PanAm Wrap-Up from CTV

Ford Secures Olympic Berth for Canada

Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 11:08 AM ET

Emily Sadler, CTVOlympics.ca Staff
Canadian slalom kayaker David Ford clinched an Olympic berth for Canada on Sunday at the Pan American Championships in Foz do Iguassu, Brazil.

Ford, a five-time Olympian from Edmonton, Alta., placed first in the Men’s K-1, earning Canada its only Olympic berth in slalom Canoe/Kayak for London 2012. His teammates, Paul Manning Hunter and John Hastings, finished just outside the podium, in fourth and fifth place respectively.
Ford's best Olympic result was a fourth-place finish in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
This weekend’s competition was the final chance to qualify Canadian boats for the 2012 Summer Games in London. Team Canada needed to place first in each of the four events in order to earn a spot in the Games.
Canada’s highest-ranked female slalom kayaker, Jessica Groeneveld of Innisfail, Alta., placed second in the Women’s K-1 final, behind 15-year-old Ana Satila Vieira Vargas of Brazil, just missing an Olympic berth.

Vargas, who will be 16 on Tuesday, surprised everyone with her first-place performance to secure a boat for Brazil’s national team in London 2012.

Fellow Canadian Thea Froehlich also landed on the podium with her third-place performance, and teammate Sarah Boudens placed eighth.
Cameron Smedley of Ottawa, Ont., was a close contender for the first-place spot after the semifinals of the Men’s C-1, but a heartbreaking finish put him in third place, with teammate Julian Potvin-Bernal in fifth.
Also competing at this weekend’s championship were brothers and C-2 partners Daniel and Thomas Purcell of Innisfail, Alta., who placed fourth, and Adam and Jamie Cutts of Ottawa, Ont., who placed sixth.
Now that the team has earned a spot in the Summer Games, the next step for Canada’s paddlers is the national qualifying competition in mid-April, when the men’s K-1 squad will compete in a series of time trials for the chance to represent Canada in London 2012.

PanAm Qualification - Remote Update

An exciting first day of racing down in Brazil! Most of us had to watch our computers from North America intently to get the whole story. Pretty cool to have a live video feed, though results didn't seem to work on my mac. I had to rely on twitter, facebook and texts to get the details, so if there's any mistakes my appologies. Follow on Twitter @cartwrightc1 @jessicagroeneveld @MikeHolroyd for the story as it breaks.

Qualifications saw everyone jockeying for position in this weekend's semi-finals. In C2 the Canadian Cutts brothers were the top PanAmerica crew with Innisfail's Purcell brother's in 5th. Less than 2/10ths separated the Canadian and Americans so things should be tight tomorrow.

Innisfail's Thomas and Daniel Purcell

In K1W the Canadian girls placed 2, 3, 4 with Thea Froelich and equally tight .3 behind the Brazillian. Innisfail's Jessica Groeneveld had a rough day, having picked up a stomach bug and will be looking to get healthy and have a better day tomorrow.  

Ottawa's Thea Froelich

In C1, Cam Smedley finished 3rd behind two storming Americans.

In K1M, Alberta's Paul Manning-Hunter placed second, with a mystery touch, to Pepe the young Brazilian kayak. John Hastings was close behind. The canadians additionally have lots of experience to draw on with multiple time World medalist David Ford in the hunt as well.

Paul Manning-Hunter at the bottom of the course

The cagey veterans that make up our Canadian team, know that qualifications mean little by the end of the weekend and that the real racing starts tomorrow. Olympic spots are up for grabs in C2 and K1W Saturday, while the K1M and C1M race Sunday.

 In C1W Calgary's Haley Daniels placed second behind the Brazillian. She'll be looking for victory on Sunday though C1W doesn't have Olympic berths on the line, as it has yet to become an Olympic discipline.

Calgary's Haley Daniels

More Results: http://canoekayak.ca/english/content/slalom_olympicqualifier
The schedule can be found here: http://jessicagroeneveld.blogspot.com/2012/03/pan-american-championships.html
This link works for some people for results: http://www.123result.com/Live.aspx?EventId=195&User=siwidata&Season=CS_2012
The live video feed is found here: http://www.cbca.org.br/newcbca/evento/index/eventos_id/389

Go Canada!

Olympic Continental Qualifier - March 9,10,11 - Brazil

Canadian athletes are ready to race this weekend in Fez do Iguassu, Brazil this weekend. What's on the line? Nation spots at the Olympics this summer in London.

Countries could qualify spots based on their results at the World Championships in 2011 or their respective continental races in 2012. With Africa and Oceania already decided last month, attention turns to Brazil this weekend as North and South America are prepared to race it out for one spot in each class.

The USA already qualified a K1 and K1womens Olympic spot at the World Championships. In those two classes that means Canada has to beat all of the South American countries to get spots. Brazil will be the main competition in these classes. Paul Manning-Hunter and Jessica Groeneveld from Alberta will be looking to help the Canadian team Olympic berths.

In C1 and C2, no country from North or South America has qualified. It will be up to Canada to take on all comers for a nation spot. Athletes from the USA, Brazil and Argentina should be the main competion. The Purcell brother from Innisfail will be looking to get a spot for Canada in C2.

Once Canada qualifies nation spots, we will then have Olympic Team Trials in Charlotte, North Carolina in April. No one will go into the event with any kind of point advantage and the Olympic boat for Canada will be determined from 3 of 4 races April 12 and 13th.

Canadian athletes have been down in Brazil for the last two month in preparation for the weekend. Here's few picture of life in Brazil

Jessica Groeneveld (credit - Ettore Ivaldi)

Team Canada at the Falls

Thomas Purcell contemplating life on a day off

What do you do when the gym is closed?

2012 Canadian National Junior Team Trials - May 26/27 - Kananaskis, AB

Save the date! - May 26/27, 2012

Judges and other Volunteers needed - Be a part of sending our athletes to the Junior World Championships -  Contact Lynn - ljkayaker@shaw.ca

Registration live March 19th
Event website
http://www.albertawhitewater.ca/asck/jrntt2012/index.htm

 

Sundre’s Fourth Annual Canoe Polo / Slalom Tournament

Where
Sundre Aquaplex Swimming Pool
 
When
March 17-18 (pool time to be determined based on registration numbers last year was 8-8 sat & 8-12 sun)

FYI The Sundre Paddling Club also has weekly play-boating pool time booked on Friday nights from 7:30-9:00 cost is a drop i fee to the pool. All welcome! (Adults $7, youth $4)

What
Saturday Canoe Polo 3 on 3 Tournament
Sunday Slalom Races!

Costs/ Registration

• Early bird registration (& Payment accepted at tourney) until March 9th for: $30 for adults and 17yrs. and under $25
• March 10th until March 15th:$35 adults and 17years and under $25
• Tournament fees include pizza dinner Sat night!

• Registration due by Thursday March 15th by noon (unless you go for early bird), via email Christie Siddle at sundrepaddlingclub@gmail.com or can be mailed to Christie Siddle, Box 793 Sundre AB, T0M1X0. (payment will be accepted on site)

• Late registration will be accepted until 6pm Friday night via email for a late fee of $5 since teams and schedule would then have to be all changed!
• I will try to email out the morning schedule Friday night to help those driving in early but I am not going to promise a time.
• Registration table will be open Saturday between 8-11am to pay tournament fees and sign wavers.

Accommodations

• Available Fri-Sat night, floor space only bring your own sleeping stuff! Gymnasium cost paid for by Alberta Canoe Polo! Thank you!!!
• email sundrepaddlingclub@gmail.com, facebook Sundre Paddling Club or text/ call Christie 
• Leave your valuables/ belongings in the gym at your own risk!
• There is to be NO Alcohol on premise.

Food

• $10 per day (Saturday/Sunday) for breakfast, lunch and snacks must pre register! The food will be available at the pool all day each day for those who take part.
• Cold breakfasts and build your own sandwiches for lunch, snacks will be a
• The U21 Canadian Women’s team will be putting on this food. Any profits made will help them go to their ongoing fundraising for competition fees and training costs.

Transportation
Since this is an Alberta Canoe Polo sanctioned event there is a travel grant subsidy available for Alberta Residence who meet the requirements of the grant. Check out this link for specifics: http://www.albertacanoepolo.com/files/TravelForm.pdf If you are eligible please fill out the form and send it along with your registration form. We will get your signature during registration on Saturday morning.

Saturday Night House Warming Party I (Christy) recently bought a condo in Sundre and Saturday night seems to be a good time to break it in with all my out of town friends! Nothing too crazy since it is a condo I have to respect my neighbors but after polo on Saturday night everyone is welcome to come on over until 11pm at which time those who want to keep the party going can walk down the road to Swamp Donkey’s and carry on! (2km ish)

Texas Training Camp

 Whitewater in Texas? You bet. The San Marcos river emerges from a spring lake in the centre of San Marcos. The water, which is always 70degrees year-round, then works its way to the Gulf of Mexico. An old dam in town has been modified to create a whitewater park for all. The locals use it to swim, tube, raft, canoe & SUP while it is a destination location for freestyle and slalom kayak. Because of the sensitive natural history in the area the river is always kept at a minimum water level ensuring the native wild rice, turtles, snakes and other animals are protected. This guarantees water for paddling.

A 5min paddle downstream from the whitewater is the Power Olympic Outdoor Centre run by Ben Kvanli. This is where we made our home for 9 days in February. Alberta Slalom Canoe Kayak lead a trip composed of 12 athletes and 2 coaches from 5 provinces and states. Alberta team members AJ Cole, Levi Severtson, Ryley & Hannah Penner, and Darius Ramrattan joined head coach Mike Holroyd and parent/chaperon/paddler Matt Cole.

Another 5min downstream from the centre, two drops provided hours of entertainment as the paddlers did laps. The first, a three footer, provided an excellent opportunity to work on boofs while the bigger 15 foot drop allowed everyone to practice their waterfall skills. 





The week consisted of a lot of paddling! 16 slalom sessions, 3 runs, 2 core, 1 weights, 2 boof/waterfall, 2 flatwater freestyles. Amazingly nearly everyone did all the sessions and with a significant amount of quality. This was helped greatly by the groups' ability to eat well. 5 teams of cooks provided a set of meals for each day ensuring that there was always food ready after each session and enough to get the athletes ready for the next workout. 

The highlights on the food front were the Tapas night where everyone pitched in, the Mexican meal, and the home cooked feast from mama Gail!

With paddlers from so many regions the quality of competition was excellent for those with sights on Junior and U23 Worlds in Wausau this summer.

Whether Darius or Hannah was the winner for catching the most turtles is still in debate. For the first few days they were constantly seen with disks in their hands. This was muted somewhat when they realized that often, sleeping next to the turtles, were cottonmouth snakes. While they aren't aggressive the cottonmouth are quite poisonous. Tutles catching stopped seeming like so much fun.

The 7000km trip was a success and while no one is looking forward to the drive itself, going back to Texas is high on the agenda for many of these paddlers. Till next time, Thanks Texas.

 Other articles about Texas and our trip:
http://saskwhitewater.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/texas-winter-training-camp/
http://austin.ynn.com/content/283356/wilde-about-texas---competition-on-the-san-marcos-river