Family kayaking rivalry hits biggest stage: the world championships...

Son Dane had just been born when Eric Jackson won his first freestyle kayaking world championship in 1993; now they’re preparing to compete against each for the coveted title of world champ

Eric Jackson watches son Dane

Eric Jackson, a member of the USA Team in freestyle kayaking an impressive 25 years running, will be seeking his fifth world championship at the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships next month in what will be a family first.
It’ll be father versus son in the world championships.
They’ve been competing against one another for a while in freestyle and racing, but never on such a grand stage as the world championships, set for September 2 to September 8 in Nantahala, North Carolina.
“It is a big showdown this year,” Jackson told GrindTV Outdoor in an email. “Some think it is the passing of the torch from father to son, and are already counting me out.”
Jackson admits Dane, 20, who was a junior world champion and is now competing at the senior level, is his toughest competition and a good bet to win.
“I have given him every secret I have, and he has taken the ball and run with it, and has taken some things further than I have,” said Jackson, founder of Jackson Kayaks. “He has many advantages over me.”

Eric Jackson

In previous match-ups, the two have finished one-two many times in freestyle, extreme racing, and slalom. Earlier, this spring, they tied for first at their first competition of the year in a 13-minute extreme race.
“We are used to battling each other,” Jackson said. “We are both quite comfortable with the rivalry.”
Dane’s breakthrough against his father came in 2007 at the Lyon’s Outdoor Games in Colorado. A 14-year-old Dane took third place and thereby beat dad for the first time, as Jackson finished fourth.
“It was bittersweet as I, of course, was trying to make him work for it, and that day came earlier than I imagined. Dane just kept on trucking after that and I have been beaten by him many times since.”
What’s it like for Jackson to compete against his son?

Dane Jackson

“It is not that ‘competitive,’ as watching my son win is very rewarding, and I think he enjoys watching me win, too,” Jackson said. “It is perhaps the most rewarding feeling knowing that if I lose and he wins, we both still win.”
Adding to the family affair is the fact Jackson’s son-in-law, Mike Troutman, an accomplished kayaker in his own right, will be among the 150 other competitors seeking victory in freestyle kayak.
“Nick Troutman is also hungry and beat me out in 2009 (I got second), and he wants to win this one too!” Jackson added.
One thing Jackson feels he has going for him at the world championships: the experience of winning and losing.
“I have the confidence to know that if I do lose, I can win the next one, or the one after that,” Jackson said. “It was eight years between my first and second win [in the world championships]. My last win was six years ago. Seems like the right time again.”
Not if his son has any say.
Interestingly, this will be the first time the world championships return to the U.S. since 1993, the year Jackson won his first world championship. Dane had just been born.
Top photo courtesy of Eric Jackson; other photos courtesy of Gary Ertter.