Need to tune up your whitewater skills for the mid-western kayking season? Is improving mobility and agility through a rapid something you’ve been wanting to work on? Join me for the Ray McLain Memorial Training Camp in Wausau, Wisconsin this June as we re-focus elements of slalom racing to improve your overall whitewater skills while honoring one of the legends of whitewater.

I’ll be organzing and coaching workouts at the Wausau Whitewater Course June 24-26, coaching at the open slalom race on June 27th, and coaching at the “Dash for Cash” and Slalom Survior on June 28th. For more information, check WausauWhitewater.org or contact Julie Walraven at (715) 574-5263 or email Julie at wkcc@dwave.net.

Check out the ease and beauty of paddling your own kayak on Ocoee #3 Lake with professional guides from Ocoee Adventure Center.

Thoughts and questions following USA Canoe/Kayak Slalom Trials about how we win:

Energy and motivation to achieve something significant can come from a variety of places. No matter where you are in your process, checking in with Seth Godin can never hurt. As an unashamed fan, it’s a daily occurrence for me. Here’s an easy and entertaining 17 minutes of Seth at this year’s TED conference.

Last fall, our friends at World Kayak welcomed Gold Medal Connections’ Slalom Survivor into their line-up of whitewater events for the “rest of us.” While we’ve never been so happy to see all the elite athletes of canoe/kayak pushing their personal limits, we did see a widening gap between kayak racing and kayaking. Many folks that just want to have fun competing with their boats. Which is what makes the Gold Medal Connections partnership with World Kayak so natural. Take a look at this short video that showcases Slalom Survivor as it was played the 2009 Gold Medal Camp on the Kern River in Kernville, California. And then go to WorldKayak.com and find a place to play this summer!

Jonathan Fields, author of “Career Renegade: How To Make A Great Living Doing What You Love,” recently chose me for a Career Renegade podcast for his blog, CareerRenegade.com. During the one hour conversation, we discuss funding an Olympic pursuit, the role of family, life lessons from the river, broadcasting and more. Definitely the most revealing and in-depth interview I’ve done since retiring from competitive canoe racing. Check it out – free on iTunes:

http://www.careerrenegade.com/renegade-profile-olympic-gold-medalist-joe-jacobi/

I’ll be reviewing Jonathan’s book here soon but here’s an early tip. Read it!

The idea behind any National Team Trials is that the best athletes come to one place and the race for the priveledge of representing the United States in international competition. Yet Team Trials facilitates a lot of conversation about the next generation of kayakers in the pipeline. Here in San Diego, 1992 Olympian, Chris Barlow, runs one of the best kids programs you’ll find and took a few minutes to talk about the San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team.

What does the USA Canoe/Kayak Head, Nathan Luce, look for in his athletes besides talented kayaking? Check out our conversation during the lunch break at Sprint Team Trials in Chula Vista, California. Enjoy our “angelic”  lighting too.

As I re-launch JoeJacobi.com, I’m re-posting some of my favorite blogs and video blogs from the past year. If you can appreciate cause-driven athletics at the highest level, check out this video featuring a Beijing Olympic medalist during a visit to Chattanooga.

Tradition in a Bottle

(November 2, 2008) Marcus McElhenney, coxswain for the Olympic Bronze Medal-winning Mens Eight in Beijing, and few of his rowing mates were in Chattanooga this past weekend for the Head of Hooch Rowing Regatta. Not only were they participating in what has become the second largest rowing event in the U.S., these young athletes were spokesmen for Row For the Cure – raising money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Marcus took a few minutes to talk with me about prospects for London and a special tradition within the Olympic rowing ranks.

Just came across this Diversity Spectrum video (thanks, Gold Medal Mel!) from former USA Canoe/Kayak Executive Director and current USA Swimming Executive Director, Chuck Wielgus. Excellent thoughts about diversity in water sports and USA Swimming’s diversity initiatives,  My favorite part? The words “it’s the right thing to do” are driving the so many of the word’s great movements. Plenty of opportunities for a sport like canoe/kayak to get involved!