Imagine taking the kayak out to the local river for a fun, relaxing afternoon. Now imagine that kayak flying down Class-3 rapids before sliding over a small waterfall while performing tricks instead…
That’s exactly what Dane Jackson does with his kayak, adding a mixture of fun with danger as he cruises around the country testing out some of the best waters. What the 20-year-old is capable of doing while lodged into the small, short vessel specifically designed for performing tricks is nothing short of insane.
The son of a professional kayaker, Jackson took to the sport quickly, hitting the water at the age of two. He knew right away that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, learning as much as possible and spending most of his spare time around the sport – and the thrill never really came with any jitters.
“Every chance I got, I was kayaking,” Jackson recalled. “But it wasn’t until I was about eight-years-old, when I learned how to build a kayak back up, that’s when my career really started to take off because then I got a lot better and I was able to start running a lot more rivers.”
It wasn’t long before Jackson was getting noticed – whether it was for his junior-level kayak competition wins or for the kick-ass tricks he was executing. There are over 30-plus tricks involved with freestyle kayaking and there are plenty in Jackson’s repertoire, but his favorite is definitely the Looper, a front flip that allows him to get a lot of amplitude and air. He makes it look so easy to us novices.
After a world junior title and three separate gold medals in three disciplines at the freestyle kayak world championships in 2011, Jackson became a professional, proving he wasn’t just a one-trick pony.
Shortly after, in the fall of 2012, he became sponsored by Red Bull – catching him slightly off guard.
“I never thought it would happen so early and I was very, very honored,” Jackson admitted. “So far it’s been great. They’ve been very supportive and have given me many opportunities.”
The doors have certainly opened up and although freestyle kayaking is not an Olympic sport, Jackson was invited to last year’s summer games in London to perform and show the world exactly what the sport is all about. Surprisingly, throughout all of his years competing and training, Jackson has never suffered a serious injury, though given the nature of his tricks, there have been some close calls.
Next month Jackson will be competing in the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships from Sept. 2-7 on North Carolina’s Nantahala River. The event – which takes place once every two years – will feature the world’s top international paddlers competing in kayaking’s top competitions. For Jackson, who will represent the United States, it’s something he looks forward to for obvious reasons.
“Everyone is out there to have fun, they’re super friendly and I love how everyone is in it for the passion of the sport,” he added.
There’s no doubt that what Jackson does is dangerous, but to him it’s well worth the thrill. He pushes it to the limit every time he enters the water and his advice to beginners is something he’s found helpful.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, find some friends to boat with and go at your own pace,” Jackson said.
Ed is an MMA/Extreme Sports contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller, and subscribe at Facebook.com/CraveOnlineSports.
Photo Credit: (group) Getty
