They all finished right behind one another.    I would have been there too, had I not stopped to suck one in  yard sale.


Racing is interesting.  It was my first one.  I have alot to reflect on.....

I had decided to bust down through Entrance and boof the falls then go left like I usually do.  I had the lead until I flipped below the falls.  It took me two attempts to roll up, but I kept on in a fury only to lose time and watch the other girls pass me by going straight down the right side below Bear Creek.  I hustled though and kept out front of two racers ( there were 6 of us ).  I've got a mean flat water stroke, so I figured I could still win.

I watched MariAnn go down the middle of Yard Sale and work right, at that moment, I was undecided and that cost me.  I sometimes eddy out and ferry above the top hole, then ferry back right above the bottom hole, but I knew I didn't have time for that.....    so even though I had trouble there last week, I went right again and down the slot between the two rocks.....   that's when the kid, Taylor, took the line MariAnn took and we had a little tangle.  She kept on and I was pretty cooked at that point.  I tried to roll, but her boat kept me down then I lost air and sucked it right there. 

I could barely swim myself to shore.  I threw my paddle to the bank... and missed.  I jumped onto the bank and scrambled down.... our safety boaters, Jose, Nate, and Mike saw that I was ok and went on.... well, except for Mike, he stayed with me.  I got down to the last rapid, gave Mike my skirt and proceeded to swim through the last rapid and to the finish line. ....  

When the lake got too cold, I grabbed Mike's boat's handles, slid up on it and straddled it to the take out.

Now, everybody has their own perspective, this is just mine.

I will be training for next year and I realize that my fear and indecisiveness cost me... not to mention the fact that I swam, I'll work on that too, it may have something to do with my cigarette smoking.... but nothing compensates for good technique....  Still, my competitive juices were flowing and there was a time that I actually thought I could win.... That was a foreign idea to me and now, I'm excited.

I have so much admiration for the Knoxville ladies and I couldn't help but root for them too.  Oh, and to the guys on the bank at Topoco, ......  I wasn't blowing you off, I was busy or I'd have stopped to chat. :)

Tera L. Wilson.

( BIG SMILES )