Grant-A-Week WINNER
Jaime Reardon - Kayaker

My name is Jaime and I am a kayaker at Senobe Aquatic Club on Lake Banook in Dartmouth, NS. I have been paddling since I was nine years old, almost seven years ago, but only started training year round and with competition in mind two years ago.

I have competed at the Canadian National Sprint Canoe and Kayak Championships twice, both times in K-4. In 1998, my crew placed 6th and in 1999 we placed 5th. Since we were still a young crew and eligible to race in the same age group again in 2000, we were optimistic that this summer when Nationals are being held on our own lake in Dartmouth, that we would medal.

Regrettably, two of our crew members moved to a different club. Losing half of our crew was a big disappointment, but this year we will start over with a new crew and train and hope for the best.

Just recently, I completed my first Florida winter training camp and it was a very motivating experience for me. Besides being able to train with and observe some of the best paddlers in the country and in the world, I was very encouraged by the results that I achieved. If I can keep up my training and the level at which I have been paddling, then I have a chance at making the Nova Scotia Canada Games core team as well as racing at Nationals in singles events -- something which I have not yet done.

In May 2000, I will compete at the Canadian National Team Trials in Montreal to gain more racing experience and see how I am really measuring up to my competition. A big reason why I want to continue to improve is to be a role model for the younger paddlers at my club whom I have volunteer coached and who will be watching me train and race. Because I have been paddling since a young age, I know what it feels like to see the older paddlers of your club win and lose races, and how much you look up to them.

I feel very strongly that it is the responsibility of the older athletes at a club to be around to encourage the younger ones to stick with their sport and to have a healthy atti-tude towards themselves and others.

In my case, I want to be able to show younger athletes that with hard work and dedication they can achieve everything that they want. If they want and work for something enough then not only will they surprise others, they will surprise themselves

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