USA Canoe/Kayak Member Wins Gold at World Masters Games

USACK Member Alex Ambotas, paddling for the US, took home four gold medals from the World Masters Games, held in Sydney, Australia on October 16-18, 2009.

The Games are a forum for fierce but friendly masters-level competition and are conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations of the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Competitions are broken into age and gender categories so that competitors face their peers. Alex raced in the 50-55 age category.

Alex is a member of Rockaway Olympic Canoe and Kayak Club (ROCK), based at Lake Sebago, New York. Alex was coached by fellow ROCK member Borys Markin, who says, "Alex worked hard and the Gold proves it". Alex and his blue Nelo Vanquish II racing kayak were fixtures at the American Canoe Association's camp on Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park. He trained almost every day for the entire year.

Alex says, "When I arrived in Australia, I had two big problems. First, my bank canceled all of my ATM and credit cards the first time I swiped them. I guess they thought they had been stolen. There I was in Sydney with no cards and not much cash

in my pocket, either. Finally, they agreed to turn one back on and that was enough to get by with. Second, the boat that I had rented in advance was not as advertised - just junk. Fortunately, ROCK Commodore Scott Greifenberger was able to put me in touch with former Lanier coach Guy Wilding who lent me a Nelo Vanqush II. With that, I was set. Thanks, Guy!

Alex goes on to say, "The competition at the Games was very strong and everyone was very serious about winning. My main concern was the wind, which reached forty k.p.h. during the 1000 meter events. Water was breaking over the bow of my boat and rolling up onto my chest! Fortunately, the weather improved for the other races. It was decent for the 500 meter event and really good for the 200. I went to Sydney planning only to do single-person events, but the race organizers allowed some last-minute entries so I was able do K2 events, too, with a Romanian paddler named Martinenko. We believe we won all three K2 events, though we are only credited with winning the 200. We're not even on the score sheets on the other two! The officials went out of their way to be accommodating, but this resulted in lots of mistakes in record-keeping."

Alex won the K1/200 race with a time of 41.74 seconds, well ahead of Australia's Chris Boocock, who took the silver with a time of 43.84. He won the K1/500 with a time of 1:55.47, with Russia's Vladimir Molodozenov taking second place with a time of 1:59.45. And he won the K1/1000 with a time of 4:42.05, with G. David of Australia taking second place with a time of 4:46.79. Alex and Martinenko won the K2/200 race with a time of 40.97 seconds, edging out the Australian team of S. Ford and C. Boocock by 0.09 seconds.

Alex says, "One of the reasons that I trained so hard for this race was to serve as an example of how even an older person can get into shape. These days, fitness in America is just terrible and getting worse every year. People in their fifties, like me, need to be reminded of what's possible - that their actives lives are not just over. I really hope that my achievements will have an impact on people's attitudes about what they themselves might be able to do".

Bill Menke is a USA Canoe/Kayak member. For more information, contact Bill Menke via email at menke@ldeo.columbia.edu.