Reposted from my “CEO Blog” at USACK.org

Thanksgiving promotes a healthy spirit of reflection and gratitude. Looking back at Thanksgiving within the context of my life in paddlesports, this holiday was always the first big training camp of the season. As the first extended break on the school calendar for many, Thanksgiving was the ideal time to bring athletes together and work hard towards next year’s goals.

I was reminded of some of my favorite Thanksgiving memories this week when Washington College’s web site ran a feature article about USA Canoe/Kayak Olympian, World Cup and World Champion, Lecky Haller. The article captured the purity and simplicity of this champion’s approach to the sport and the values I learned from him that always stood out during this time of year.

(Check out the article about Lecky HERE.)

Over a 15-year period, I spent at least 10 Thanksgivings with Lecky at training camps across this holiday weekend. Whether as my coach, fellow teammate, or coaching junior athletes together, Lecky’s love for the water and drive to excel consumed every Thanksiving training camp we attended. No matter where we were, we had plenty for which to be thankful. To this day, I am still thankful for the way we chose to spend many Thanksgivings and the impact it had on our lives.

For many of our USA Canoe/Kayak athletes and coaches, traditional Thanksgivings are often traded for Thanksgivings spent on the water. While missing family time during holidays can be challenging, these training camp experiences bring a perspective of Thanksgiving that are uniquely shaped by an appreciation for water and help define the kind of competitors we aspire to be.

No matter where you are this holiday, Happy Thanksgiving!