“So many people think you can't drive because you can't hear, or you can't race without implants because it's not safe. The funny thing is, if I'm in distress, I can still yell—what's more important is that you can hear me yell for help." 

 

Navigating the Early Years in Water Sports

When Caroline found her love for water sports at the age of ten in the exhilarating world of sprint canoeing and kayaking. Her parents equipped her with waterproof hearing aids, but “the sound quality was terrible, and I’d miss a lot of race starts because of it,” Caroline recalls. Despite the challenges posed by her hearing aids, she used them until her teenage years when water-resistant Cochlear implants were introduced.

To ensure these don’t get lost, Caroline uses a buff or headband to keep them in place. However, there are times when she opts to take them off altogether, especially when competing in rougher conditions. As Caroline explains, there are advantages to this. “The world around me would be completely silent, and while that might seem daunting, it actually helped me focus on my performance.”

 

Transitioning to Stand-Up Paddle Board Racing

After spending 20 years competitively paddling sprint canoeing and kayaking, Caroline discovered paddle boarding. Initially, she found it boring, but her perspective changed once she realized it was more than just a recreational activity and she began racing in the open ocean. In contrast to sprint kayaking, which requires a motorized safety boat, paddle boarding offered her a sense of independence and simplicity—only requiring a lifejacket, a paddle, and a board. Caroline recognizes that many don't realize competitive stand-up paddle boarding exists. She points out that her board’s appearance does little to dispel this misunderstanding. “People think my racing board looks like a boat, but it’s a dugout style SUP designed for speed and performance,” she explains.

As Caroline embraced the competitive side of stand-up paddle boarding, she found herself racing in rough waters which posed a risk of losing her $22,000 water-resistant Cochlear implants. At Kincardine, her first race with larger waves, she removed her implants and instead opted for a visual start, with a friend providing a visual countdown. “That experience was a calm in the chaos,” Caroline reflects, “The wind was howling, the waves were loud, and motorboats were going by, but for me it was absolutely silent.”

 

Facing Challenges in Denmark

Following an impressive performance at the Canadian Nationals in Collingwood, where she qualified for the International Surf Association World Championships, Caroline found herself ready to represent Team Canada in Denmark. “I trained all year in preparation for ISA Worlds because that was my ‘A’ race,” she shares. The year leading up to the event was packed with long winter runs, cold paddles in her drysuit, and countless hours in the gym. “I even added surfing Lake Ontario to my winter training to get used to riding the surf,” she adds. To support her training, she made it a point to drink a Beet It Sport Nitrate 400 shot every day. “I really noticed the difference when I skipped it; workouts felt way tougher. With Beet It, I felt like I had more stamina and could push through the tough sessions,” she explains.

The day of the technical race though, Caroline fell ill with a high fever that threatened to derail her plans. Despite feeling terrible, she pushed herself through her first race, a challenging technical course with beach starts and 20 buoy turns. The experience was grueling; she battled through chest pain and exhaustion, completing the race only to face a severe asthma attack afterward.

“Even though I wasn’t at my best, I couldn’t let my teammates down,” she reflects. During a relay race, a teammate acknowledged her effort, thanking her for being there despite her struggles. In a sport often perceived as solitary, the support from her team reinforced the importance of camaraderie. “The connections I made during that trip were invaluable,” Caroline notes.

Despite her illness, the trip was full of memorable experiences. In the first few days, she and her family explored Copenhagen, visiting castles and even making a quick trip to Sweden. “I connected with so many athletes from around the world, making friends I look forward to seeing again at future races,” Caroline shares. Paddling, she emphasizes, is a sport that truly connects people globally. During her stay, she enjoyed the warmth of Danish hospitality, staying with a paddling friend's family who introduced her to local customs and delicious foods like smørrebrød—an open-faced sandwich that added an authentic touch to her journey.

 

Looking Forward: International Canoe Federation World Championships

With the challenges of Denmark behind her, Caroline is now gearing up for the upcoming ICF World Championships in Sarasota, Florida. “I’m feeling pumped for a moment of redemption,” she says, eager to showcase her skills and represent Canada on the international stage again. As she prepares for this next competition, she reflects on her training regimen, which includes a mix of paddling, running, and strength work. Now, with Blonyx by her side, Caroline’s daily routine still incorporates Beet It Sport Nitrate 400 into her training, a product she’s relied on for over ten years, helping her maintain peak performance.

Caroline continues to draw strength from her journey, advocating for representation in sports and showing that challenges can be transformed into opportunities. “If there isn’t someone who looks like you to look up to, become that person and inspire others,” she shares, embodying the message she hopes to impart to younger athletes.

 

That’s all for this week! If you enjoyed reading Caroline Cook's story, head over to the Blonyx Blog for more stories of athletic ambition.

– Train hard!