Eric Jackson is a professional kayaker whom everyone interested in the sport has heard about at some point. Some may have heard of him when he was performing in the Olympic rivers, trying to earn a spot at the top while struggling with his bills. Others may have learned about him after he co-founded Jackson Kayak. His life involved several stages of success as he helped popularize extreme kayaking while improving his skills.
These aspects of a sportsman’s life are highly relevant if you are attempting to place an online bet. Their upbringing and experience serve as insight that many use to calculate an advantage, be it for a specific match or a tournament. Below are 15 things that bettors might find interesting.
He Was Born in Ohio and Enjoyed Kayaking as a Hobby
Born in Warren, Ohio, in 1964, his father first put him in a canoe when he was barely six. The early exposure became a family activity, eventually reaching the point where everyone had their own kayaks.
His First Job Was as a Whitewater Photographer
Before he even started pursuing kayaking as a career, Jackson was a whitewater photographer. In 1979, he spent most of his time photographing paddlers on the Kennebec River in Maine. This job let him stay close to the sport while he was developing his skills as a kayaker.
He Dropped Out of College to Focus on Kayaking
Jackson had the dream of competing in the canoe slam of the Olympics, and devoted his time to training for it. However, while attending classes at the University of Maryland, he realized that his academic schedule left little time and resources for training. He decided to drop out of college in 1985 so he could focus on his kayaking.
He Struggled Financially While Pursuing His Olympic Dream
After dropping out, he ran out of money fast, as elite training required a lot of money. He was eventually forced to live in his car and survive on cheap fast food. He worked small jobs, but most of his resources went on training and supporting his family.
He Asked for Donations to Support His Kayaking Dreams
Funds were tight even after he became an Olympic-level athlete, and his training required money. Before he traveled to Colorado, he stood beside his kayak at a street corner and asked for donations. He even went door-to-door for sponsors.
He Made the Olympic Team in 1992 and Finished 13th
Jackson made the Barcelona Olympic Team in 1992, where he competed in the men’s K1 slalom. However, he lost track of the race start time during the warm-up and had to rush to the starting line. The delay and the fact that he had to slow down to catch his breath caused him to finish 13th.
He Became Interested in Freestyle Kayaking When He Was 28
After finishing 13th in elite kayaking, Jackson turned his attention toward freestyle kayaking. This would become a turning point in his career because he was no longer kayaking in the Olympics; he was bringing shape to the freestyle scene.
He Won His First World Championship Shortly After
One year after the Barcelona Olympics, Eric Jackson would also win the 1993 Freestyle Kayaking World Championship. He followed up with three more wins: 2001, 2005, and 2007. He also finished in second place at the World Championship of 2009.
He Created and Added Numerous Freestyle Moves to the Score Sheet
Eric Jackson did not passively engage with freestyle kayaking, but actively participated in its growth. He created numerous freestyle moves, including the Splitwheel, Lunar Orbit, and McNasty. These would obtain a permanent place on the score sheet.
He Injured His Hands During His First World Championship
His first championship did not come easy for him. Jackson trained so intensely that his skin rubbed away from his hands and left them looking bloody. This showed exactly how determined he was to approach this emerging discipline. Jackson was consistently experimenting with new tricks even though the sport was under development.
He Helped Set Up a Kayaking Company in 2003
While he stepped down from the president position in 2019, he helped co-found Jackson Kayak in 2003. Together with David Knight and Tony Lunt, they wanted to build boats around the needs of people who used them. The company ventured into whitewater boats.
He Failed to Make the 1996 Atlanta Games
Jackson continued to train for the Olympic Competition, and in 1996, he eyed the Atlanta Games. He didn’t qualify for the games, and he saw his performance as a major disappointment. Since he was also struggling financially, his disappointments led him to restructure his life around kayaking.
His First Kayaking Venture Had Financial Problems
Eric Jackson’s first venture was a kayaking school in Washington, and with the income, he wanted to keep competing. Still, the business didn’t solve his financial issues. If anything, it left him in even more debt, which added to his existing financial issues.
He Chose Life on the Road Instead of White Picket Fence
After shutting down the kayaking school, he decided to move with his family into a 31-foot RV and live on the road. They lived that way for around 8 years, with the kids being homeschooled by his wife.
He Used Traveling for Professional Training
Jackson took life on the road as a chance to improve his kayaking. He spent a lot of time on rivers he came across, experimenting with different techniques. The varying landscapes allowed him to create the instructional materials used by athletes worldwide today.
Eric Jackson may not have had a straightforward career, but each stage turned him into the legacy that he is today. Elite kayaking may not have become his career, but it introduced him to what eventually would become his passion: freestyling. He built the rest of his life and career around it.
