Geronimo Canoeing Days

We had the privilege of filming the Geronimo Canoeing Days on August 2nd and 3rd. It was a truly inspiring experience to witness so many people gathered to participate in this long-standing event alongside a club with a rich and storied history. Established in 1974, the canoe club has been the breeding ground for amazing athletes, some of whom have competed on the world stage.?

Watching everyone pour in their effort on a beautiful sunny day made me reflect on what makes a successful team. While I’m no expert on canoeing, I think what makes a successful canoeing team applies to life in general. Here are a few reflections on what I learned.

More Than Practice

Our interview with the Geronimo Canoe Club members revealed that canoeing is a way of life for them. The sight of young children, barely able to sit on driftwood, paddling with determination, clearly indicates the early start of this lifelong commitment. Each member shared that they began their canoeing journey before they could even recall.?

The ease with which they paddled and balanced in narrow-bodied canoes made it look easier than it actually was. They initially offered to put me in a single canoe. I suspect that it was much more difficult than everyone made it look like and that I was meant to take a quick dip. Thankfully, I was too busy filming and getting sunburnt.

Whenever they were canoeing, they weren’t merely practicing. They were living it.?I feel like in order to do something well; it becomes a part of you.

Communication

Every boat had a skipper, a captain of the boat. This person would steer the boat as well as yell out commands for the team to follow. The skipper also had to manage the freshness and fatigue of the team, making sure switches would happen at the right time and that pushing hard would happen at the right time. All of this happened because someone could clearly communicate what had to happen, and the team listened with utmost attention. Communication is a two-way street, both in issuing words and receiving them. The value of your role as a listener is crucial in keeping the team fresh and fit for the long haul.

Commitment

The big boat (6 and 11-person boats) team races were long, so long that the boats would fade off into little dots as they raced over to the point “over there.” And how far away? Oh, I don’t know. Far.

How did they stay in the race for so long? I mean, any combination of fitness, passion and perseverance. But I feel like “commitment” is the right word in this case. They were committed to winning, committed to the team, and most importantly, committed to the sport. This drive pushed them to prepare the right way, practice the right way and perform the right way when the race came.

Staying committed was the key; the teams were able to finish the race and finish strong.

It was a privilege to witness people who were good at something and learn from merely watching. I love where client work takes us, as we often get to capture something we’re not familiar with and leave enriched.