Mr. Borst,

I think it's really great that you are asking this question.

Although this will probably spark a vigorous debate (I hope), and I
find it truely strange coming from my keyboard, I think one of the
top priorities for slalom is visibility (read: marketing). If a
concerted effort were made, perhaps in a small geographic area with a
good venue (say Charlotte), much of what many of the athletes really
need would likely follow (read: sponsorship) much more easily.

Slalom is an incredibly cool sport, with unique characteristics that
I can't think of any other Olympic sport shares (no practice on
actual course, sometimes on 'natural' rivers), is so incredibly
technical, and could be very interesting/entertaining for
knowledgeable spectators.

It is a great challenge to provide athletes what they need to compete
at the world level, if the sport is so esoteric that the audience is
a couple of hundred people nationwide.

A target audience that would be easiest to reach and also to educate
might be:

1) Recreational whitewater paddlers/competitive rodeo paddlers
2) Recreational rafters
3) Other kayakers (ocean/flat-water/etc.)




P.S. I think that all slalom athletes that have an opportunity to
paddle at the Charlotte course, should make it a point to personally
thank Vic Howie (and all the other folks who worked on this project).
Without Vic's vision, persistence and stamina, this project would not
have happened. Three cheers for Vic !

If you don't know who Vic is, or haven't met him, make it a point to
find him and shake his hand for pulling off the nearly impossible.
Just the planning and coordination of this project represents many
hundreds of hours of work ... this before the first dump truck
rolled!!!







..ajm









--- In wwslalom@yahoogroups.com, "Davey & Jennifer Hearn"
<daveyhearn@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone!
>
> There was a proposal brought forward at the USA Whitewater Slalom
> Committee meeting a few months ago to compile a document that lists
> the wants, needs and goals of slalom athletes in the US.
> Unfortunately while there was some talk about getting the ball
moving
> on this project, it fell by the way side. I, however, feel that it
is
> very important for the slalom community to have something in
writing
> to help guide the Slalom Committee to better address the needs of
all
> of the athletes in the US and not just the National Team members.
I
> am going to be working on this project over the next few weeks, and
> plan to give a copy of the document to the USAWS Committee at our
> next meeting, which will be on May 8, 2007.
>
> So what do I need from you? I need to know what you need as far as
> support both from the NGB (National Governing Body, USA Canoe
Kayak)
> and the smaller slalom based organizations and clubs around the
> country? What do you need in general? In an ideal world, how would
> you be best supported so that you can achieve your athletic goals?
I
> don't need a lot of info, just bullet points. I am totally open to
> any ideas, so even if the ideas feel radical or way beyond what is
> >currently possible, send them to me! I want to hear what you
think!
> An example might be -- "We need a place where coaches and clubs
list
> contact info so athletes wanting to participate in workouts can
have
> a means to contact a coach and get a training schedule, as well as
> published letters from clubs inviting athletes to come and take
part
> in workouts at any time."
>
> I would also like to get some ideas about how we can help athletes
> making the transition from high school to college find support
> networks so that they will have the ability to continue training,
and
> racing, and can feel like regardless of where they go, they will be
> welcomed and supported. I would like to help limit as much as
> possible the turnover rate that exists when athletes make this
> transition. I know that there are a lot of ideas out there, and I
> want to here them and get them written down, so we can help the
> people in charge of our sport better meet our needs. You all have
a
> voice and you deserve to take part in the progression of our
sport.
> Lets try to bridge the disconnect that exists between the boards
and
> all of you. Coaches, you know a lot about what
> your athletes at all levels need and want, and I welcome any input
> that you have. So please take 20 minutes, sit down and take this
> opportunity to get your voice heard. I am sorry that I don't have
> that many email contacts, so please forward this message to anyone
> you think would like to contribute something constructive to this
> effort!
>
> Many Thanks!
>
> Nicholas Borst
> FRPA Assistant Coach
> USAWS Executive Committee
> Athlete Rep
> nic[at]borstco[dot]com
>