closer to the men's sport skillwise. Also, to win the 2009 Worlds.
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