Spalding goes from canoes to kayaks

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lauren Spalding, world champion in a one-person canoe, will focus on flat-water kayaking this weekend. Advertiser library photo

This month, dark horse.

In a testament to her paddling prowess, Lauren Spalding is constantly stroking for new challenges.

Last month, Spalding won the Moloka'i World Championship on a one-person canoe. This weekend, she is in New York for the USA National Team Trials, competing as a flat-water kayaker.

If Spalding qualifies for the national team this week, she will be eligible to represent the United States in the 2003 World Championships at Lake Lanier, Ga., in September.

"I really don't know how I'll do against the other women because I've never done this before," said Spalding, who is 23 and from Kula, Maui. "But if I didn't try it, I would never know."

During the past two years, Spalding has established herself as the best female solo paddler in Hawai'i on either a one-person canoe or ocean surfski.

Last September, Chris Ball approached Spalding with the idea of trying flat-water kayaks. Ball is the head coach of the Hawai'i Canoe & Kayak Team (HCKT).

"I think it was pretty clear to everybody how strong of a paddler she was," Ball said. "But kayaking is still different from what she was doing out on the ocean. The fact that she's been able to pick it up this fast is quite amazing."

Spalding said she learned to paddle an ocean surfski seven years ago.

To the untrained eye, an ocean surfski appears to be almost identical to a flat-water kayak. To trained paddlers, the differences are significant.

"I struggled with (the flat-water kayak) the first couple times," Spalding said. "Having the surfski skills made the transition easier, but (the kayak) was still something I had to get used to."

Six months after paddling a flat-water kayak for the first time, Spalding started clocking national-caliber times during practice runs. Still, she will have the least experience among the paddlers in New York this weekend.

Punahou graduate Kathy Colin, who represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics, will also compete at the National Team Trials.

"Lauren has to be considered a dark horse because this is her first year," Ball said. "But she's going to surprise a lot of people. She might have a hard time making the team, but she's capable."

According to Ball, approximately 50 women will be competing for eight available spots on the national team.

Because of Spalding's inexperience, Ball wanted her to train exclusively on a flat-water kayak this year. The competitive nature in Spalding would not give in to that.

As part of her "cross-training," Spalding entered long-distance canoe races and won every race she entered.

"She wasn't supposed to be doing that, but I couldn't stop her," Ball said.

Spalding said: "I live for the moment. I grew up in the surf, so that's what I miss the most when I'm training (in flat waters)."

During the National Team Trials, Spalding will not have any waves to surf, and will compete in the 500-meter "sprint" race.

"Going from a four-hour race to a two-minute race is hard," she said. "There's no room for mistakes."

At least five other paddlers from Hawai'i will compete in this week's event: Lindsay Wessberg, Mike Self and Landen Buckley are entered in the junior races; Lindsay Norcross will compete in the women's division; Brandon Woods is in the men's division.

Self and Buckley are senior classmates at Iolani, and will be attempting to make the junior national team.