NEW ROCHELLE — The new generation is here and they are working hard to be just as successful as their predecessors.

There is a youth movement within the Adirondack canoe/kayak team and Hilltop Hoppers that comprise most of that team.

The movement started at last year’s Empire State Games, when the team was made up of many young paddlers in their first competition.
"We have a very similar team as last year," said Coach Jill Norray. "But we have less experience than last year. But we raced well. Kristen [Norray] is our youngest, but she is a year older and she did better."

Kristen Norray is just eight years old.

This year’s Empire State Games competition was held at Glen Island Park just outside of New Rochelle in Westchester County out on Long Island Sound.

The racecourse was set up in an inaccessible area from the main area and dock.
"It’s hard," Norray said. "We can’t watch the races because we are so far away."

Norray said the layout made it harder to see what the young kids were doing and to be able to coach them.

The dock was also far away from the starting point, which affected some of the younger paddlers.
"The start is 1,500 meters from the dock," Norray said. "They have been running a tight schedule to make sure eveyone is up there. But yesterday, they had to postpone the women’s K-4 [kayak quad] because the tide went out. There wasn’t enough water to paddle on."

Medalists

The Adirondack team did bring home medals. Six medals were won by some of the more experienced paddlers.

Jesse Darrone of Berne and Chad Staubach of Altamont won a bronze medal in the canoe pair 500-meter race. Becky Dergosits of Schenectady, Victoria Dow of Selkirk, Kristen Norray of Berne, and Holly Bisbee of Burnt Hills teamed up to win a bronze in the kayak quad 500-meter race.

Dergosits won a silver medal in the kayak single 200-meter competition. Jesse Chartier of Voorheesville and Staubach won silver in the canoe pair 200-meter race.

Dergosits and Bisbee teamed up to earn a silver in the kayak pair 200-meter race and Mitchell Jeune of East Berne, Maclin Norray of Berne, Larry Staubach of Altamont, and David Taylor of Alplaus won a bronze in the kayak quad 500-meter race.

Norray and Staubach are two of the younger kids who started competing last year.
"We have a very accomplished canoe team," Jill Norray said. "Justin Staubach is back paddling. He was a member of the senior national team. His brother, Chad, competed on the senior national and junior national teams. Jesse Darrone was on the senior national, junior national, and junior world teams. Jesse Chartier is also a national team member."

Those accomplished paddlers have helped the younger competitors in many different ways.
"They are great role models," Norray said. "They help get the boats into the water and they helped prepare kids. That helps, too, because we are dealing with a million and one races."

Surprises

Norray was pleased with the results of most of the races and a couple of the results surprised her.
"I was impressed with the K-4," she said during Saturday’s final races. "They did way better than I expected. Other than that, I say we are where I expected. The competition in the men’s canoe and kayak classes is tougher. We have young kids in those classes this year."

Adirondack used to dominate the competition at the Empire State Games but Norray said other regions are starting to catch up.
"Canoe is stronger"," Norray said. "That is good to see. And we are seeing more competition in other races, which is good."

Norray said that, overall, the games were good and will go a long way for the younger competitors.
"It was a great experience, especially for the kids," Norray said. "They got to see a drawbridge, and the boats [at the marina]. And we are on saltwater, which they have never paddled on before.
"This year, it is hard to see the races at the start," she added. "The young kids get out of our view, going out to the races, but they have been doing a good job with that."

It is another learning experience for a group of young competitors who will be the future of the sport in the Adirondack region and in the Hilltowns.
"It was positive in several aspects," Norray said. "Everyobdy should learn something."