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“Sweeping the classes in front of Olympians from other countries is very encouraging going into the Olympic year,” said Chris Hipgrave, USA Canoe/Kayak National Technical Director. “The results are very promising. I’m very excited.”
Thirty-six paddlers, including several Olympians, from the U.S., Canada, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland and Chile competed in the two-day event on the site of April’s 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Slalom Canoe/Kayak.
In Saturday’s Olympic-class competition in the women’s single kayak, one of two slalom events in which the U.S. has secured a 2008 Olympic Games competition berth, Vanha led the field of three American and two Canadian paddlers, clocking a combined time of 242 seconds for the win. Jamie Tidmore (Bryson City, N.C.) was second in 353.1 seconds, while Canadian Kathleen Taylor was third in 382.9. Vanha, who completed her first run with a penalty-free 123.1-second effort, secured the victory with a 118.9-second final run, which included two gate-touch penalties. Katrina Van Wijk of Canada was fourth.
In the men’s single kayak, also an event in which the U.S. has secured a 2008 Olympic berth, Scott Mann (Bryson City, N.C.) edged James Wade (Boise, Idaho) by four seconds to take the title. After the first run, Mann led all paddlers with an errorless 89.6-second run, while Wade was second with a 92.6-second, one touch penalty effort. Mann’s second run of 91.8 seconds including one gate-touch penalty, was second to four-time Canadian Olympian Dave Ford by just 0.60 seconds, but still secured the victory. Canada’s Nathan Davis finished third with a combined time of 187.9 seconds. John Hastings of Canada was fourth, followed by Ford. The top ten was rounded out by Austin Kieffer (Asheville, N.C.), Hurd, Mathias Roethenmund, 2000 Olympian from Switzerland, Chris McTaggert of Canada and Jiri Prskavec, 2000 Olympian from the Czech Republic.
In the men’s single canoe Fraker, Tadd Dennis (Peachtree City, Ga.) and Jeff Larimer (Atlanta, Ga.), finished in the top three positions. Fraker clocked a penalty-free combined time of 198.4 seconds to secure the win. Dennis, who had three gate-touch penalties on the first run and two on the second, earned second-place with a 203.4-second combined time. Larimer, who had just one gate-touch penalty in his second run, finished third in 214.5 seconds. Canada’s Spencer Pomeroy was fourth, followed by Joel McCune (Charlotte, N.C.), Cam Smedley of Canada, Greg Pitt of Great Britain and two-time Olympian James Cartwright of Canada.
In men’s double canoe competition, Austin Crane (Atlanta, Ga.) and Scott McCleskey (Sylva, N.C.) captured Saturday’s event with a combined time of 226.6 seconds. Adam and James Cutt of Canada were second in 310.9 seconds followed by Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) and Rick Powell (Parksburg, Pa.) in 343.8 seconds.
In Friday’s preliminary Grand Prix events, run under the lights on the lower two-thirds of the U.S. National Whitewater Center course, Vanha captured gold in the women’s single kayak. Her first run of 51.7 seconds, including one gate-touch penalty, led all competitors in the best-of-two-runs competition. Tidmore finished second, securing the spot with a 56.9-second final run. Nee was third.
In the men’s single kayak, Wade earned a win with an errorless 38.5-second first run. In the second Run, Ford clocked a 39.5-second effort without penalties, but fell one-second short of Wade’s first run. Eric Hurd (Atlanta, Ga.) finished third by just 0.30 seconds, clocking a 39.8-second final run. Nathan Davis of Canada was fourth and John Hastings of Canada was fifth. The top ten was rounded-out by Mann, Mathias Roethenmund, 2000 Olympian from Switzerland, Pablo McCandless of Chile and Eoin Rhenisch, 2004 Olympian from Ireland.
In the men’s single canoe, Fraker’s 43.1-second final run earned the victory, defeating Canada’s Cartwright, who clocked a penalty-free 43.6-second first run. Dennis finished third with a 44.6-second first run. Larimer was fifth and Pitt was sixth. The field was rounded out with Smedley, Crane, Pomeroy and McCune.
In the men’s double canoe, Rick Powell (Parkesburg, Pa.) and Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) won the Grand Prix event with a best-run time of 47.3 seconds. Crane and McCleskey were second. |
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About Slalom Canoe/Kayak
In slalom canoe/kayak racing, paddlers navigate through pairs of poles called "gates" through a course of approximately 300-meters, set-up over challenging rapids, waves, eddies and currents. If the paddler touches one of the poles or misses a gate altogether, penalty times are added to the time achieved on the run. The Olympic program includes men’s and women’s single kayak, and men’s single and double canoe.
About the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Located in Charlotte, N.C., the U.S. National Whitewater Center is the world’s only multi-channel re-circulating whitewater river and an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. Opened in August 2006 at a cost of $37 million, the 307-acre public adventure-sport facility includes whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain bike and hiking trails, climbing center and a ropes course along with locker room facilities, a 2,400 square-foot conference center and 90-table Eddy Restaurant and Bar - all overlooking the home rapids of the U.S. National Slalom Canoe/Kayak Team. Inspired by the Penrith Whitewater Stadium built for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, USNWC’s seven pumps can move and filter more than 536,000 gallons of water per minute, accommodating 300 paddlers per hour on its one mile of combined channels. For more information please visit www.usnwc.org
About USA Canoe/Kayak
USA Canoe/Kayak is a non-profit membership organization promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, Charlotte, N.C. based USACK is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and official U.S. federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACK include Marathon, Rodeo, Wildwater, Kayak Polo, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat. USA Canoe/Kayak’s National Team Sponsor is Bank of America and its National Team Apparel Sponsor is NIKE. To learn more about USACK and its other sponsors and suppliers, visit www.USACK.org. |