When it comes to obstacles in the world of sport, slalom kayaker Darius Ramrattan has met many head on with a good measure of success. His biggest obstacle however came over a year ago, not on the water where he is at home but instead it was on dryland.
The 18 year old student at Notre Dame High School in Red Deer was hiking with friends in the Canmore area when he fell down the mountain, breaking his pelvis, femur, shattering one heel and collapsing a lung.
“From what I heard I triggered a landslide,” he said. “It’s the first time breaking bones in my body. You’ve got to go big or go home I guess.”
He says physically his tumble down the mountainside was a step back in his goal to paddle for Canada at the highest level.
“Technically it was a step down-really fast,” he said.He is maintaining his sense of humour.
It’s that kind of positive attitude about a major setback which has helped him get back to walking first and now paddling once again. He is competing in the World Under 23 championships in Krakow, Poland July 14th.
“I started back in the pool around Christmas and then in March and April I got back on the river. It was a slow process but coming back was worth it.”
He says the injuries have force a bit of a change in his paddling style, going from using sheer power to being more efficient with his stroke.
“Now that that power has withered away a little bit it’s important to build it back up so I have to use the water a little bit more,” he said.
He qualified to be on Team Canada as they head overseas but he admits he’s not quite where he wants to be in order to compete against the best in the world.
“My technique was good. I was fast. I wasn’t touching a whole lot of gates but I was definitely not going as hard as I used to be able to towards the end of the course.”
He’s looking forward to the event in Krakow which will give him a good indication as to where he is with his recovery so how he finishes is dominating his thought process at the moment.
“I want to race to my potential and be happy with my runs. It’s not something you’d hear a lot of competitive athletes say. After this year I just want to be happy with what I’ve done and say that was the best I could have done and wherever it gets me that’s where it gets me.”
The injuries he suffered on the mountain are expected to keep him from reaching 100 per cent health until Christmas of 2017. The previous version of Darius is well ahead when you measure past to present so he has his work cut out.
“From the waist up is all you do for paddling and the lung is back where it should be. From the waist down is all the stability part so I’m not 100 per cent back to being stable yet so I think that is where it most affects me.”
He has his eyes scanning further down the road to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 with Krakow the immediate order of business of course. A top 40 finish against paddlers four to five years old than him is something he’s shooting for.
He is currently over in Europe getting ready for the competition along with familiarizing himself with the course they will paddle.
“You get to train on the course for those first two weeks and you get to get use to the heavy diet of perogies,” he said. “I’m a little worried that Team Canada is implementing a perogy count.”
The mental side of things seem to be as sharp as ever but the physical part of the equation for him is still to be brought up to speed. He recognizes all those in his corner who have brought him this far. He most certainly was not up the creek without a paddle.
“I’d just like to thank everyone who has supported me. It’s been a long road and there’s still a long way to go but I appreciate all the support I’ve received so far.”
With the support from family, friends and others, it could take him downstream, all the way to Tokyo.
