There was a time when the 26 year-old public relations student spent all her free time in a gym. Black trained relentlessly in martial arts, eventually representing Canada in international championship events. The road to competing in world championships isn’t easy and leaves little time for other activities. A dislocated jaw during a match in Ireland changed everything for Black. She went from always being inside pushing to her extreme limits to being outdoors and challenging herself in new ways.
It has only grown from there.
“Nothing keeps me inside anymore. Not weather, work or anything else,” Black said.
As a kid growing up in the Sudbury region of northern Ontario, Black spent a lot of time on Manitoulin Island at her grandparent’s place. She was never into camping or doing a lot of outdoors activities. The first time she went camping was during a Grade 7 school trip. Black started in martial arts at nine. She was a black belt in Goju-Ryu by 17, and fought for Canada from the ages of 15 to 22, including five world championships. Five years ago, she had her jaw dislocated going for gold in Ireland. The following year, at 22, Black didn’t pass her medical because of her jaw and didn’t compete. Her fighting career “died out”.
Black took it hard and stepped back from martial arts, taking the next four years off.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I went from being in a gym training hard six to seven days a week to nothing. It sucked. I was upset. I was lost. I decided I would start to hike, paddle and rock climb. I started going to Killarney every day to get outside. I found I loved it. I found I wanted more. Hiking became my favourite activity. It spiraled from there for me.”
Three years ago, Black moved to Whistler, B.C. It was time to switch up her life. Black did a lot of rock climbing and also became a zip line guide. She then went to China for six months and taught youth how to rock climb, camp, paddle kayaks and hike. Black is now back in Sudbury and making the most of her time to get in any adventure, big or small. Being outdoors has made Black’s life better. It has really helped her fill the void from competing in martial arts.
“I like when I get into the bush and it is just me and there is no judgement,” she said. “I went from being a zero to a hero. My personality changed 100 percent. I’m now more free-spirited and relaxed. I views things differently and I appreciate them more. I’m a more rounded person. I use to be a gym rat. The outdoors is my sanctuary. There is always something new for me to learn and explore. I pick up a new skill and I try to excel at it. I do this for myself.”
Black is a spontaneous person and this is how she plans a lot of her outdoors adventures. She does plan out her paddling trips however. There isn’t much she doesn’t like to do outdoors these days. She plans on learning how to shoot rapids in a kayak and canoe this summer.
“I love to just go,” she said. “My favourite is backcountry camping and paddling. I also like to go get into the mud with my Jeep. That’s why I love northern Ontario. I can drop my canoe in anywhere and go have a great time. This summer, I plan on doing a lot and trying a lot of new things. I want to do the Killarney loop in three days. I want to shoot rapids. I want to explore more. My No. 1 thing is to do a portaging canoe trip at Lake Superior.”
Black considers herself fortunate to not only have a wild spirit, but also the time to let it loose and run wild.
“Anything I do, I commit full tilt to it,” she said. “With my personality and spirit, I like to live each day with an adventure. I search for it. I just give it all I have.”