River Town Racers Rolling at USA Kayak National Championships
The River Town Racers are at it again! The 2023 Canoe & Kayak Sprint National championships just went down in Sarasota Florida. After a strong showing at last year's Nationals, the team was ready to race this year. (all photos courtesy River Town Racers)
While the 2024 Olympics features racing at 3 different distances the Nationals is a far more diverse event. With racing in 3 different boats (1,2, & 4 man), at 8 different distances, in 4 different age classes, the Nationals are action-packed and full of opportunities to paddle. With an elimination heat format, it gives paddlers the chance to get in on lots of different distances using different boat combos.
One of the coolest opportunities at Nationals is that teams will actually mix up their members in an attempt to build the best boat. Gig Harbor Washington paddlers will join in with Rivertown or The San Diego Club as the US Program searches for the best blend of paddlers.
Despite the long haul all the way cross country the River Town Racers knew upon arrival they had done the work to be here. With a strong coaching program, and the building support of the community the program has been thriving of late.
With the Olympics coming around the corner this year's Nationals was stacked with the USA’s best paddlers. Just making an A-Final is a massive accomplishment and reflects a level of dedication and effort that is to be admired and appreciated.
While there were amazing results across the board it wasn’t hard to single one out. Bantam Kayak Paddler Zoe Rice took home a slew of medals. Winning at multiple distances and in multiple boats it's fair to say Zoe is the best Bantam Sprint Kayaker in the US right now. Fighting above her weight she even pulled a medal in the Juvenile division.
Golds (9)
Vaughn Schenk (pictured above) w/ Aaron Small, Jonas Ecker, Miles Crosswhiter Mens Senior K-4 500m
Zoe Rice Womens Bantam K-1 200m
Zoe Rice Bantam K1 1000M
Zoe Rice Womens Bantam K-1 500m
Zoe Rice Womens Bantam with Lynne Kato K-2 500m
Zoe Rice Womens Bantam with Lynne Kato K-2 200m
Zoe Rice & Lynn Kato Womens Bantam K-2 3000m
Zoe Rice Womens Bantam K-1 500m
Zoe Rice & Lynn Kato Womens Bantam K-2 500m
Zoe Rice w/ Lynne Kato, Riler Johnson, Kalanit Karmon Womens Bantam K-4 500m
Silver (3)
Zach Alva w/ Colbert Manson, Nathan Humberston, Philp Majumdar
Violet Ryan & Zoe Rice (pictured at right) Womens Juvenile K-2 200m
Bronze (4)
Violet Ryan paddling w/ Abigail Clark Womens Juvenile K-2 1000m
Violet Ryan paddling w/ Kayla Van Dyke Womens Juvenile K-2 5000m
Petri Alva paddling w/ Nicholas Whitcomb, Kai Wilding, & Payton Chiou Mens Senior K-4 500m
Zoe Rice w/Lynne Kato, Alexandrea Perkins Womens Juvenile K-4 200m
4th Place -SOOOOOO Close!!!!! (this means A-Final too)
Petri & Zach Alva Mens Senior K-2 1000m (17 seconds off)
Zach Alva Mens Senior K-1 500m
Violet Ryan Womens Juvenile K-2 500m
Violet Ryan Womens Juvenile K-1 500m
A-Final’s (advancing through all heats to the final heat)
Violet Ryan Womens Juvenile K-1 200m
Violet Ryan Womens Juvenile K-4 500m
Violet Ryan Womens Juvenile K-1 1000m
Petri Alva Mens Senior K-1 500m
Petri Alva Mens Senior K-1 200m
Zach Alva Mens Senior K-1 200m
Zach & Petri Alva Mens Senior K-2 500m
Zach Alva Mens Senior K-1 1000m
Sebastian Kaufman Mens Juvenile K-1 500m
Sebastian Kaufman Mens Juvenile K-1 200m
Sebastian Kaufman Mens Junior K-1 500m
Thade Hutchins Mens Bantam K-2 500m
Thade Hutchins Mens Bantam K-2 200m
Thade Hutchins paddling with James Johnson (SDKC) Mens Bantam K-2 1000m
Beck Geiser & Jonas Moore Mens Juvenile K-2 500m
Beck Geiser & Jonas Moore Mens Juvenile K-2 1000m
Jonas Moore & Beck Geiser Mens Juvenile K-2 200m
Vaughn Schenk Mens Senior K-2
Honorable Mention to San Diego’s Philip Majumdar for taking home 3 medals. Philip was a long-time River Town Racer before defecting to the SDKC team but we still love him. Philip pulled down the silver medal in the Mens Senior K-1 200m which is considered the rock star race of the event. (pictured below Zoe Rice ready for business!)
If success begets success we should see more of this in the future. Great job by all the River Town Racers in representing Nor Cal paddling in such a strong light. The future is bright. Just train hard, go fast, and have fun!
