The Global Paddling Community

So Eli how does it feel to win the world championships (OC1) and do you think it will change the way you look at your boating?

Wow...I feel great...this is a dream come true for me! I started canoeing about 15 years ago, and have come a long way. I have learned a lot from a variety of friends. It is extremely gratifying to now be ranked amongst the best! I don't expect my boating to change too much... I have always boated for my personal enjoyment. I have always tried to create goals and go for them. Winning the Worlds started out as a personal goal - to prove to myself that I could do anything I set my mind to do. My biggest challenge at the moment is to plan my next goal. I have only recently begun to compete. Competition is an awesome way for me to gain the friendship of my mentors. Having people look to me for inspiration is a heavy weight. It may be my newest challenge, now that I am the man that everyone compares themselves too. I will have to try to expand my bag of tricks (and hopefully as a result, my friends and I will help to push OC-1 even further).

There has been talk about taking OC1 paddling out of the worlds what do you think to this idea as an OC1 paddler?

I think that removing OC1 from the worlds is a silly idea. K1 is great...but the variety score introduced a lot more excitement to the game. OC1 also adds excitement...traditionally to see how many of us would swim...but now to see what we will be able to do next. Canoes have been around forever...and there are many outdoor enthusiasts who equate themselves with the canoers more than the kayakers...why alienate the audience?

You mentioned your friends helped you win the worlds who would these be?"

I would really like to express my appreciation for all my friends and supporters. I am especially proud to have been sponsored by the Second String Bluegrass Band (one of the best new bands out of the Carolina's), SaVage, Lotus Designs, and Watershed (all local Asheville friends), NOC (my loyal employer), Teva, Powerbar, Touch Designs, Orosi, Voyageur & over 500 friends who helped give me the confidence in myself to achieve my goals.

What was it like to compete at such a high level and win the pressure must have been immense? Did you have any tips on how to deal with it?

I am a very competitive person. I could call myself stubborn. I am very driven to complete my goals...this certainly helped me to make it to the Worlds. I had a lot of tension because I did not want to disappoint my friends and sponsors. However, I realized that I needed to concentrate on smiling and enjoying myself...not on a "do or die" attitude. I have found that I am able to relax into music. I feel that relaxing is the most important aspect of performing well. I try not to get caught up in the crowd and the tension surrounding a performance. By relaxing into the rhythm of the music I tune out everything and allow my body to react. I don't think that you can force yourself to perform well...you have to trust in your body and paddle with your senses. Brian Miller and I had a great training session about a week before the event. The moon was full and for some unknown reason...we were the only two people that realized the river was running. We paddled until about 4 in the morning...the reduced light forced us to feel the wave and react by feel instead of forcing our moves. The Ful-James wave is extremely sensitive and flushy...but it has definite cycles...our excitement and enthusiasm of unlimited playtime helped us to bond to the site. I feel that this one night session was more valuable to me than all of the team practices put together. As far as tips that I can offer...I strongly recommend smiling before you paddle onto a wave...this sets your attitude for the entire ride.Even if you are trying the same move after missing it 20 times in a row...you are trying to have fun...smiling helps this happen. I try not to let people here me...but I sing to the river. I play the fiddle for the river...I think that the river knows who I am and music helps us appreciate each other. The logical side of me says that this is ridiculous...but I am not about to stop now. I guess it is really just a way to relax my head and feel more confident.

What are your plans for the future now the worlds have passed? Do you plan to defend your title at the pre worlds in Spain?

My plans for the future are a bit uncertain at the moment. I would love the opportunity to defend my title at the Pre-Worlds this year in Spain. However, I don't know if I will be able to afford to get there and back. I will be returning to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to instructing and training as much as I can. I will be competing in as many events as possible this year. I will definitely be a presence on the East Coast Rodeo Circuit. Last Season I ended up winning the Point Series and taking 2nd to Joe Langman in the North American Cup. (Both of these titles were unofficial...but we had many competitors and I feel that we will have even more this season). I want to improve my rankings, improve my bag of tricks, and defend all of my titles. Realistically, I can't expect to win everytime...but I hope to be in the top 3 at every event I enter. This will require strong focus and a bit of luck...but I am ready to go!

You mentioned your mentors who do you look upto in the paddling community?

My mentors in the paddling community are numerous. I can't thank my family enough for exposing me to such a great sport at an early age. My friends on the AB Hair Force are largely responsible for helping me believe a canoe can paddle anything a kayak can. I still remember watching Dave "Psycho" Simpson during the release of "Green Summer" at a GauleyFest long ago. It's ironic that what I thought was suicidal then, I find to be great fun now! Frankie Hubbard is one of the smoothest paddlers I know...he pushes me hard, by making it look so easy. Larry Mauzey...I will have to watch out for his squirt boating style as he starts to compete more and more. Marc Scriver, Joe Langman and Paul Mason from Canada give me faith that Canoeing isn't just a South Eastern Craze...I used to think that the moves they do were impossible for the normal boater...but now I realize that they play everyday as hard as they do when they compete...they have changed from mentors to my competitors to my friends. I am grateful to all my friends at the Coastal Canoeist Canoe Club...these folks believe in Open Canoeing...and they still encourage me to paddle what I want to.I wish I could list all of my friends and contacts that I have met over the years...they all are special to me and give me the confidence to go for my goals. They know who they are...and I thank them!!!

So what made you take up OC1 and not say C1 or squirt?

I do still paddle C-1 and I am using squirt C-1 as a training tool. I feel that squirt boats and open boats are closer relations than most people think. It's true that you don't flatwater cartwheel in canoes...but when you are completely full of water...every bit of current affects your handling. I ended up competing in Open Canoes because they are the most fun. I enjoy Open Canoeing for the challenge, the camraderie you enjoy paddling with other canoeists, and the thrill that I feel whenever I get tossed high out of the water!

Do you ever paddle a traditional open?

I still enjoy traditional open canoes. I teach for the Nantahala Outdoor Center and generally try to use a boat between 10-12 feet long. I still enjoy tandem boating...but I miss being able to throw myself end over end! I consider myself fortunate to have hooked up with Frankie Hubbard and Team Edge; I had destroyed my last traditional canoe beating it up creeking...durability is my favorite feature of the new designs.

Do you think that the gap between traditional and specialist is getting wider as some people don't class them as open boats any more?

It's a funny thing...we look at the boats and see even more improvements that we want to make to the new canoes. To us...it's just a step along the evolutionary path that hasn't been trod in years. Canoe designs have been stagnant...it is inspirational to watch as we adapt now. Some people object to the new canoes. In truth, we probably skipped a few designs that would have otherwise allowed us to evolve slowly. However, there are some new designs out this year which are trying to connect the traditional and the new-school designs. We need to link the traditional canoe with the freedom and play capabilities of the new canoes! I feel (after talking with a number of open boaters) that we are now on the verge of being accepted. For years, canoeists have been called stubborn or purists...typically in their 30's or older. We haven't had any changes that would bring in a new generation of boaters. Today, we have kayakers switching over to canoes. We have some younger canoeists excited because they can paddle a boat that is more to their size! Canoes have a chance! There is a push at the international level to eliminate Canoes from the Rodeo Tour. I feel that this would be a tragedy! I look forward to seeing not just a pro class of canoeists, but a novice class that competes in whatever style of canoe they choose!

Thank you very much.

Date of original publication on PLAYAK.COM: September 29 2000