Women in Racing Finding Our Rhythm (l-r) Garrett Lewis, Ginsie Stauss and Debbie Richardson
Part two of our conversation with
Ginsie Stauss
we all strive for it, want it and thus with strength training and dedication there are a few women who actively compete against some of the better male paddlers, Erin Magee is a good example. CKR: In a sport dominated numerically by men, do women compete against men or simultaneous with them? Stauss: Numerically there really are a lot more men in endurance canoeing, at least that has been my experience. But the number of women who are out there are growing. The learning curve once a woman first dips her blade into the water to when she is racing, is much faster than it used to be. There are a bunch of incredible new women racers who have crossed over from adventure racing and bring their own sense of competition with them. Generally a paddler’s main concern is to finish before the others in their class or to better their own time. But for sure the competition is always there, and while I can only speak from my experience, I can say that it feels good to pass another team regardless of who they are. Yet, it does not feel good to be passed by anyone. I do not believe the fastest women could ever be as fast as the fastest men in an all out sprint race, but still
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However, women can team up to compete. They can be more competitive by racing with other women, with men, someone with more experience, and can race in a variety of classes, using different boats and paddles. In an ultra-endurance canoeing event, a multitude of things can happen to any team along the way to slow them way down. Experience can go a long way. CKR: What about you, do you get a different charge out of passing a man than you do passing a woman? Stauss: Pretty much no. Once I do pass someone I try to look for the next person to pass. I even try to say some words of encouragement as I go by. In shorter races you are fighting the clock. In long races you very well could see that team again. Perhaps you encounter a problem that slows you down. Then, there they come and they pass you. Also, teams burn themselves out the first day of a race and be way out in front only to be passed by a team on the second or third day that used a different strategy. It’s not over, till you cross the finish line.
CKR: Are there any special considerations women have regarding paddle racing? Stauss: It is rare in everyday life to talk openly about how to pee in a cup. Nothing else really dramatic, chaffing around the bra line is the biggest concern. I use Boudreaux’s Butt Paste everywhere a seam touches and anywhere that might be wet for an extended period of time. Other than that your cycle could get a bit messed up after paddling straight for days on end. CKR: What have you learned from paddling with other women? Stauss: That a woman determined cannot be stopped. I have seen women paddlers start at the very beginning and within one year develop into true competitors. I’ve learned that you can begin, or begin again, at any age. Even though we are competitors, women paddlers are full of encouragement and congratulations for each other no matter the situation. Sometimes the competition can be fierce, but when it is all over, women usually leave that aggression on the river and are genuinely happy for the first place teams, determined though to come back and win the next time. CKR: What should women avoid in their own development as paddlers?