Chris Schmidt's summers are all about water and power.

There is the water which flows out the bottom of the Cobble Mountain Reservoir into underground tunnels, where it is funneled towards three turbine generators. That kind of water creates hydro-electric power as it heads to a lower reservoir, a holding tank for the town of Springfield.

During the summer months, the Southampton resident spends many solitary hours controlling this process. Over and over, she opens the dam which allows water to flow out the bottom of the reservoir in Blandford, creating power on its way downstream.

"I baby-sit generators," said Schmidt, an employee for the Holyoke Water Power Company. "Turn them on, turn them off. We fill it up and they suck it out."

Then there are the waters of Littleville Lake or the Connecticut River, where Schmidt practices up to five times a week in her canoe and creates a different type of power. In her solo canoe, there are few more powerful female masters rowers in the country.

"Water seems to run through my life," said Schmidt.

Schmidt's path to the pinnacle of women's rowing has been slow and methodical. She never experienced a raging rapid of success. Instead, she was more like the water flowing out the bottom of a dam — constant and controlled.

For over a decade, Schmidt worked her way to the top. She won the masters solo national championship for the first time five years ago. She has not lost it since.

On Aug. 14, Schmidt, 49, won her fifth consecutive solo master women's national title at the United States Canoe Associations' national championships held in Niles, Mich.

"I think I was last that first year (at nationals)," said Schmidt. "I just kind of worked my way up."

Each year Schmidt returned intent on passing the women just in front of her the year before. For six years, she moved her way methodically through the pack.

"Eventually, I won," said Schmidt.

Even with no one left to catch, Schmidt has remained on top, despite doubts and a constantly changing field of your canoeists entering the masters class, which begins at 40-years-old.

"The last couple years, I haven't been a s confident that I would win," said Schmidt.

This year, the masters and open fields were combined into one group for the 15-mile race, and Schmidt went out with lead boats.

"I got off to a really good start and managed to stern draft off one of the open women," said Schmidt.

She ran in second place overall for the first half of the race, then was passed by another open category canoeist. But Schmidt was never challenged by another masters boat and came in third overall in a field of over 20 boats.

"I stayed pretty well ahead of the rest of the pack," said Schmidt.

Schmidt had never done anything competitively until her son, Jason, began competing in triathlons. Even the, her first role was that of a cheerleader.

After a while, she began running in races, then tried canoeding and found her niche.

"I went and cheerleaded for lots of races. Then I got tired of cheerleading," said Schmidt. "It was all thanks to my son."

Schmidt actually raced all three days of the national championship. She competed with her husband, John Casale, on Friday in the masters mixed category, then won her solo title Saturday before competing Sunday in the women's race with Jennifer Caldwell, a former member of the U.S. ski team.

"You bounce right back," said Schmidt of competing on three straight days. "I found that my best races are the second day. You're not as nervous."

Schmidt will be 50 next year and isn't sure if she wants to defend her five-time title at the USCA championships, which will be held in Indiana.

But it's also a bad time to ask. After a long summer of canoeing nearly every day, Schmidt is ready for her usual winter hiatus.

"Towards the end of summer, I'm kind of overdone with it," said Schmidt. "But by spring, I'm usually itching to go."

There is talk of bringing the championships back to new England in the year 2001, which will be the first time since 1988 they were in this region. Schmidt went as a spectator that year and she would enjoy a chance to compete so close to home.

Maybe that and a long winter off will be enough to keep her competing. Or maybe not.

"Maybe yes, maybe no. I'll have to wait and see," said Schmidt. "I try to keep it fun. It it's not fun for me, I can't do it. It's kind of on the edge right now. It takes a lot of time to stay competitive."

When Schmidt first began canoeing, much of her time on the water was spent alone due to scheduling conflicts with friends.

"It was sort of my little meditation," said Schmidt.

What was once a solitary sport has become a social one, however. Schmidt now enjoys meeting with friends and canoeing at Littleville Lake and misses their company — and their drafts — when she trains alone.

"I've been spoiled," said Schmidt. "When I'm alone I end up wanting to draft off motor boats."

Schmidt said she doesn't follow any regimented training routine. She doesn't like to paddle when it's cold out. She'll run a little and cross country ski when there is snow. But in the summer, she is usually on the water no matter how she feels.

"Even on bad days, once I get out in the canoe I feel great," said Schmidt. "It serves some sort of need out there."