In The News

2008
Jackson Kayaks Regional Team Profile
“7-year-old Girl A Kayaking Phenom”

Sage had a dream.  She wanted to be a team Jackson Kayak member and spent the summer of 2007 working hard to obtain that goal.  She started her whitewater year at the Reno River Festival in Reno, Nevada, where she competed in the down river race and the junior boatercross.  She did not win, in fact, she was last, but she had a blast!  She was also the only girl competing against boys 11 and older.  She then traveled to Colorado where she competed in the Lyons River Festival, Golden Colorado Rodeo, Fibark and the Teva Mountain Games.  Once again, she was the only girl and several years younger than her male competitors, but I will never forget her ecstatic face as she finished her second ride at the Lyons Festival and said “I’m doing this next year!”

In Golden, She was trying to avoid the large, sticky hole, but ended up doing a great side surf for quite awhile until she flipped and lost her paddle and was rescued by her dad.  She then ran up the river and competed in the down river race without a trace of fear as she blasted through the hole that had held her for so long.  At the Teva Mountain Games, Sage had a cold, but raced in the down river race where she swam out of her boat after flipping and losing her paddle.  When she was asked if she wanted to finish or get out of the river, she said “I would be disappointed in myself if I didn’t get back in my boat and finish.”  which she promptly did.

At FibArk in Salida, Co, Sage competed in the slalom course where she was caught in the rodeo hole for about 30 seconds, once again flipping and swimming, but she got back in her boat and competed in the rodeo where she demonstrated her rolling and ferrying ability with a big smile.  While at the FibArk festival, Eric Jackson asked Sage to come to the Team Jackson Kayak bar-b-cue where he extending a generous invitation to be a Jackson Kayak Regional Team Member.  She was Thrilled!  “My dreams have come true!”  She said. 

Sage is taking her Team Jackson kayaking responsibilities very seriously and is know for her infectious grin as she paddles around Nevada and California rivers inspiring adults and children alike to kayak and enjoy the river.  She continues to compete in the local river festivals and has a new passion for slalom racing but her heart lies in running rivers and rodeos, and just having a great time in the water.  She can be found several days a week at the Reno whitewater park working on her hole playing abilities and teaching others to kayak.  She and her parents hope to start a kids kayaking club where Sage can share her enthusiasm for kayaking and her love of the river with other kids and families.