Dear racers, volunteers, coaches, Team Alumni, and other friends of whitewater slalom,

We've done it. The Whitewater Slalom Foundation (WSF) is up and running. A new thing in the world.

Why? Why have we taken the trouble? The short answer is: US slalom needs help. Since the reintroduction of whitewater slalom to the Olympics in 1992, slalom has grown and flourished on the international scene. Twenty countries competed in the 1985 World Championships; fifty-four in the 2007 Worlds IN BRAZIL. China's program now dwarfs that of the US. The Europeans are stronger and deeper than ever. The Australian program thrives.

At the same time, surprisingly, slalom has shrunk dramatically in the US. In 1985 there were 112 entries in the US Nationals; in 2008 there were 58, a little more than half. The number of Juniors, the number of races held, the number of organizers and volunteer coaches — all are way down. Meanwhile, an increased focus on high performance, and an influx of money from the USOC, have yielded few noteworthy results.

What can the new Foundation do about this faltering program?

A lot.

I served as a member of the five-person task force that rewrote the USA Canoe Kayak (USACK) bylaws. As part of that process, USACK has chosen an entirely new board, including an impressive roster of independent directors with ties to ESPN, Turner Sports, and NASCAR. I believe that USACK will be rejuvenated by the change.

But at the same time — and with all due respect to the talents and energies of the USACK staff and board — I think it's time for the slalom community to take charge of its own destiny. Unlike most European and Asian countries, we cannot rely on federal help to support slalom competition. Unlike sports like swimming we cannot count on a massive participant base. Unlike gymnastic we are not broadcast in prime time. If we want to see slalom thrive in this country, we, the slalom community, are going to have to take a leadership role.

Now is the time. Are there talented youngsters in the pipeline? You bet there are. Do we have elite international racers on the verge of quitting because of a lack of support? Yes. Is the newly reformed USACK ready to do its part — and willing to partner with a revitalized group of volunteers? It is.

What do we need? We need two things:

1. Leadership.
2. Money.

I want to tell you of my own change in thinking about the money question.
It's been almost a year since I started thinking with some seriousness about what should be done to "save slalom," as my son puts it. A year ago I thought that we should try to return to the glory years of the 1980's, when largely self- or parent-supported athletes and a dynamic group of volunteers took leadership of the slalom world. But the more I know, and have thought, about the current national and international scene, the more I realize that we can't turn the clock back. Attitudes have changed — sports in general have changed — our sport has changed. What were once romantic, dirt-bag, counter-cultural sports have either become TV darlings, or withered. To try to resurrect an 80's style program would be like trying to run a business without email and a website.

I'm not saying that it's now all about money. The main thing, the most important element, is still the same as it always was: it's still PASSION.

By being canny — by being careful — with volunteer help — we can do a lot with relatively small amounts of money. We already are. Three initiatives are already underway to establish a new National Ranking Series, a U-23 team, and Regional Youth teams.
But we can't compete head-to-head with ten- and twenty-million-dollar programs on canniness alone. Sometimes you just have to shell out for boats, paddles, plane tickets, gas, and training camps.
You may well ask: is the slalom community really flush enough to compete with these government-funded programs? Shouldn't we just give up?

There are two answers.

1. No, we're not going to match them dollar-for-dollar. But we don't have to. As always, US athletes will make up the difference with a) passion, and b) the wealth of family, friends, and community.

2. Money begets money. A thriving program will attract increased USOC support, new and improved sponsors, and a broader base of supporters.

Another important question crops up: is it really about international success? How about all of us just having a good old time racing and messing around in boats?

My answer is — it's about both. We want more people involved — we want more fun — and we want more international medals. These goals don't necessarily go together. Sometimes they may conflict. Our job — like the job of every good leader — is to figure out how great challenges can be undertaken without losing honor, good fellowship, and high spirits. More than that: it's about finding a way that the most difficult enterprises can lead — for all participants — to the most fantastic experiences.

We aim to make a difference. Join us! Your contribution will help us broaden slalom's base — and, at the same time, scale the heights of international competition.

Respectfully yours,

Jamie McEwan

PS Donations page here:
http://www.whitewaterslalom.us/WSF_Donations_page.html