ZJU students achieve breakthrough at Chattajack 31

On October 28, the annual Chattajack 31, a paddleboard/kayak race that celebrates the effort a paddle athlete makes in the pursuit of distance endurance, took place in the picturesque city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Six students from Zhejiang University’s Kayak Team participated in the event, achieving a milestone for the University by making it to the winner’s podium for the first time.

Coach XU Yaping (right) and team member HU Yue (left) presented gifts to the organizers.

Chattajack 31 is a prestigious event in the world of paddle sports, with registration spots always in high demand. To secure their enrollment, the team members began preparations during the summer vacation, carrying out rigorous training, purchasing equipment, and reaching out to alumni for support. These efforts finally impressed the organizers and earned them valuable entry tickets. Coach XU Yaping remarked with a smile, “Our dedication and passion moved them. We aim to showcase the indomitable spirit and adaptability of Chinese youth to the world.”

LI Jiatao and GU Hengyu vigorously paddled towards the finish line in the double kayak race.

Throughout the competition, the team faced numerous challenges. LI Jiatao from the College of Education and GU Hengyu from the College of Energy Engineering competed in the Men’s Tandem Kayak event. The racing waters featured strong currents and waves, causing their kayak to capsize twice. Nevertheless, their quick response minimized the time lost. However, Jiatao’s supplies were nearly exhausted after the two capsizes. Fortunately, the competitors had prepared ample backup supplies beforehand and, supported by mutual encouragement, successfully completed the race.

JIN Xiaoyu in the single kayak race

As described on the official Chattajack 31 website, participants “love to dig, testing their personal limits while completing this unique gorge course.” JIN Xiaoyu from Chu Kochen Honors College admitted, “I wanted to know where my limits are.” Participated in the solo Kayak category, he had to handle everything independently. At around 35 kilometers into the race, he experienced shoulder pain, nearly reaching his breaking point. However, as other teams passed him during his recovery, he found renewed determination after seeing some older participants, and finally achieved his goal of “challenging personal limits.”

HU Yue (left) and MEI Longfei (right)

The team members expressed, “Enduring 6 hours of repetitive, tedious, and lonely paddling is similar to the decades-long dedication to exploration in the academic and research fields. Both require focus and perseverance. With hard work, anything is possible!”

Adapted and translated from the article written by ZHAO Yping, GUO Hangyu, YU Jiaxin, ZHOU Yiying

Translator: SHAO Zicheng (’24, Translation)

Photo: the interviewees

Editor: TIAN Minjie