The Sophomore Gazette

“To be able to immerse yourself in the process of learning, to be in that flow state of not wanting to be doing anything else, you don’t wish you were doing anything else, you’re just sort of in the moment, enjoying what you’re learning, and its absorbing.” These words were some of David Hearn, world champion canoeist.

Born of Washington DC, David Hearn, now a prominent name in the Whitewater Slalom world, has become who he is today through a long, difficult, but rewarding journey.  His great journey started out at his home in Garrett Park, Maryland, where he grew up.  Some of his earliest memories of paddling include a family trip to the Missouri River in Montana.  “My sister and I were in the canoe with my family and it was an overnight camping trip.  I can remember trailing socks in the water, and making whirlpools in the water with our paddles” recalls Hearn.  These carefree experiences, even from a young age sparked Hearn’s interest in canoeing.  His father, Carter Hearn, is a canoeist.  Hearn explains, “Because my dad paddled C-1, I wanted to paddle C-1.  I never really was a Kayaker…”.  The term   ‘C-1’ is used to describe a boat that is a one-person closed deck canoe.

Hearn started to really get serious about paddling when he and his sister, Cathy, became old enough to drive.  This enabled them to head out to the river more often, and train when they wanted to.  Hearn, nicknamed ‘Davey’ by those who know him, always aspired to be great at canoeing.  Regarding goals at the beginning of his paddling career, Hearn describes, “Well, it certainly wasn’t overtly, ‘Hey, I’m going to go win the World Championships. I think it was smaller things like making the US team, and training for Nationals.”  While these goals were smaller, they were still no small feat.  By 1976 he was a member of the US Whitewater Slalom C-1 Team, and by 1985 he won the World Championships.  Along the way on his journey to become who he is today, he has made some incredible and very respectable contributions to the slalom world.  Davey has designed over 20 slalom boats that are still today widely used.  Also, he is an avid supporter of environmental protections companies like American Whitewater and the West Virginia Rivers Coalition.  Hearn has also had lots of media coverage over the years.  He has appeared in articles in The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, and Outside Magazine.                                

Currently, Hearn coaches other aspiring young paddlers.  He made the decision to stop training and competing, and to switch over to coaching.  “I didn’t want bad enough to compete another year, I wanted to move onto another phase of my life.  I had been coaching already, beginning in the summer of 2001, and just decided it was time to make that shift.”, Hearn explains.  A living legend, David Hearn continues to frequent the whitewater of the Potomac River, often at the Feeder Canal.  Every avid paddler always has his reasons why his sport is the best.  Davey says, “You’re outdoors, its something you can work at really hard, it’s always different, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun!”