Many Chattanooga area residents enjoy being on the water, but only a select few love it enough to hold their own wedding ceremony in the middle of a kayaking trip down a river. Freestyle kayaker and Ace Kayaking School guide Kat Levitt is one of them. Though she's excited to compete in the Freestyle Kayaking World Cups in Spain and France this year, she's even more pumped about her efforts to bring the river parks she's found in Europe home to Chattanooga.
How long have you been kayaking, and what got you into it?
I went whitewater rafting as a teenager and observed the kayakers on the river with us. It appeared the potential for fun was greater than in a raft, as they could surf and effortlessly glide back and forth across the water. They also could catch water with their bow and pop up high into the air! I wanted to do that as soon as I saw it!
How did you transition into being an instructor yourself?
Freestyle kayaker and Ace Kayaking School guide Kat LevittI didn't begin to teach kayaking for a long time (over 10 years). My very first instruction gig was spur of the moment, assisting Jeff West, the owner of the Ocoee River's premier kayak school (ACE). He was my big brother figure, from my teens to my 30's. He was certainly my transition catalyst into instruction, but it wasn't fast. Realizing my calling took years of observing Jeff work with paddlers of all skill levels, and witnessing the rewards it reaped. He was far from rich in dollars, but he created many smiles and contributed more to the growth of whitewater paddling than anyone I know of.
Recent trends are heavily encouraging 'leadership' to sell programs that claim to provide and define abilities to lead, but I think it's important to focus on your own paddling first. It's become popular for new paddlers to seek instruction certifications as soon as they learn to roll and run a couple of rivers, and while it can be beneficial to personal development, it's not an appropriate substitute for experience and time in your boat. Leadership is earned in time. Freestyle, for example, cannot be learned any other way than hard work and lots of failure, and it's impossible to pass those skills and encourage a mindset of perseverance on if you haven't done it yourself.
You married your husband while kayaking waterfalls on the Tellico River. Can you describe that experience?
Our wedding was very low-stress. We decided that morning to have a minister meet us near the falls and grabbed some wedding bands on the way out of town. Besides a couple of white ribbons in my braids, I didn't wear anything special. Instead of walking down the aisle, we ran Baby Falls and hopped out of our boats to meet the minister, who was all smiles. The rushing water was a little loud and my husband had a hard time hearing the vows to repeat, which was funny, but we got married and paddled the rest of the way down the river. I love the memory!
What are your favorite races and competitions you've participated in?
I mainly compete in Freestyle which can be compared to surfing, or perhaps gymnastics in the water. In 2010, I went to Germany for the World Cups, and that was a phenomenal experience on every level. My favorite annual river event is Fibark in Salida, Colorado. The Pro Freestyle Finals always follow a hilarious event called the Hooligan Race, where locals build silly contraptions and race/float down the river on them. They don't always float and I've even seen them catch on fire! It's just plain funny, and always cracks me up before we compete, really taking the edge off. I love racing my home river, the Ocoee. My scariest race thus far is the class V Green Race on the Green River in North Carolina.
Do you still plan to represent the US for freestyle kayaking in upcoming years? If yes, how close are you to that goal?
Yes. I'll be competing in the World Cups in France and Spain this year in fact. My goal is to place above top 10, which I have not yet done in a final result. When the US Freestyle Team has been cut to three women for World Championship years, I've been extremely close the last few times, so the next Team Trials will be a real focus for me.
How long and how often do you focus on personal training each week?
During the warm season, I paddle an average of 6 times a week. I paddle hard at least twice every single day when I'm training for an event. During the off season, I work hard to make gains in strength, balance and explosive movement in the gym and in pool sessions. If it gets really cold (like this year) I still get outside on white water twice a week for short sessions to maintain the skills and confidence I've built up.
What boat do you prefer and why?
I have a quiver of kayaks. Most serious whitewater paddlers do! But the two that get loaded the most are my Jackson 2014 Rock Star freestyle kayak, and my creeker, a Jackson Karma. Jackson always makes freestyle kayaks in a variety of sizes. Mine is a small, and size is important when you are throwing your boat ends around in the air and pushing them under water. Creek boats should float high and inspire confidence, which the Karma does well! I appreciate the secondary stability the Karma allows me in situations that might be unplanned. I also prefer to support local business, and Jackson Kayak manufactures their kayaks right in Sparta, Tennessee!
Describe the Chattanooga paddling scene.
For expert whitewater paddlers, Chattanooga has many opportunities in the areas of steep creeking and river running. Local elites have pioneered the sport's impressive progress for decades. Still, our local paddle sports have experienced less growth in comparison to places like Colorado, where the paddling season is shorter! So what gives? Well, it's just not easy to learn the ropes of whitewater paddling on Chattanooga's steep creeks. And flat water doesn't have as much appeal when the experience is heavily impacted by post-industrial debris -hazards are present and access points are limited. What Chattanooga needs to do is transform these areas into urban waves and appealing water features. We need paddle sports surf parks accessible to the public.
Surfing a kayak actually makes the whole process of learning to kayak really fun, and rapidly builds a strong skill set! Currently, I can't train or coach right at home. I am constantly traveling to be competitive in the freestyle discipline of paddle sports ... to Europe and the Western US most often. They have embraced the creation of many river parks that also cater to surfers and bring an economic boost to distressed areas negatively impacted by past industrial development. Towns like Reno, Boise and Salida (Colorado) use these parks to showcase their restored waterways and the outdoor brand to spectators, and attract sponsors for events. River parks also enhance fish habitat and prevent erosion. They are perfect for a place like Chattanooga, and my goal is to bring one or more of these parks home for everyone to enjoy!
As a coach, what's the most important lesson an aspiring kayaker can learn?
We should all spend time on the water for the love of it! No other factors should be entering the equation when we make a choice to try a new move, compete or run a rapid. If fear of failure is paralyzing, or doing it successfully won't be fun, then it's time to step back.