Salida teen takes next step in world kayak championships

The Mountain Mail, September 30, 2003
by Michael D. Reed, Mail Staff Writer

Courtesy photoMen's freestyle kayak world champion Jay Kincaid, with Brooke Bevan, was among kayakers who voted her the toughest kayaker in the world during freestyle kayak world competition earlier this year in Graz, Austria.

Brooke Bevan, of Salida, will compete in Rock Island, Tenn. next week for a chance to represent the United States in the 2004 World Championships of freestyle kayaking in Penrith, Australia.

Bevan, a sophomore at Salida High School, will miss a week of school for the competition.

“Most of my teachers have been really helpful in getting my assignments to me ahead of time so I can work on them while I’m away,” she said.

She said the combination of school and competition is hard for her but, “Academics is something that’s really important to me. I feel I can do this and still make straight A’s.”

Salida High School guidance counselor Chuck Stenzel said, “She’ll be caught up on her work a couple days after she gets back. I’d put money on it. That’s just the kind of kid she is – a top-flight student.”

Bevan spent two weeks in Canada training with Huge Experiences to prepare for the contest in Tennessee.

“I learned so much. Huge really helped me improve my kayaking a lot,” she said.

Bevan said they spent five hours a day in their boats and four and a half hours studying with tutors.

“My parents and I set high goals for me when I first started ski racing and I’ve always managed to meet those goals,” she said.

Since she began her career as a competitive athlete, she has maintained almost straight As.

“I got my first B in the last quarter of my freshman year,” she said.

Bevan is confident in her ability to remain at the top of her class, but feels pressure about making the American World Championship team.

“This year they’ve cut the (American) team size, so only the top two finishers in Rock Island will advance to Australia,” Bevan said.

“I’ve been training hard with running, weight lifting and a lot of sit-ups. There’s a lot of really good competitors out there, but I’m serious about making the team this year.”

Bevan earned a spot on the United States team last year and went to Graz, Austria, but didn’t place in final standings.

After a particularly brutal ride in the hole called The Terminator, the international kayaking community named Bevan “The toughest kayaker in freestyle.”

Despite disappointing re-sults at her first World Championship competition, Bevan maintained the positive outlook that has become her trademark.

“Kayaking is something I love – not because of the results I get – but just because it’s kayaking. I just love it.

“The experience will help me improve and I’ll be better next year.”

To get ready for the 2004 competition the 15-year-old organized three kayak competitions by herself to raise money for her trip to Rock Island.

“I learned more than I wanted to about insurance and bonds and sponsorship. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, but it’s great because I learned a lot,” she said.

The Throwdown Showdown last July at Salida’s lower play hole attracted some of the city’s best kayakers.

“So many people in this community have supported me. I’d love to be able to thank them all,” she said.

“Ray Kitson has been awesome. Mike Harvey has helped me so much – so much. Ken and Tia at Brandon-Ward Graphics helped me raise money. Just the whole community – everybody in town has helped me.”

Bevan will leave for Tennessee Saturday and return Oct. 11 with less than two hours to get ready to attend the Salida High School homecoming dance.

“It took me a good deal more time to get ready for it last year, but I’m sure I’ll be able to throw something together quickly,” she said.

Bevan is sponsored by Teva sandals, PowerBar, Smith optics, WaveSport kayaks, Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area, the Arkansas River Trust, FIBArk and Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center and Headwaters Outdoor Equipment.

Tax-deductible donations toward her travel and competition expenses may be made in care of Arkansas River Trust at 332 W. Sackett Ave.

“I really appreciate my sponsors and donors, but mostly I appreciate my parents,” she said. “They have always been so supportive of me and my dreams. They’ve helped me so much in getting to where I am now.”