There are all kinds of paddling out there. I compete and coach three different types.

I started out in a marathon canoe in 1998. I have competed in marathon canoe racing at the Provinical, Canadian National and U.S. National levels.

In 2003 at the U.S. Nationals I had the opportunity to get in an OC6 (6 person outrigger canoe). In 2005 when on placement in Toronto, I joined an outrigger club and fell in love with this kind of paddling as well.

The other kind of boat that I paddle is Dragon Boat. I was introduced to dragonboating in university. I figured it was an easy way to get on the water. From then on I helped get the festival going in Parry Sound, was recruited for the Premiere Womens National team to compete at the World Championships in Shanghai, China.

Paddling brought me to become who I am today. It gave me the confidence that I could do something on my own and that I could succeed at it too. Paddling was just mine. Not my brother's, my parent's or anyone else in my family, it was all mine. I got to learn on my own. I got to teach my family about it. Paddling has opened many doors for me and has taken me all over the world. If it wasn't for the cute guy in grade 11 Chemistry that asked me if I wanted to come try this canoeing thing, who knows what I'd be today.