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< Nov/Dec 2002
	Hotline
Golden Girl Rebecca Giddens wins France’s Slalom World Championships Dana Chladek

Despite 25-mph gusts that pushed gates horizontal only 90 seconds before her run, American Rebecca Giddens imposed her will on one of the world’s biggest-water slalom courses to give the United States its first kayak world champion since Cathy Hearn in 1979, and first since Davey Hearn won the C-1 title in 1995. Giddens posted the fasted women’s kayak run of the day at August’s 2002 World Championships in Bourg St. Maurice, France, on her second run to finish an incredible 2.02 seconds ahead of Germany’s Mandy Planert.

"She was one second back after the first run," says Brian Parsons, director of slalom for USA Canoe and Kayak, "and a three-second difference in the Worlds is pretty flabbergasting. The only time I was nervous was before Rebecca's second run when the wind picked up—in slalom, that’s not good." Giddens blocked out the weather and ran her race. "Going fast comes naturally to me," says the Green Bay, Wis., native. "I just concentrated on making a clean run." The victory was the culmination of a hot streak that included winning the last World Cup race in Prague, Czech Republic, Aug. 4; winning the qualifying race at the Worlds; and finishing second in the semifinals. She followed her victory at the Worlds by cruising to a 30-second win at the U.S. Whitewater Slalom Nationals in Dickerson, Md., a week later. "She’s that far ahead of everyone else," says Parsons.

Giddens’ streak bodes well for American fortunes at the 2004 Olympics. "She is physically very strong and fast," says U.S. coach Silvan Poberaj. "If she stays injury free, she’ll be one of the three favorites for the gold." Giddens’ husband, Eric, was one penalty away from making the K-1 final, a two-second gate touch moving him from fifth place to 13th. The next-best American finisher to Giddens was the C-2 duo of Scott McCleskey and David Hepp, who finished 10th.

A Quick Q&A with the World Champ

Paddler: What was the race like for you?

Giddens: The advice I got beforehand was to focus on each move. It was a big, powerful course, so I just concentrated on making each move cleanly. I knew that my natural style of making up time between gates would carry me if I had a clean run.

Paddler: It obviously worked out. Giddens: It was a pretty amazing feeling to come across the finish and look up at the scoreboard and see my name go to the top.

Paddler: What was your strategy for this season? Giddens: Since the Olympics are two years away, my plan this year was to get some races under my belt. I wanted to have a "good feel" year of training and racing. I spent two months racing and training in Europe before the World Championships. It really helped. The more big races I did the more comfortable I felt in the high pressure situations.

Paddler: Most of the team and the coaches live in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, yet you live and train in San Diego, where there is no whitewater. How does that work? Giddens: I like it. Of course, we’re there because my husband, Eric [also a U.S. Slalom team member], is getting his Ph.D. in oceanography. But when you’re surrounded by slalom paddlers all the time you think that's all there is. The perspective has relaxed me. In San Diego I do quite a bit of cross training: six of my 12 workouts per week are outside of the boat. I do lots of weight lifting, X-C roller blading, hill running. Surf kayaking is my favorite cross-training workout. Every weekend we drive to Kernville for four good whitewater workouts. I also attend a lot of training camps outside of California. The downside is that once I've been off of whitewater for a while it takes a while to get it back.

Paddler: There’s one race left in the World Cup. How are you doing? Giddens: It’s a little embarrassing, but I don’t even know the standings [she ended up sixth]. I’d like to think that indicates my focus on the task at hand, which is always to put together the best possible run on any given course.

—Dana Chladek (two-time Olympic slalom medalist)