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USA CANOE/KAYAK NATIONAL CANOE CHAMPION BURGEES
 2004 marked the first year that awards were officially acknowledged and presented to National Canoe Champions at the U.S. National Canoe/Kayak Championships. Historically, the focus of U.S. individual championship trophies has been on kayak champions. But we at USA WomenCan wanted to recognize the hard work, dedication and success of female and male canoeists at the U.S. Nationals.
In 2005, USA WomenCan began recognizing 3 historic figures in canoe sport and named the first National Champion Canoe Awards after them: Frank Havens, Debra (Debby) Page and Jim Terrell. One of the goals is to ensure recognition, honor and respect to those that came before us and/or paved the path for us. The other is to inspire a new generation of canoeists to national and international prominence.
Frank Havens Award - The USACK National Championship Junior Men's C1 1000m event is named in honor of Frank Havens of the Washington Canoe Club (WCC), Washington, DC. Frank was a 4-time Olympian (1948, 1952, 1956, 1960), winning two Olympic medals in the 10,000-meter canoe singles, a Silver in 1948 and Gold in 1952. He also won the national canoeing championship in 1950-52, 1954, 1956-57, and 1961. Frank (currently 84 years old) is still an active paddler, racer and supporter of canoesport. A few more tidbits on Frank:
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Only American C-1 Medalist in American History
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Sports Illustrated Top 50 Athletes of Century in 2000
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7-Time National Champion
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Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
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Arlington, VA Sports Hall of Fame
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Worlds Master Champion numerous times as an individual and with Bill Havens
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Still an active paddler, racer and supporter of canoesport, last competing nationally at the 2006
US Masters (USMAS) National Championships.
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Brother Bill, Jr. was on the 1936, 1940, 1944 and 1948 teams also in canoe.
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His Uncle Charles competed in 1924.
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Father Bill, Sr. was on the 1924 Olympic Team, the first year Canoe/Kayak was a demonstration sport. Bill, Sr. chose not to compete to be at home with his wife as she gave birth to their son - Frank.
Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill, Sr. received a cablegram from Frank.
It was sent from
Helsinki,
Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held.
The cablegram read: "Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born."
Debra (Debby) Smith-Page Award- The USACK National Championship Junior Women's C1 1000m event is named after Debby Page of the Washington Canoe Club. Debby has made and continues to make significant contributions to the sport of canoe/kayak for over 40 years, as a former national team kayaker, ardent canoeist (in many teamboat races with none other than Frank Havens), competitor in the U.S. Masters Championships, coach to kayakers and canoeists, USACK official and mentor and sponsor of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls. Debby made history in 2002 with Pam Boteler by becoming the first U.S. Women in Canoe National Champions at the first U.S. Nationals to offer women's events in all age and boat categories. These events were hosted by the Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club (LCKC), a long time supporter of women's canoe events in national and international competition.
Jim Terrell Award - The USACK National Championship C1 Men's 500m event is being named in honor of Jim Terrell - also a rare 4 time Olympian with a long resume full of international medals and national titles. Jim was a 17-time National Champion, medaled in 4 Pan American Games, competed in the World Championships 8 times, won 28 US Olympic Festival medals - (the winningest medalist count of ANY athlete in ANY sport at the Festival). During his career, he was honored with numerous special awards as well:
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1998 |
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Honored with the "Jim Terrell Park" in hometown of Milford, Ohio |
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1994 |
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Inducted into the Clermont County Hall of Fame, Ohio |
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1994 |
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Voted in Top 100 most influential people in Newport Beach-Costa Mesa, California |
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1993 |
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Voted 61 in the list of the most influential people in Newport Beach- Costa Mesa, California |
Since retiring from competition, he has dedicated himself to building the finest competition paddles available today - starting his own company: Quick Blade Paddles. Many of the top canoeists and kayakers worldwide are using paddles designed and built by Jimmy. He is truly a good-will ambassador for the sport and continues to give back to the canoe/kayak community. For his many years as a competitive canoeist and his continued involvement in paddle-sport, Jim is being honored with his favorite event: The C1 Senior Men 500m.
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