Athlete, Scholar, Coach. That is how Aaron Small describes himself on his LinkedIn profile, as unassuming as it’s true. Aaron does kayak, ski and hike. He’s in his remaining yr of school, set to graduate this spring. He has spent many afternoons and summers teaching youngsters on the native canoe and kayak membership, minutes from the place he grew up.
However at simply 22 years previous, Aaron has simply gained a bronze medal within the Males’s Kayak Double 500m Dash on the Pan American Video games. He’s researching Puget Sound air pollution ranges for his undergraduate senior thesis whereas finishing the necessities for his minor in ASL. He’s additionally a volunteer ski patroller and authorized EMT.
Aaron nonetheless discovered the time to talk with Group Phonak about rising up and his experiences on the water – the place he feels most at dwelling. His story has been edited for size and readability.
The primary paddle
I began kayaking after I was 11 years previous. I received into it as a result of my mother’s buddy had a child who was doing it by means of college, so I attempted it out at Inexperienced Lake on the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Membership.
At first, it was extra of a membership exercise and an effective way to get outdoors. While you begin out, there’s much more swimming than precise paddling as a result of the boats are so unstable. You get in, you fall out, you swim again to shore, you get in, fall out… It’s simply an limitless cycle. However I actually loved it and caught with it. It’s given me quite a lot of cool alternatives.
I began competing nationally after I was 16 and educated a bit extra persistently. Since I’ve been competing internationally, I prepare two to 3 occasions a day. I prepare as soon as within the morning on the water, normally for about an hour. It’s a bit tough when it’s 32 levels (0 Celsius) out as a result of your arms get numb, and your nostril will get good and frosty. So an excellent day really begins off with me being heat!
Out on the water
I discover it very fulfilling to push my limits on the water and observe my enhancements over time. I additionally respect that I can restrict my focus to at least one factor. After I’m paddling, it’s form of my remedy for the day, and I discover it fairly meditative. Typically I even take out my listening to aids and tune out for somewhat bit. In any other case, I can actually hear all of the splashes and the seaweed that will get caught on the entrance of the boat – it whistles after I’m paddling quick.
I actually stunned myself final yr after I began performing effectively internationally, making A-finals and incomes medals. In my warmth on the 2022 World Championships, I keep in mind crossing the end line in third place, realizing that the highest three went on to the A-final. That was my first senior-level A-final qualification, in opposition to athletes I had been watching on TV my entire life. I had one thing to point out for all of the onerous work.
Every time I get careworn or nervous at competitions, I attempt to sit again and keep in mind why I’m doing this sport within the first place: I like paddling. I like the coaching and neighborhood facets simply as a lot because the competitiveness. That helps to place me in a extra relaxed mindset, which is how I race finest. I additionally attempt to keep in mind everybody that helps me – my buddies, household, teammates and coaches.
At all times by the water
Proper now, I’m aiming to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer time Olympics. We now have the US trials in March subsequent yr. They qualify you to compete on the Continental qualifiers, the place it’s important to win the double kayak occasion, or place within the prime two within the single kayak, to get a spot on the Olympics. If all goes effectively, I’ll be heading to Paris and hopefully LA in 2028. This implies I’ll be balancing full-time coaching with college once more quickly.
Due to my schedule, I’m taking somewhat break from my part-time teaching job with the children. It’s actually enjoyable working with them, and I typically suppose I study extra from them than they do from me. They’re round 10-17 years previous, and I’ve realized that I want to speak with them extra and attempt to share my experiences and ideas I’ve realized from my time within the sport. After I was youthful and developing within the membership, I picked up many of the coaching expertise and habits by watching older athletes. I might attempt to mimic them, or coaches would counsel I begin doing one thing a sure means.
I grew up onerous of listening to, which meant asking “What?” many occasions, and other people having to repeat themselves. It was irritating for me and irritating for them. Getting listening to aids did assist so much. There have been some bullying cases as a result of youngsters didn’t actually perceive why I used to be carrying these “bizarre, alien” gadgets in my ears. If I might discuss to my youthful self, I’d attempt to encourage him and say that listening to aids aren’t any completely different than glasses. They’re simply serving to everybody keep related. It’s nothing to be ashamed of – it’s simply what it’s important to do to remain related.
As for the long run, so much is up within the air. It’s onerous to be an expert kayaker in the US as a result of there’s not quite a lot of funding, however I intend to maintain paddling for the foreseeable future. There are quite a lot of cool oceanography jobs on the market which I’ll discover after I graduate. I respect that oceanography encompasses many various STEM disciplines, like chemistry, bodily oceanography and biology. And, in fact, I like being by the water.
Observe: Aaron wears the Phonak Audéo Life Lumity, the world’s first rechargeable waterproof listening to support.
