Olympic gold medal canoeist Larry Cain was recently in Chattanooga for the Chattajack SUP race. The race, which is quickly becoming the Scenic City’s signature paddling event, runs more than 30 miles from downtown through the Tennessee River Gorge. Cain, a Canadian, won the race and took a few minutes with us to discuss SUP, the race and Chattanooga.
Get Out Chattanooga: On your Facebook page you called the Chattajack a “bucket list race.” What makes it special?
Larry Cain: There is no race quite like Chattajack. The distance for one makes it unique. Thirty-one (actually 32) miles is WAY longer than almost every other race. Though there is a current in the first half at least, it wasn’t that strong, and the headwind you are paddling into counters any benefit you get from it. To win you need to train hard and comprehensively for an entire season. You need to nail your hydration and race nutrition. You need to be able to draft well. You need to be able to read the water. You need luck as well. Top it off by racing in some of the most beautiful scenery on the continent, and it is something special.
GOC: What do you and other pros look for in a SUP race?
LC: A challenge. Chattajack certainly offers that. On top of that we look for races that are well organized, well attended and have some type of cache. Chattajack meets all those criteria and then some.