The CanoeKayak Canada
Jr National Slalom Team Trials held at the Canoe Meadows Slalom race
course on the Kananaskis River in Alberta over the May 26-27 weekend was
full of drama as Canada’s best junior canoe/kayak athletes competed for
a spot to represent Canada at the Junior World Whitewater Slalom
Championships this summer. With only 3 berths available in the K-1
(single kayak) and C-1 (single canoe) events in either the men’s or
women’s classes there wasn’t much room for a mistake over the 2 days.
Complicating this was the fact that based on past results 2 athletes,
Jasmyne Denhollander and Liam Smedley had secured 2 of those spots in
K-1W and C-1M.
In
the C-1 class Zachary Zwanenburg from Cornwall, Ontario battled out for
top spot with Ryley Penner from Lundbreck, Alberta. Noted more for the
Cornwall freestyle program and not slalom, Zachary showed his mettle in
garnering the top spot, by wining 2 of the 3 runs they competed in.
Rounding out the team with Liam and Zach will be Sam Fletcher from
Chilliwack, BC as Ryley declined his spot to concentrate on his kayak
event at the World’s.
In
the K-1 Men’s class, Ryley Penner was not to be denied top spot.
Winning 3 of the 4 heats Ryley dominated the event over Valleyfield
Quebec’s Samuel Primeau, Innisfail Alberta’s Levi Severtson and Zachary
Zwanenburg. Last year Ryley stormed into the Junior class and surprised
everyone taking the top spot in K-1 Jr Men’s in his first year of
eligibility as a 15 year old. Ryley showed this was no fluke with his
excellent technical paddling and fast times securing his position as
team leader for 2012.
With
Jasmyne already having secured the top spot in K-1W, there were only 2
spots available among the 4 women competing. Two other competitors at
the races are still Cadets and not eligible to attend the Jr Worlds. One
of those cadets, Hannah Penner from Lundbreck, Alberta consistently won
2nd place in all 4 heats and would have been named to the
team but she will have to wait her chance until next year to join her
brother on the team. Aurelie Rondeau from Valleyfield Quebec won 2 heats
and and Aleisha Greve from Strathroy, Ontario and Veronica Oczkowski
from Pincher Creek, Alberta each won a heat. Based upon total points
Aurelie and Aliesha were named to the Junior National Team for 2012 to
join Jasmyne.
Aliesha
also competed in C-1 Women and was solid throughout all 4 heats over
the weekend with her single blade to earn the only spot in this class.
To round out the Junior Squad, Ben Lapointe from Saskatoon, SK and Sam
Fletcher will be representing Canada in the C-2 class
Junior Team
Junior Women’s K1
*Jazmyne Denhollander (Sardis, BC)
Aurelie Rondeau (Valleyfield, QC)
Aliesha Greve (Strathroy, ON)
Junior Men’s K1
Ryley Penner (Lundbreck, AB)
Samuel Primeau (Valleyfield, QC)
Levi Severtson (Innisfail, AB)
Junior Men’s C1
*Liam Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)
Zachary Zwanenburg (Cornwall, ON)
Sam Fletcher (Chilliwack, BC)
Junior Women’s C1
Aliesha Greve (Strathroy, ON)
Junior Men’s C2
Sam Fletcher (Chilliwack, BC) & Ben Lapointe (Saskatoon, SK)
*Pre-selected based on medal performances at the 2011 National Championships
Under 23 Team selected earlier this year
Men’s K1
Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB)
Maxime Leboeuf (Valleyfield, QC)
Adrian Cole (Calgary, AB)
Women’s K1
Thea Froehlich (Ottawa, ON)
Florence Maheu (Valleyfield, QC)
Kathleen Tayler (Ottawa, ON)
Women’s C1
Haley Daniels (Calgary, AB)
Alexandra McGee (Montréal, QC)
Results of Junior Team Selection Trials:
Sunday - http://www.albertawhitewater.For more information:
Chuck Lee
Executive Director
Alberta Whitewater Association
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