CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Out of the water Lauren Burress is a typical sixth-grader. But when she and her kayak become one, the Cleveland girl is a champion.
She won the gold in her class at the 2007 Junior Olympics. She often can be seen on the Ocoee River on weekends challenging the heaviest rapids as a freestyle boater.
Q: How did you get interested in kayaking?
A: We were
from Evansville, Indiana.
Two years ago
we were going to move to Colorado, but we decided to move down here for the kayaking.
Q: How old were you when you began boating?
A: I got my boat when I was 9, but I started kayaking when I was 6. My dad kayaked and I rode the back of his kayak. I started paddling whitewater when I was 8.
I paddle the Tellico, the Ocoee and other rivers. Down here my favorite rivers are the Tellico and the Ocoee: the Tellico because of the drops, and the Ocoee because of the waves.
Q: What is your favorite type of kayaking?
A: Play boating is my favorite. I like doing cartwheels, and I’m working on getting my loops down solid. I want to work on improving. They are talking about putting it into the Olympics, but it’s not in there yet. I paddle Jackson kayaks. I’ve been in another boat, but I like them and they sponsor me.
Q: Are there other paddlers your age?
A: I have a lot of friends who kayak with me and are about my same age. We all paddle together. On the Ocoee, we usually paddle the staging eddies, and Hell’s Hole, and other times play the whole river. It depends upon how much time we have. My favorite rapids is Hell’s Hole.
Q: Have you ever raced slalom?
A: I had never practiced slalom at all, and the one competition I entered last year I had to borrow a boat. It was the Junior Olympics in Golden, Colorado, and I entered the competition and practiced for a little bit. I ended up getting first place. I think next time I go to competition I’ll try do it in my own boat.
Q: Do you also enter play boating competition?
A: I just got back this weekend and entered a pro women’s competition and got second. They were all over 17 years old.
Q: What is the most difficult thing about your sport?
A: It’s really hard to get over being scared, but I’ve found a way. You just do it, and you are so happy when you are done. I sometimes get scared, but it’s just you have to say “I’ve got to do this,” and I get over it.
I’ve had some close calls, but I haven’t gotten under any undercuts. I know how to read the rivers. That is one of the things my dad taught me.
Q: Who is your favorite boater?
A: My dad is my favorite boater. He inspires me. If my dad sees I’m scared or something, he tells me, “You don’t have to run it, but I know you can and did before.” He is always there.
Q: How do you compete and attend school?
A: I’m in the sixth grade and homeschooled because I have to travel so much for competition. But in the off season, I go to regular school because my friends are there. I just moved to a new school — Ocoee Middle School — but I haven’t started yet.
Q: Does your paddling time interfere with schooling?
A: Usually I do extra lessons and have it done so I can have summers off. When I go to regular school, I’ve usually had what they are studying and have a good idea what they are doing.
Q: What are your plans when you get older?
A: I want to keep kayaking and go pro, but I also want to have a career as a children’s doctor, a pediatrician.
NEWSMAKERS
Name: Lauren Burress
Age: 12 Avocation: Kayaker
Hometown: Evansville, Ind.
