Sep 07, 2006 — This weekend, a couple dozen paddlers are in Ohio for the National Interpretive Freestyle Canoeing championships. Picture figure skating or synchronized swimming in a canoe, replete with dance-like flourishes and evocative music, sometimes even costumes. Defending his title is the youngest canoeist to win top honors in the sport's 20-year history - 10th grader Jonathan Hammond of Alexandria Bay. David Sommerstein has this profile.