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washingtonpost.com: We'll be getting started shortly with Davey Hearn. Thanks for joining us.
 

washingtonpost.com: Good morning Davey and thanks so much for joining us today. Let's start first with your race in this past Olympics at the Penrith Whitewater Centre. How did you find the course and your performance?

Davey Hearn: The whitewater course here is one of the best in the world. It is a super blueprint for having a course in anyone's backyard.

I was happy with my first run of the four I made at the Olympics.

I had trouble with feeling the water well on the final day.
 

washingtonpost.com: The Penrith White Water Course, which cost about 6 million dollars to build, will actually be made into a water park after the Olympics. People can pay about $50 Aus we're told to ride the rapids.
 

Bethesda: David, Thank you and the entire US Canoe and Kayak Team for representing the United States paddling community to the world with such an awesome display of dedication, effort and sportsmanship.

What is your view on the "doping controversy" in Sydney? Do you feel that the entire competition is being held under a dark cloud?

Davey Hearn: Thanks for making it possible, all of you who supported me, to compete in this Olympic Games.

The doping controversy is a real mess here. The cheats must be caught, but I see trouble ahead because of the need, at least in the USA, to protect individual rights and treat athletes innocent until proven guilty.  I find it incredible that the IOC doping commission is cracking down on cold pills while others test positive for steroids and still competing.
 

washingtonpost.com: From a participants in Memphis, TN: As the discussion gets started, I'd just like the record to show that Davey is more than just a "three-time" champion: he is a world gold medalist twice in individual competition, as well as numerous times in team competition, and he has won the last five U.S. national titles. Furthermore, his sister Cathy was a U.S. Team member not only in 1998, but also every other year from 1977 to the present.

Thanks Memphis! We were working from the bio the database at the Main Press Centre at the Olympic Park supplied us with. Thanks for letting us and everyone know about more of Davey's (and his sister's) impressive accomplishments.
 

Cabin John: Davey, How do you relate to recreational play boaters today, with their 6 foot plastic Clorox bottle boats?

Davey Hearn: rec boaters are having the same fun on the water I am having, and its great to see all those folks enjoying the charms of whitewater so much.
 

Potomac: Davey, What does the US need to do starting next week to WIN Slalom medals in Athens 2004?

Davey Hearn: Keep having fun and working hard at our sport. The more people we can draw in and show how to have fun at this sport, the better our chances to win medals in the future.
 

Suitland, Maryland: Where did the five rings originate from and exactly what do they mean? What is the history behind the torch?

Davey Hearn: The rings stand for the five original continents participating, North and South America are considered one.  I'll have to check on how far back the torch custom goes.
 

washingtonpost.com: Davey, talk about how this Olympic experience in Sydney differs from your others? Or is it very similar?

Davey Hearn: This Olympics has been fairly unique for me. I had good practices and felt good over the last month, but had many more physical challenges over the 2 years leading up to the games. And this is the first Olympics I raced in front of my son Jesse.
 

Mustoe, VA: Tell us about the course change between the quals and final. I've never heard of doing this before. The original course did not look that tough to me. JRS
 

Davey Hearn: The course was harder than any others in Penrith, but they have all been pretty open. Under the new rules with both runs counting, courses have been easier than ten years ago, but the athletes job has been harder with nothing thrown away. The controversy arose mostly because 8 ups were used in qual and final, and the final had 4 up left on top and 4 up right on bottom of course. I felt it was fine as Dave and the others had designed it, but the Euros and Aus claimed it was unbalanced.
 

Atlanta, GA: Davey, What do you think of USACK's current Junior development program?

Davey Hearn: I feel that USACK can do a better job in many areas. And the most important thing paddlers can do is to take it upon themselves to work hard with the athletes in their clubs.
 

Washington, DC: Hi, Do you know a Ben Lewit? Kayaking Instructor. Thanks!

Davey Hearn: Hi Ben, is that you?
 

L.A., CA: How does one get started in your sport and then move up to competition and so on?  Thanks to you and your Olympic Teammates for doing the US proud!

Davey Hearn: Get involved with a club in your area or start one. Bakersfield has an active group which hosted our National Champs last month. Have fun and paddle every day, on flat or moving water.
 

Memphis, TN: Davey, I've heard all these rumblings about the ICF changing the boat-length rules in slalom. One argument I've heard is that forward speed shouldn't be such an imperative in slalom because, after all, that's what flatwater is for. I, personally, like the boats the way they are, and while I could live with a reduction to, say, 10 or 11 feet, I don't want to see the sport become "rodeo with gates" in 6-foot boats--not only because my freestyle aptitude ain't the greatest, but also because I believe forward speed should play an integral part in slalom; slalom is sort of a bridge between sprint and rodeo that way.
That's my dissertation; what do you think?

Davey Hearn: I'd like to see a relaxation of rules to have slalom boats be around 11 feet long, so that we don't break our ends as often. Maybe eventually we can remove restrictions to allow any boat to compete.
 

Bethesda Md: Hey Davey, Jennifer and Jesse, This is one of your neighbors, Steve LeBeau-

1. Will you continue to compete in the next year?
2. Have you registered for the Triathlon yet?
3. We need some help, politically with the Park Service to allow us to have the bike race on the C&O canal again - could you pull some strings on our behalf?

G'Day, Dr. Steve

PS - Do you want me to cut your grass while you are away?

Davey Hearn: Hiya,

I have applied for the US Canoe Coach position that is being offered by USACK. We'll see how that pans out. The Ocoee Worlds are bound to be exciting one way or another.

Not registered yet, but I haven't started training yet either! I plan to compete, it is a whale of a lot of fun.

I'm happy to do what I can to make things happen.
 

L.A., CA: A quick follow up to my "get started question": Obviously one needs to spend a couple hours a day working at it, but how much should a beginner expect to spend in equipment, fees, etc.?

Davey Hearn: the sport is fairly easy to do with minimal money. Used equipment can get you started for $500 -$1000, and you may want to have some lessons starting out, or club trips can be free often. Mainly you need to have a few friends or acquaintances to go out with and compete against.
 

Chattanooga, TN (USA): Dave, How would you compare/contrast the Ozzie course to the Ocoee course?

Davey Hearn: It is like a narrow slice of the Ocoee, with less flow but less width also. The Ocoee has a lot more power, and more space to have fun, but the Penrith course is great and can be put up anywhere for $4.5 million. Pays for itself with rafting too.
 

Brookmont, MD: Hey davey, this is Brett, how's the weather over there?

Davey Hearn: Hi Brett, what's up?
Weathers pretty good, warmer in the last week. When we arrived in August it was still winter here. Spring starts Sept 1st. We had two weeks of gale force winds, but it calmed down lots for the races, though it still got windy, it could have been a lot worse. Lows lately in 50s, highs in 70s
 

washingtonpost.com: Davey, thank you so much for joining us today, especially since it's so early (6 am Saturday) in Sydney. Any closing comments?

Davey Hearn: I would like all of my fans for their support
 

washingtonpost.com: Thanks to all of you and to champion Davey Hearn for joining us LIVE from Sydney today.