Paul in London - Qualifier

Can you spot the fantom touch on the outside pole in 9? Win some, lose some, should equal out in the end.

Untitled from P MH on Vimeo.

Sick new profile video for one of the top German paddlers

Chilliwack Training Camp Video

Video of our Spring Break training camp. Thanks Lissy!

Wausau Open (Jr Pre Worlds)

54hrs of Driving. Nothing like it!

Our tour to Wausau took us via Sturgeon Falls, Manitoba for a bit of surfing to break up the two day drive. The water levels were slightly lower than past trips there, but there were still plenty of good waves to be had. Chris was throwing ends in his slalom boat as well as crossing on the green waves with AJ. Thanks for the highlight video from our Videographer AJ!

Sturgeon Falls from Adrian Cole on Vimeo.

From there we dropped down to Wausau, Wisconson for the Wausau Open. The event was also a test event for next year's Jr World Championship and U23 World Championship. Check out the promo video for 2012.

2012 ICF JR & U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships Promo. from Michael Schroeder on Vimeo.

This year's event featured 7 countries including large teams from Australia and New Zealand. Alberta had 6 athletes racing in the competition ranging in age from 14 to 25. Edmonton's Ben Hayward won the event in dramatic style on the last run. Sitting in 6th place after the Semi-Final, Ben threw down a blazer to sweak ahead of the USA's kid phenom Michal Smolen. Chris Mctaggart of Canmore rode a wave of 2nd and 3rd consistency to a bronze medal.

Other Alberta kayak results were: Qualification - AJ Cole (Blairmore) 26th, Levi Severtson (Innisfail) 29th, Ryley Penner (Sundre) 32. Semi-Finals: Ryley 22, Levi 23, AJ 39.

Hayden Daniels had a consistent weekend as our only single bladed paddler and finished 10th in the C1 category.

Camp Alberta

Check out the highlight video of the weekend and see how many of your favorite Alberta paddlers you can find. I found, Ben, Chris, AJ & Ryley

The Wausau Open Slalom from Michael Schroeder on Vimeo.

This weekend we're in the Crowsnest Pass for Thunder in the Valley and Alberta Cup #3.

World Cup #3 Markleberg, Germany

From an easy river and a relatively straight forward course in France the circus travelled to Germany for the last World Cup before a 2 week break in the schedule. One of the only courses in the world to 'turn' right, the site just outside Leipzig is know for its tough moves. The French coach designing the course this weekend put it all on the line and set a doozie.

Paul Manning-Hunter Qualified solidly in 34th position. In the Semi-Final Paul showed amazing consistency finishing in 26th place. You can see the run below. With a 31st, 24th and 26th place result in the first three World Cups we look forward to seeing a serious jump in his world ranking which was 94th going into the events. Paul is remaining in Europe for the entire summer to train, and compete in the London Test Event, Prague World Cup 4, and culminating with the World Championships in September in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Jessica executed the moves, but lost time in being too careful, costing her a place in the Semi-Final. Jess is headed home for a brief 10day reload, and then will be headed back to London for the first Olympic Test Event. She will then remain in Europe with the rest of the Team for World Cup 4 and right through the World Championships in September.

Well Done Guys!

Paul's Semi Final Run:

Qualifier 1 Leipzig World Cup # 3 from Diago Alps on Vimeo.

Argentiere Update - Personal Best Results!

A great race for our two Alberta paddlers in the second World Cup. Argentiere la Bessee is a cross between the Kananaskis and Chilliwack. Crisp, clean water & eddies with a constant gradient. Clearly an natural venue would play to their strengths.

Jessica Groeneveld of Innisfail tore up the course to post her best ever World Cup finish. She qualified 28th and then proceeded to 'switch off' and race to a 20th place result. She was extremely pleased with the result dispite a couple of minor time errors.

Paul Manning-Hunter was equally specatacular in France Qualifying in 14th place! In the Semi-Finals he finished 24th in what was one of the tightest races in recent history, with only 4 seconds separating the top 23 men on a long (105 seconds) course.

14th place Qualifing run

Qualifier 2 L'aganteire World Cup # 2 from Diago Alps on Vimeo.