Sarah Lemmon June 9, 2014 7:06am

This weekend Green Lake was transformed into a series of racing lanes for the Ted Houka Regatta. Thirteen sprint canoe and kayak clubs from Canada and across the U.S. came out to compete in the two day regatta. Several of the competitors are local Green Lake teens that are headed to Europe to compete for the U.S. Junior Nationals team later this summer.

Nate Errez and Miles Cross-Whiter (shown above from left to right) are two of the teen athletes that are headed to Hungary and then Slovenia. Both dream of going to the Olympics.

Green Lake is one of the primary national training centers in the United States. The local club, Seattle Canoe and Kayak club, is co-ed from grades 6 to college and practice on Green Lake after school and on weekends year round. (This includes the Frostbite Regatta, which takes place in early November.)

The canoes and kayaks look different than others you may see on the lake. Because they are made for speed, they are skinny and sleek.

Saturday’s race concluded with Errez, Cross-Whiter and two of their teammates crossing the finish line first in their k-4 competition. Best of luck to the athletes from the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club as they head to Europe.