Seattle/Chilliwack

My mom and I made our way down to Seattle to visit a family friend who was very sick. We journeyed through Kootenay National park, down to Cranbrook, and then through Idaho. 

We went for dinner at a place called Ivars, which is famous for their sea food. In the restaurant there was a 1929 racing canoe hanging in it. I am happy that canoes have evolved and I do not need to race something this heavy and long anymore.

On the way home we decided to go through Bellingham toward Chilliwack so I could fit in a paddle with my coach and some Alberta team members. My mom decided to take the role of the photographer. Here are some of the shots she caught.

It was a beautiful day where it reached a high of 25 degrees, which is really unlikely for that time of year. To take advantage of the weather we headed down to Cultus Lake for a BBQ and to hang out with some sprint paddelers. Here are some photos of me sporting my team gear.

2013 Canadian Team Trials Schedule

2013 CanoeKayak Canada Canoe Slalom Team Trials

Preliminary Schedule

Minden Wildwater Preserve, Gull River

May 21-26, 2013

Preliminary water release (subject to confirmation from Parks Canada)

Monday, May 20 Natural water flow

Tuesday, May 21 Water release 9-4pm

Wednesday, May 22 Water release 9-4pm

Thursday, May 23 Water release 9-4pm

Friday, May 24 Water release 9-4pm

Saturday, May 25 Water release 9-4pm

Sunday, May 26 Water release 9-4pm

Registration

Zone 4 Registration April 12-23

Late registration fees May 15-23

Registration closed May 24

Equipment Control

Official Equipment control May 23, 4-6pm

Friday, May 24

Water on 9am

Training (Ontario, Alberta) 9-10:15am

Training (BC, Saskatchewan, Quebec) 10:15-11:30am

Course Setting Meeting 11:45am (river right top of course)

Course Setting 11:45-2pm

Demonstration Runs 2pm

Course Approval Meeting Finish line after demo runs

Water off 4pm

Team Leaders Meeting 4:30pm at Roger Parsons Centre

Saturday, May 25

Emergency Equipment Control 8:30am

Water on 9am

Selection Race Run # 1 9:30am

Selection Race Run # 2 11am

Course Setting Meeting 12:30pm (river right top of course)

Course Setting 12:30-2:00pm

Demonstration Runs 2:00pm

Course Approval Meeting Finish line after demo runs

Water off 4pm

Sunday, May 26

Water on 9am

Selection Race Run # 3 9:30am

Selection Race Run # 4 11am

Upper Course Deconstruction 1pm

Development Race 1pm

Lower Course Deconstruction 2pm

CKC National Team Meeting 2:30pm at Roger Parsons Centre

Boyz For Breakfast!

Kayaking the Great Bear By Paul Manning-Hunter

A previous team mate of mine Paul Manning-Hunter embarked on an epic journey through the Great Bear Forest of BC to share with the world the beauty of our Canadian roots. The area is proposed to be destroyed by the northern pipeline. Enjoy and Share!
KAYAKING THE GREAT BEAR, a Search for Wilderness from Kayaking the Great Bear on Vimeo.

Waiting for an Answer...

The International Olympic Committee is still going in circles with the decision to allow C1 women into the Olympics.

Taken from SportsScene:

http://www.sportscene.tv/news/An-Olympic-point-of-view-IOC-possibly-disagrees-with-ICFs-disappointment

An Olympic point of view
IOC may disagree with ICF’s ‘disappointment' and its call for a review of the IOC evaluation process
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee 

At the recent IOC Executive Board meeting, Canoeing was shortlisted for removal from the 2020 Olympic program. The exposure to potential elimination from the Olympic Games came as a shock to the ICF and the Canoeing community.Through a recent website article, the ICF expressed its disappointment at the lowly ranked position of Canoeing amongst Olympic sports and called for a review of the IOC evaluation process.
Others, including the IOC Executive Board members who voted to remove Canoeing from the Olympic program, may take a different view. Canoeing was exposed in the IOC evaluation process because of its poor standing in terms of gender diversity.Canoeing’s lack of progress in this area stands out in comparison to other Olympic sports like Sailing and Cycling that made sweeping changes ahead of the London 2012 Games.
The sport’s “at risk” position in the Olympic Games is reflected by the inequality of opportunity, with 11 medals available for men and only five for women.
Fortunately for the ICF, Canoeing survived the elimination process that saw Wrestling removed from the 2020 Olympic program.
However, surviving the relegation zone of sports on the Olympic program is not an achievement; it is a reality check that must be taken seriously.
The ICF should heed the warning signs and increase the number of Canoeing events for women in time for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Other sports have aligned their approach with the IOC’s expectations by removing time worn barriers of gender discrimination and by finding solutions, however challenging, that increase opportunities for women to compete at the Games.
Meanwhile, the Olympic Movement, the community and female athletes around the world, are impatiently watching and waiting for Canoeing to catch up.
Richard Fox

Celebrating Women Heroes

The Olympics are such an important part of women's history and history in the making... let's keep making waves!

Pan American Championships 2013

Pan American Championships took place in Union De Tula, Jalisco, Mexico. Team Canada flew down to Puerta Vallarta where we then enbarked on a 6 hour drive through gnarly mountain roads. We had about 2 weeks of an intense training camp where we had 2 sessions a day on whitewater. All the food was provided where we had delicious authentic mexican food for every meal. In addition to on water training we went for team runs up to the highest hill in the city that had a large church on top of it. I was not able to run, but I was able to speed walk!

The race took place on March 2 and 3rd where heats were on Saturday and semi-finals and finals were on Sunday. I raced both C1W and K1W where I finished 3rd in C1W and 8th in K1W. Unfortunately, in my finals run I touched the first gate, which motivated me to paddle harder, but in turn forced me to loose my focus and hit another 3 gates.

Here are some photos that I managed to catch!

The Church in the middle of Union De Tula

The top of the river

Don't be fooled by its size these are the most deadly scorpions in Mexico. One bite from these guys and your throat closes up instantly. 

Team Canada and our police escort

Speed walking!

The girls of Team Canada!

We did not have access to a gym so we had to improvise with what we had

Opening ceremonies

Opening ceremonies and our cute escorts for the parade

Team Canada

Overall, I felt very strong and confident. I felt that I had some of my personal best paddling done on this trip. The team bonded very well with each other and I am really looking forward to this season starting!

The race results can be found here: http://panamchamps.com