‘OK, this is what’s happening. I’m on top of a massive rapid, I guess I just have to lock in,” says 17-year-old Ash Goldstein about navigating Colorado’s whitewater rapids. In the inaugural episode of The Avid Adventurer, we dive into the exhilarating and impactful journey of 17-year-old Ash Goldstein, a burgeoning leader in the whitewater kayaking community with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ash shares their experiences of navigating the challenging waters of Colorado's rapids, paralleling these physical challenges with their proactive approach to making the kayaking world a more welcoming space for all. Adopted from China and introduced to kayaking at an early age in Colorado’s Roaring Fork valley, Ash grew up with a passion for outdoor sports. However, they quickly recognized the need for a shift away from the conquering-focused, White settler mindset they feel is prevalent in outdoor activities. Through their work with organizations like Diversify Whitewater and their role as a camp counselor, Ash is actively working to change this narrative, focusing on inclusivity and community within the sport.
This episode not only highlights Ash's thrilling adventures and personal growth but also provides practical advice for parents wanting to introduce their children to outdoor sports. Ash discusses the balance between staying guarded and being a visible member of the kayaking community, emphasizing the importance of complete trust among team members on the water. Their story is a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have in challenging and changing the status quo, inspiring listeners to confront their own rapids, whether in outdoor adventures or personal endeavors towards creating more inclusive spaces.
Whether you're an avid adventurer, a parent looking to inspire your children with a love for the outdoors, or someone passionate about diversity and inclusion, this episode of The Avid Adventurer promises to engage and motivate you to make a difference in your world.
Quotes:
- “I have spent a lot of time and am quite comfortable outdoors in ways that aren’t always the standard. And I think that was eye-opening to me in the sense of, ‘This is not an experience everyone has.’” (10:17 | Ash)
- “If your kid is singularly passionate about something, the best thing you can do is give them the skills to recognize risk themselves.” (12:01 | Ash)
- “I live in a primarily White state and so fundamentally, being an Asian adoptee created this tension. So for me, it became an issue of, ‘What can I do to mitigate that and form community, not just for me but also for every other individual who experiences something similar to me?’” (16:04 | Ash)
- “I didn’t want to exist in outdoor spaces in a way that kind of perpetuated that White settler mindset because it didn’t feel inclusive or supportive of all the people whom outdoor sports could be very beneficial to.” (17:01 | Ash)
- “I would consider myself pretty conservative, in general, in terms of sports. I’m here for a good time, I have nothing to prove, which I guess is a little countercultural, especially in the kayaking world.”(26:41 | Ash)
- “In kayaking, there’s a certain continuousness. And I think that continuousness creates this interesting dynamic because, on a certain level, it’s terrifying and it’s awful and risks can quickly multiply on each other. On the other hand it forces you into this very particular mindset. I think that’s probably the reason why I’m especially drawn to kayaking, where it’s, ‘OK, this is what’s happening. I’m on top of a massive rapid, I guess I just have to lock in.’” (28:03 | Ash)
Links
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