Susan Norman – A Life Saved by the River: Risk, Adventure, and the Power of Trusting Yourself

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Susan Norman — a former National and World Champion in whitewater kayaking and rafting, hydrologist, coach, and now author of RISK: A Life Saved by the River. Susan's story is one of courage, flow, and resilience. From the roaring rapids of international whitewater competition to the quiet, uncertain waters of parenting her young nephew, she's navigated life's toughest challenges with the same instinct, grit, and grace that made her a world-class paddler. Now retired from her career with the U.S. Forest Service and living in Lake Tahoe, California, Susan reflects on how rivers shaped her identity — not just as an athlete, but as a woman learning to make her own risk assessments, trust her judgement, and face fear head-on. In this conversation, Susan opens up about: Finding belonging and strength in the early days of women's paddling The lessons whitewater taught her about resilience and decision-making Her journey into writing and how storytelling became an extension of adventure What it really means to take good risks — on the river and in life Get ready for a deeply thoughtful episode about flow, fear, and finding freedom through the wild power of water. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Susan Norman Living in Lake Tahoe, California Working for the US Forest Service Being retired for 7 years  Starting her journey and learning new creative writing skills Book: RISK: A Life Saved by the River  Her childhood (with her twin brother) and early years  Her interest in rivers and how her father inspired her  Her transition from teenager to adult  White water paddling as an amateur sport  Competing as a teenager  Jamie McEwan  Wanting to increase her skill set Going to high school in the early 1970s  Not having many older female role models  Dads and daughters on the river  Forming a tribe and connecting with the other girls during her teenage years  The relationship with her mum who was diagnosed with MS  Being raised by a single father  Replacing family with the paddling community  Being part of the first wave of women getting into a high level of paddling Paddling amongst the best paddlers in the world  Analysing and making decisions based on her own risk assessments  Learning to trust her own judgement A life saved by the river  Working with a writing coach  Telling her story, while raising her nephew Taking her nephew on river trips  Taking 6 years to write the book  Trying to figure out how to raise a child  Facing hard things and not being able to see a path through  Not knowing how things will turn out and taking it one day at a time Taking challenging in small steps Giving an ultimatum to her partner  Going through the teenage years Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) Adventuring with children and why you should go as soon as you can  The power of outdoor adventure sports Managing fear while on adventure and parenting  River boarding and learning about the flow of the river water How to connect with Susan  Final words of advice with regards to risk and making tough decisions Find the good risk    Social Media Website www.susannormanauthor.com  Facebook: Susan Norman