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Kayaking, College and Hockey: Maintaining a Balance


During the summer I had been working for a Landscape Company, saving up some cash for the fall season. I have been on the same routine for a while: Spring travels, work six weeks through the summer after the Colorado Kayak Circuit is over, and then fly out east to paddle for three months straight. Then work a little more and do it all over again!  After four years of this, I finally lost it. I was happy to be paddling as much as I had been, but I felt I needed something, some sort of change in life. This is when I made my decision to call Mesa State College. My degree: Associates in Applied Science in Radiology Technology, with future goals of Radiologist Assistant Bachelor’s Degree.

Ben, decked out in his hockey uniform and protective gear.
Ben, decked out in his hockey uniform and protective gear.
© Ben Guska
It’s hard to maintain a professional kayaking career. Because of its small market and tough schedules, plus keeping up with personal financial obligations and the contractual obligations of sponsors, it can be tough. I was scared of making the decision to go to school and how my sponsors would react to my now even tighter kayaking schedule. I was relieved when all were very happy with me getting an education and pursuing my dreams at the same time.  

Then, there was also another catch. I got invited to try-out for the Mesa State Division III hockey team. I hadn’t been on skates in three years, but managed to make the team. This only added to my busy schedule of school, while still trying to maintain a kayaking schedule over the summer.

The first month of school was probably my hardest. I didn’t have a place to live yet, so I was carpooling with a friend from over an hour away, while sleeping on my boss’s couch. When I finally managed to get a place close to school, I had spent all my money on first month and last month and my deposit for rent. I didn’t have a bed, or even a car to try to get to work or school. I was actually sleeping on the floor under my clothes because I couldn’t find my sleeping bag. I would ride my bike one mile to school, then four miles to work. My hockey practice started at 4:10 a.m. three days a week, which really made me exhausted come about Wednesday. 

I soon acquired a car and a bed from my good friends in Glenwood Springs. I was able to maintain grades, play well in hockey and stay on top of bills as the winter came.  Hockey really took over most of my free time. I was playing three days a week, with away and home games on the weekends. I was only able to snowboard once this year.  I was third leading in points and first leading in penalties and fighting minutes. Ironic because I swear I’m the most peaceful person!“Gentle Ben” having a discussion with a player on the other team.
“Gentle Ben” having a discussion with a player on the other team.
© Ben Guska

 As spring rolled around it was hard to get out to even boat. With school pilling up and the hard schedule I had, it was really tough to drive an hour away to go kayak. My first competition was the Reno River Festival Pro Invite. I went to the festival the weekend before my finals. I had half my professors excited that I could go to such an event and half explaining it was stupid and irresponsible of me. I briefly replied to them that there are a lot of things in my life, which many would consider stupid, or even irresponsible.  But I do it in a great fashion and make it work! Perhaps this is the attitude that keeps me going!

At Reno I had to study and try to train, as well as compete. It was hard and I didn’t do nearly as well as I had wanted to. But I was very happy in the end on how I did, considering my new circumstances. It was also great to see all my friends that I have boated with for years on end. Once I returned, I did well on all my finals and was stoked that the school year was out!

 

Ben honing his skills in the white foam of Idaho’s Lochsa  River.
Ben honing his skills in the white foam of Idaho’s Lochsa River.
©David Blue
As of now, I have one weekend off to myself. After that it’s game on – full kayak mode. I have four weeks of competing, a week with Team River Runner (a non-profit group to help disabled war veterans learning to kayak to sooth and heal from the past and present wars),and a plane ride to Canada for two months.  I will be returning a week late for school, and exhausted I’m sure.  Hockey will begin a week after my return.

My key to balancing all of this is simply time management.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but when looking back and succeeding, it really makes me feel honored to have the motivation to do it. I feel I can make anything in life work, if I truly try hard at it. College, hockey and kayaking, combining it all together, is easily the hardest thing I have had to face in my life! And I’m coming at it head on!

Ben Guska
Team NRS

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