2011 New Zealand Senior Canoe Slalom Team

2011 World Cup One Tacen Ljubljana SLO

2011-06-27T17:18:00.006+12:00

Photo Glenys Travers NZL

A brilliant semifinal run has given New Zealand whitewater kayaker Mike Dawson his best result on the World Cup circuit in Slovenia overnight.

Dawson eventually finished 10th in the first ICF championship event of the season in Tacen, drawing a 50sec time penalty in the K1 final to fall out of medal contention.
But he'd already created a little bit of history, becoming the first Kiwi male to make it past the semifinals at a World Cup round.
"Unfortunately I knocked the last gate in the final with the wrong side of my head, so was credited with missing it," Dawson said. "But I'm delighted with my performance and life tastes pretty good at the moment. It's certainly a big confidence booster with Olympic selections coming up."

The result is easily the 24-year-old's best at senior level, surpassing his 21st placing at the same venue four years ago, and comes just a week after starring in extreme races at the Teva Outdoor Games in Italy.

Dawson's superb semifinal run was the key, clocking the second-fastest run of the round with a 97.06sec effort. Only a single touch at one of the gates dropped him back to 10th position, still good enough to ease into the final 0.1sec ahead of Italian world champion Daniele Molmenti.

Slovenians Peter Kauzer and Jure Meglič dominated the final to finish first and second respectively, with Kauzer using his local knowledge to clock an amazing 95.48sec final run, repeating his victory at the same event in 2008. German Sebastian Schubert was third in 99.57secs.

New Zealand's Beijing Olympian paddler Luuka Jones wasn't so lucky in the K1 women's event, finishing 31st after the heats and just missing a spot in the semifinal by a solitary place. Otaki's Louise Jull was 45th.

In the men's C1 canoe heats, Tauranga teenagers Shaun Travers and Brent Bastin were 43rd and 45th respectively.

Most of the New Zealand team will now head to the next World Cup round in L'Argentiere, France, next weekend, with Dawson also eyeing a chance to race the London Olympic course at the end of July, with an invitational race at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Jamie Troughton Dscribe Journalism and PR ,Tauranga, NZL

Buenos Aires to Auckland

2007-09-25T23:44:00.000+12:00

Making the most of the last day in Buenos Aires the team headed to the famous cemetery - city of the dead- in the middle of the city. It was well worth the trip. The mausoleums are owned by families costing up to USD 35K with an annual fee of about 20USD to maintain the roads. The family is responsible for maintaining the crypt. It is just like a miniature city for the dead, narrow avenues are named after famous people. Just like real estate it is location location location- the more valuable crypts are on the main avenue and the further away the cheaper they become cost is on sq m. There are up to 24 coffins in each crypt layered in three levels in each crypt. All the coffins are metal inside and sealed. If a coffin leaks then the family must have it cremated immediately. As more family members move on the old coffins are cremated to make room for the latest deaths. Burial underground in Buenos Aires is only for five years and then the family must exhume the coffin and have the coffin cremated. There is also a concrete storage wall where sealed coffins can be stored but that is only for up to 15 years and then the family must also remove the coffin and have them cremated. Eva Peron is in her family vault at this cemetery.

After lunch everyone went their own ways for shopping and exploring.

Tonight most of the team fly home. Mark stays on a for a couple of weeks to explore the region, Kay and Mike have a couple of days in BA and everyone else head towards NZ, Uni exams and well deserved breaks from paddling. With the Oceania race now the major qualification for both NZ and Australia the pressure is on.

Safe travelling everyone

Andrew's Personal Best

2007-09-25T23:26:00.000+12:00

The 3kg challenge
Qualifications, semi-finals and finals- Gold medalist

Travelling- South American style

2007-09-25T22:44:00.001+12:00

All went smoothly out of the hotel in Foz do Iguacu, cars loaded and headed towards Foz airport Argentina for the trip home. Arrived at the airport and breathed a sigh of relief no one around- first clue NZL missed ( also the Italians on the same flight). Aeolineas was out on strike but fortunately just a short strike. With the plane only delayed until 3.30 check-in was smooth and all boats loaded and the wait began.

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Arrived safely in Buenos Aires and staying at the Waldorf Hotel in the middle of town.

A traditional restaurant, leather chairs, character of a waiter, food, wine, beers and relaxed times. Ordered a mixed grill-goat,pork,lamb,beef,chicken- the guys eyes were definitely bigger than their stomachs except for Andrew more to follow

Exhausted and replete

Kiwis leave for NZ

2007-09-24T13:08:00.000+12:00

Boats have been disinfected, bags packed and last minute organisation finished as the Kiwis prepare for the two day trip back to NZ.

Safe travelling to all the Kiwis.

K1W and C2 men Results day Five Brazil

2007-09-24T13:00:00.000+12:00

K1 Women and C2 Men Semi-Finals Day Five 23 September 2007 Brazil

With 30 C2 crews in the start line today the former Olympic gold and world champion C2 crew of brothers Peter and Pavel Hoschorner SVK once again showed their world class standard by easily taking out the C2 title in 206.81 with one touch. This season has seen them unbeatable in World Cups and European Opens. French brothers Pierre and Christophe Luquet were second in the medal count down by 8 seconds in a time of 214.83 with Benetti and Masoero ITA taking out 3rd position. The NZL C2 crew Nicholas and Robinson never quite found their form and had forced errors down the course putting paid to any hopes of Olympic qualification in the C2class. The course showed its challenges to C2 crews driving through gates 7-9 and 14-16 proving how easy it was to be off line, incur a 50 second penalty and struggle to fully recover.

Forty K1 women lined up with NZL’s Tania Perrett second starter today. The K1W had its drama with top paddlers incurring 50 second penalties often on gate 5. Perrett started well on the top of the course but had a slow time when coupled with forced errors between gates 12-16 leaving her near the bottom of the field. She found it difficult to maintain her speed and accuracy on the technically demanding course. At this stage final K1W results haven’t been posted on the web

Canoe slalom with high audience profile is seen as the most technically and physically demanding of all the Olympic sports . With inconsistent water the athletes are always adjusting their performance as they paddle down the course.

To all the NZL athletes competing in Brazil at their own cost, training without a coach and maintaining top 30 positions in the world be proud of your efforts. You have done the hard yards and it was unfortunate it didn’t happen on the day that counted. Teams with full support, paid coaches, paid athletes and paid managers, physios and nutritionists did not out do your performances at times in these world championships.
Thanks to Alison Perrett for her support, Sue and Kay for their help with the Kiwis and Kidda for his time and effort away from his work to be with the seniors

Watch out the Kiwis will be back for the Oceania Olympic Qualification Championships in Sydney March 2007.

K1Men and C1 Men Semi-Finals Day Four 22 September 2007 Brazil

2007-09-23T14:46:00.000+12:00

K1Men and C1 Men Semi-Finals Day Four 22 September 2007 Brazil

Disappointment for NZ in the K1 men. Hopes were high but costly errors cost NZ an anticipated K1 Olympic place in Brazil qualifications

C1 world champion Michel Martikan SVK gained the upper hand with a fast final section reclaiming the title he won in 2002 and 2003 with a total of 192.87, just over a second ahead of the reigning champion, Tony Estanguet FRA, who crossed the line in 194.23. Robin Bell AUS 3rd added a world championship bronze medal to his 2005 world championship gold and 1999 world silver medals. The result has qualified a place for Australia in the C1 event at next year’s Olympics and confirms Bell’s potential to challenge for a medal in Beijing.

In the men’s kayak semi finals, Aaron Osborne finished 30th with a score of 102.98, Starting well he had a close shave with a near touch on gate 4, then settled into his rhythm through the top half of the course. A little off line in 12 he collected a penalty and again in 15 another touch, that he could not afford pushing him down the score board.

Mike Dawson nailed the top third of the course, but then picked up a touch on gate 9. He knew he had to push it to make up the time and he looked good coming out of the up at 12 before heading into the swirling water below the bridge. Then it all started to go horribly wrong and he misjudged coming into 15 with a simultaneous lull in the surge and then was totally off line and had to paddle back up for 16. Saying afterwards “that is something I have not had to do for a very long time” Any mistake was costly in this competition reflected by the fact that nine from ten finalists all had clean semis. Dawson finished 32nd.

New Zealand will have the opportunity to earn an Olympic place in the K1 event at next year’s Oceania Continental Qualification at Penrith in March, where they must finish ahead of Australia.
Racing continues tomorrow with the semi finals and finals of the C2 men and K1 women’s competition with Tania Perrett and Robinson and Nicholason the start line..

K1men and C1 Men Teams Day Three Brazil

2007-09-22T10:57:00.000+12:00

The crowds dispersing after the final results were posted on the leader board. A wonderfully supportive atmosphere was felt as all spectators and competitors acknowledged by spontaneous clapping the sheer achievement of the winning teams

World’s underway in Foz do Iguassu -
Day 3 report from Brazil
Whitewater Slalom NZ, Friday, 21 September 2007 Brazil date
Adapted from Australian Canoeing

Germany dominate day three of the world championships in Brazil, New Zealand’s Men's K1 team finish 11th and Men’s C1 13th.
Germany dominated the team event finals on day three of the world championships winning gold in the men’s and women’s kayak events and silver in the men’s C1 team. France in C1 and the Czech Republic in C2 were the other winners.
New Zealand’s C1 team, James Dawson, Mark Yungnickel and Bryden Nicholas were in 13th position after first runs with two 50 second penalties. A shambles occurred during their second run when Hungry failed to pull over to the side of the river, team NZ caught them and couldn't’t avoid ramming one of their boats in a gate. A re-run was awarded unfortunately with only ten minutes to line up on the start Nicholas struggled on the course incurring two 50 second penalties, Dawson and Yungnickel both incurred touches leaving them well out of contention behind Canada and ahead of Japan in thirteenth position overall.
The French were the convincing winners ahead of Germany and the Czech Republic, holding on to a first run lead ahead. Slovakia, in second after the first runs and a potential threat to the French, were awarded a fifty second penalty on gate six and dropped out of contention.
New Zealand’s men’s kayak team posted competitive raw times on both their runs. However, Mike Dawson, Johann Roozenburg and Aaron Osborne were hindered by penalties and finished just out of a top ten position in eleventh behind the Australians and ahead of Spain, Japan, USA and Italy to name a few. Roozenburg commented on his performance "I had a faster time in teams than in my individual race"
For a moment, France looked liked they had snatched gold from first run leaders, Germany, when the scoreboard showed the Germans in second place with 6 seconds of penalties on their second run. However, an inquiry by the race officials corrected the result and confirmed Erik Pfannmoeller, Fabien Doerfler and Alexander Grimm as the men’s kayak world champions. The Czech Republic was third.
Slovakia started the day as one of the favourites for multiple team medals but had to settle for only one bronze in the C2 event behind the winners, the Czech Republic and France.
As expected the German team of Jennifer Bongardt, Jasmin Shornberg and Mandy Planert took gold in the women’s team with a total of 238.76, 1.73 seconds ahead of the Czech Republic and a relieved British team who survived a first run protest to place third.
The score board told the story with high penalty counts for the majority of teams, including the New Zealanders. The technical course, swirling upstreams and closely set gates creating the challenges for the athletes and the judges, who, at times, struggled to keep the score.
At the end of day three of competition the course was modified for the semi finals and finals on Saturday and Sunday.
The course designers, Eric Giddens of the USA and ICF technical commission chairman, Jean Michel Prono, have stepped up the level of difficulty creating even tighter moves on the 23 gate course.
Aaron Osborne will be the first New Zealander on the course followed by Mike Dawson in the K1 semi final event.
The men’s C2 and women’s K1 semi finals and finals take place on Sunday.

The judges preparing their judging sheets approximately 2-3hours each day

C1 Men Final Results Now Posted

2007-09-21T10:55:00.000+12:00

Results at posting on the blog last night were provisional. After overnight protests this morning the chief judge Jean Michel Prono posted the C1 Men final results.

James Dawson 42nd Position
Mark Yungnickel 53rd Position

James Dawson will be timed and judged in forerunners for semi finals allowing him an opportunity to have a time against the semi final competitors.

K1W and C2 M Qualification Results Day Two Brazil

2007-09-21T10:13:00.000+12:00

World’s underway in Foz do Iguassu -
Day 2 report from Brazil
Whitewater Slalom NZ, Friday, 21 September 2007

The C2 class of 36 paddlers started the days racing with the ICF developing nations first off the start line. The water proved unpredictable and pushy for the developing nations with many DNF and 50 second penalties. With only 6 boats dropping out from qualifications 30 C2 boats went through to the semis on Saturday. Top C2 crew brothers Simon and Simon (GER) put down two impressive runs leading the days racing with 207.38 closely followed by Volf and Stephanck (CZE) 208.33 ahead of the Olympic and current World Champion Horschoner brothers (SVK) who incurred an unusual touch for them leaving them in third position on 209.71. Australians Bellifore and Milne continued their season with a steady performance in 8th position 215.70. The NZL crew Robinson and Nicholas 29th position had penalties and with a time 365.43 were 156.06 behind the leaders scrapping into a position in the semi finals. They will be looking for a much improved run time in the semi-finals.

Jana Dukotova (SVK) continued her medal finishing performances this season qualifying first ahead of the field of 62 women with a time 203.07 ahead of team mate Kaliskan (SVK) 205.13 and Germany’s Mandy Planert 206.53 the only woman to post two clean runs. The top twenty places where as expected but there were a few upsets with a number of 50 second penalties on gates 5-9 and 13-15 where a wrong line made paddlers work extremely hard to make the gates on the fast moving surging water. Tania Perrett NZL secured her place in the semi finals in 39th position after two runs incurring 26 penalties and time of 283.52 which was 80.45 seconds behind the leader and just ahead of Schmidt (AUT) in 40th. Perrett will be looking for a much improved performance in the semis to reach her personal best.

First up tomorrow are the teams races with a field of 16 C1 teams competing NZL’s C1 men’s team of Yungnickel, Dawson and Nicholas are 4th off the start line at 9.37.30am (BRA) against a strong field with favourites the CZE team. Roozenburg, Osborne and Dawson are also 4th off the start list in the K1 men’s team event against a field of 19 top countries with GER as field favourite at 10.22.30am (BRA). NZL is not fielding teams in the K1W or C2 team events.

All the best to the paddlers competing in the teams

Check out the full results
http://cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/

K1M and C1M Qualification Results Day One Brazil

2007-09-20T10:17:00.001+12:00

Worlds underway in Foz do Iguassu - day 1 report from Brazil

Whitewater Slalom NZ, Thursday, 20 September 2007

Above Top:Aaron Osborne paddling from the upstream gate at 13 into 14

Above:Mike Dawson in gate 14

Mike Dawson qualifies in 16th and Aaron Osborne in 27th positions in qualification races securing them a berth in the prestigious semi finals on Saturday and the race for Olympic qualification quotas allocated in Brazil. Mike Dawson after qualifications held 9th country place out of the allocated 16 country positions to be decided at this event in K1 M .
Dawson and Osborne were the only two New Zealanders to progress to the semi finals after the first day of competition at the 2007 slalom world championships in Foz do Iguassu, Brazil.

Mike Dawson led the way with a 16th place finish in the K1 event despite collecting two seconds of penalties over his two runs on the course. After sitting in 29th position after first runs he pulled out a blistering clean run to secure his spot in the semi finals. Dawson’s total score of 189.95 was 6.42 seconds behind current World Cup champion and top ranked world paddler, Scott Parsons of USA, who finished with two clean runs and a total of 183.53 seconds. “I controlled and paced my runs much better and it paid off on the bottom section” Dawson said. Cipressi current World Champion was 14th two places ahead of Dawson while Roethenmund SUI and Sajbidor SVK 17 and 18th positions respectively were separated by less than 100th /s showing the calibre and tightness of the competition. Osborne in 10th position after run one with 94.05 clean had another fast run 93.02 but with 6 penalties 193.85s taking him into 27th position and into the line up for Saturday’s racing. Roozenburg 54th after first runs 101.13 plus 2 penalties didn’t find the form and pace necessary to make semis but put down a consistent second run 101.21 plus 6 penalties finishing outside the cut in 60th place,

Michal Martikan C1 moved up from 8th position after the first run to finish second overall with a total of 193.12, producing the fastest single run of the day on his second run. James Dawson C1 put down a solid run 1 sitting in 39th position and knew he had to pull something out of the box run two to make the semi cut. He was frustrated with the unpredictable and swirling waters pushing him off line on the top of the course and never quite found his rhythm again, losing twelve seconds through the top and end sections section of the course. This left him just out of the cut in 42nd position. Mark Yungnickel will want to forget the split second on his first run when he rolled at gate 15, incurring a fifty second penalty and effective elimination from the competition. Yungnickel pulled back showing his mental strength and put down a fast second run but finished well outside the top forty in 55th. The C1m are awaiting final results due to a protest. Results at this stage are provisional.

The men’s C1 and K1 will have a rest day tomorrow while Andrew Robinson, Bryden Nicholas and Tania Perrett compete in the C2 and K1 women's qualification heats.

Qualification runs

2007-09-19T14:34:00.000+12:00

First run completed for C1men and K1 men.
New Zealand results
James Dawson 39th, Mark Yungnickel 55th
Aaron Osborne 10 Mike Dawson 29th and Johann Roozenburg 54th
For full coverage go to....

http://cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/

2007 Canoe Slalom Championships Brazil opening ceremony

2007-09-19T14:00:00.001+12:00

The opening ceremony started in great Brazilian style with all the 66 countries competing turning up. After the national anthems of both the ICF and Brazil and the speeches the entertainment began. With dance, fire dancing acrobatics and music a truly cultural taste of Brazil.

Lining up outside the venue in countries

Inside the hall waiting for NZL to be called

Heading out of the hall after NZL was called

Flag high and into the public arean and entertainment area

Seated waiting for the speeches and entertainment to begin

NZL's only ICF JSL

Demos today

2007-09-18T22:07:00.001+12:00

Scrutineering was all on yesterday with a little glitch for one of the Kiwi competitors but all in all everyone through scrutineering. Aaron just has to return this morning for the final OK. The course is looking fabulous with its village of tents, flagpoles and general busyness which surrounds a world championship. The course will bring it challenges for all the competitors as it is technically difficult and the gates will be demanding for all. With over 300 athletes competing the competition will be tight in particularly the K1men ( 102), C1 men (66)and K1Women(65) the C2 have more leeway with only 39 boats in that class
Demos are this afternoon and official technical feed has been organised but Alison and Sue will be there with the team videos as well just in case there are any hiccups.
The Kiwis will be on the water this morning for a final training then after that it is flat water as the course will be closed.
I have moved in with the judges who have arrived over the past few days from around the world The last three judges arrive in from Europe overnight.

The official site for information and results from the event www.cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/index.php

Team Photo

2007-09-17T06:10:00.000+12:00

A quick team photo before heading off to the course and training

World Championships and Olympic Qualification

2007-09-17T04:30:00.001+12:00

Competitiion starts 19th September 2007 Brazil

http://cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/

Refugio Zoologico

2007-09-17T04:04:00.000+12:00

We may be in the middle of town and only a couple of blocks from the shops but 100 metres down the road is the local zoological Gardens. This morning as there was no training and a number of athletes are on a rest day the team headed down to check out the local animal life. The park has wide cobbled paths with canopies of trees so it is very cool and gives the impression of a natural habitat. The animals and birds were caged along the paths some of the enclosures had little fences which the Kiwis were considering jumping and doing a timed alligator run from one side of the enclosure to the other -team competition - common sense only just prevailed

Making it easier to leave message

2007-09-16T23:07:00.001+12:00

hi everyone the number of hits on the blog is fantastic. To make it easier for people to leave messages of support a CBox has been added underneath the stats counter. Check it out and support the Kiwis.

Time for sightseeing-Saturday

2007-09-16T12:50:00.000+12:00

Today the team had an early training session and were up, breakfasted and at the course by 7am for their last full runs session. The tension and tempo on the course has quickened and the team struggled at times to get people out of gates to have an open course for their fullies. Johann bow rode a C2 that wouldn't move out of an upstream even with some verbal encouragement. The K1M doing a practice teams race came around the bend to two kayakers having a social chat in their gate as did Tania so that blew that move. All in all some good results and confidence on the course as they head into the final nation training slots prior to racing on the 19th.This left the rest of the day for some sightseeing, resting or exploring. Team members split up to go their various ways.
Sue, Kay, Bryden ,Andrew and Ella ( Cook Islands) headed in moist conditions to the Argentinian side of the Falls. One of the natural wonders of the world. The falls are spelt Iguassu Falls(Argentina) and Iguacu Falls( Brazil). The bridge crossing the river is painted half green and gold vertical stripes (Brazil) and blue and white horizontal stripes( Argentina) as it crosses the border.

A local juggler making a living at the traffic lights

With Argentinian plates on the car we got priority refueling i.e a shorter queue at the petrol station

Mark is trying to change his flight home to have few extra days in Argentina so Tania, Alison and Mark headed to Argentina's Aerolinus offices to try their luck. Shanty in Puerto Argentina

The roads here have speed bumps to keep the speed down but in the Puerto suburbs we found a new technique -the road had an open ditch to negotiate.

Mike,Johann,James,Kidda and Aaron headed to the bird park

Everyone had an early night and have the morning for a lie in as training on Sunday is 4.30pm.

K1 men

2007-09-15T13:10:00.001+12:00

NZL Press Release Number One

2007-09-15T08:50:00.000+12:00

New Zealand Canoe Slalom team chases Olympic dreams

After plane delays and some athletes facing cancelled flights with airline strikes, the New Zealand canoe slalom team have finally all made it to the city of Foz do Iguacu in Brazil. The venue for the 2007 Canoe Slalom World Champs is the artificial course on the Parana River that was not only built for the slalom community but also to aid fish migration when the world's largest hydroelectric works, the Itaipu Dam,was built. The area is famous for the Iguassu Falls that are on the border of Argentina and Brazil and rival the Victoria and Niagara Falls for sheer magnificence.
The climate is tropical, with all the gorgeous fruits and the heat and humidity that goes with this environment. The team of eight are training daily in their allocated one hour time slot with English coach, Andy Raspin.
There are 66 countries competing, made up of 102 K1M, 65 K1W, 66 C1M and 39 C2 crews. From this event 60% of the places will be known for the Beijing Olympics so the competition will be intense.
Nation training continues until racing starts on the 19th September.
The official site for information and results from the event www.cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/index.php

Further contact and photos in Brazil - Sue Clarke White Water Slalom NZ Communications sueclarke@xtra.co.nz

The NZ athletes competing to qualify a place for the Beijing Olympics are:
Michael Dawson K1 Tauranga Living in Rotorua Studying Extramurally Massey University
Aaron Osborne K1 Napier Studying Unicol Palmerston North
Johann Roozenburg K1 Rotorua Employed Sealed Air, Rotorua
James Dawson C1 Tauranga Studying at Otago University Dunedin
Mark Yungnickel C1 Auckland Living in Rotorua, Studying Extramurally at Massey University
Andrew Robinson C2 Tauranga Studying at Otago University Dunedin
Bryden Nicholas C2 Tauranga Studying at Otago University Dunedin
Tania Perrett K1 Nelson Living in Rotorua, Studying at Massey University Extramurally

Coach Andrew Raspin Nottingham, UK
Manager Alison Perrett, Nelson.

Slalom racing is one of two Olympic canoeing disciplines. Racing takes place in singles (K1) and canoe in singles and doubles (C1 & C2 ). The first wild water slalom competitions were held in Switzerland in 1933.In slalom competitions each athlete completes two runs of the course on a route with 20 gates suspended over the river. The competitions are against the clock and the result of each round is obtained by adding the time taken in seconds, and adding the penalties awarded at each gate by a judge.The sum of the two rounds is what counts for the final result.The International Canoeing Federation has a long tradition of slalom competitions. They formed part of the programme of the Olympic Games held in Augsburg (Munich, Germany, 1972), La Seu d''Urgell (Barcelona, Spain, 1992), Ocoee (Atlanta, USA, 1996),Penrith (Sydney, AUS, 2000),Athens 2004 and will be included in 2008 Beijing China and 2112 London England.
World Championships have been held since 1949.
At the present time there are canoeing federations in 142 countries, including all the major industrialized nations, with France, Germany, Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy and Slovakia leading the way in Europe, and USA, Canada and Australia in the other continents.

Oficial Media Release Brazil

2007-09-15T08:46:00.001+12:00

The best of slalom canoeing disputes World Championship Slalom in Foz do Iguaçu
Event, valid as Qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, congregate more than three hundred athletes in one of the most beautiful brazilian landscapes

More than three hundred athletes of 65 countries, between them many olympic champions as the french Tony Estanguet and the slovakian brothers Peter and Pavol Hochschorner, will be congregate in Foz do Iguaçu in the period of 19 to 23 of September to participation of the Slalom World Championship, valid event as Qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and that it will define about 60% of the available spots of the modality.

The Slalom World Championship will be disputed in the categories K1 male and female, C1 and C2 male, beyond the dispute for teams; and all will happen in Itaipu Channel, located in the Piracema Park of the Itaipu Hydroeletric, projected in 2005 to take care of the development of the canoeing in Brazil and considered the best artificial track of the modality in Latin America. “The track is excellent and will be much more important for the evolution of the brazilian athletes who to each year are better”, said the olympic champion in the C1 Tony Estanguet who comes more than six months of training to compete in Foz do Iguaçu.

For the 17 times brazilian champion and participant of two Olympic Games, Gustavo Selbach, the construction of a international level track in the country is excelent to the development of the brazilian canoeing. “It´s an excellent track. I am very enthusiastic with the Itaipu Channel”, said Selbach that will have partners in the brazilian delegation João Vitor Machado and Ricardo Taques in the K1; Milene Wolf, Poliana de Paula and Fabíola Almeida in the K1 Female; Filipi Santin, Bruno Machado and Casio Petry in the C1; beyond the pairs Guillermo Salles/Tiago Nicola, Alan Schmidt/Ricardo Pacheco and Casio Petry/Bruno Machado in the C2.

To increase more the degree of difficulties in the Slalom Racing and to incite the disputes of the competition, the direction of the National Operator of Eletric System(ONS), it was committed in keeping the water level of the reservoir of Itaipu, above of the call quota 219. “Such rise will demand redoubled effort of the athletes, raising the level of the competitions”, said Argos Rodrigues, superintendent of the Brazilian Canoeing Confederation(CBCa).

For the president of the CBCa, João Tomasini Schwertner, the Slalom World Championship in the city will enter in the history of the brazilian sport in reply to the yearnings of Brazilian Olympic Committee and the Brazilian Ministry of the Sport to host the Olympic Games in Brazil, that had recently officialized the candidacy of Brazil to receive the Olympic Games in 2016. “An event as this without a doubt will enter in such a way for history of the city as well for the brazilian canoeing, therefore we will show to everyone that brazilian canoeing is not behind of another country in if treating to structure to host an great event as it”, he detached.

Another important information is that sixty percent of spots - 46 of the 70 available ones - of the athletes who will participate of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are will be defined this year in Itaipu Channel. The excessively spots ones to Beijing will be disputed in continental competitions to be carried through in the first semester of the year that comes. The American Continental match will happen in April, in Charlotte, in the United States, where they will be in dispute more four spots to Beijing.

More information in: http://www.foz2007.org.br/, http://www.cbca.org.br/ e http://www.canoeicf.com/

Supermarket security- Cash pick up

2007-09-15T08:14:00.000+12:00

Armed guards at the supermarket, armed security guards in the armed trucks, driving in heavily armoured vehicles

Confused time zones

2007-09-15T08:11:00.000+12:00

Our trusty red car went in for repairs today and returned looking spick and span and hopefully fixed.

To the Kiwis who are suffering a little confusion Brazil is 15 hours behind NZL time so we are still Friday even though the blog says Saturday.

Itaipu Hydro Dam Tour-the Singing Rock

2007-09-15T07:37:00.001+12:00

We just increased the Kiwi visitors by 12
Into the cinema for an information screening

On the bus
More on the bus

and more

Once a worker completes 15 years of service they can plant a tree. It is called the workers' forest

Viewing platforms

The dam is amazing and is recognized as the 7th wonder of the modern world. It is providing 90% Paraguay and 25% of Brazil's power. It has put 6 billion dollars into the two economies and works to create better opportunity for locals through work, schooling, health and sanitation
Short sweet coffee- a quick fix

One car headed to the course - the other was a squeeze home

Chilling before early training

2007-09-15T07:17:00.000+12:00

Itaipu Dam

2007-09-14T14:02:00.001+12:00

This dam is visited by approximately 1,200 tourists per day and each Thursday it is lit up in the evening. Since it was opened in 1977 13.5 m people from 168 countries have toured the hydro site. It has the largest hydro electrical production in the world. The Itaipu community want it recognised as the seventh modern wonder of the world. When the dam was being constructed a parallel race way was built to ensure all the fish could still reach their spawning grounds.The competition organisers have all teams booked in to tour the dam. NZL tours tomorrow Friday.

The region we are in is very ecologically sensitive and the locals appear to be very conscious of recycling and preservation of the area.

The hotel has a food tax if you take more than you can eat from the smorgasbord. Interesting concept

Itaipu Course pet alligator

2007-09-14T13:31:00.000+12:00

Just sunning! Full tummy no kayakers only fish but tomorrow????

Parque das Aves Foz Tropicana-Bird Park

2007-09-14T13:10:00.000+12:00

Andrew managed to stroke a Toucan
Black and white team mascots

Bright red water bird

Flamingos are groupie birds so the mirrors at the back give them security and a sense of being part of a larger flock

Taking the parrots to their cage for the night

Who are you looking at?

Parrot pair

This afternoon a number of the team headed out to do the touristy thing at the local Parqu das Aves. This place was amazing and we all wished we had more time to explore the 5 hectacres and view the 800 birds. With an entry of approx NZD14 the price was cheap for the experience. Many birds were in their natural habitat without enclosures and cages. Everyone was camera happy so here a few snaps from the day. Brazil with its reputation for bright vibrant colours just has taken them from mother nature.

Excellent whitewater session

2007-09-14T05:46:00.000+12:00

The car today was showing 41.3C but not too sure if it was real or just a shoddy car as dashboard lights of unfathomable interpretation were flicking in the trusty red car!!!

All the athletes had great sessions on the whitewater with many nailing the moves time and time again. Kidda had an early start setting the gates and sorted some challenging moves for the team. Mike, Aaron, James and Kidda are heading back to the course this afternoon for a flatwater session @ 3.30pm and the rest are heading off to the local bird park.

Some of the Canadian team are still after five days waiting for their boats to turn up lost somewhere between Sao Paulo and Foz. Frustration is high. A couple of the Dutch are a week without their boats as well luckily they had ordered new ones which had already arrived before them as their boats flying with them have also disappeared into Brazil???

The latest member who's hanging out with the Kiwis?

2007-09-13T13:31:00.001+12:00

Messages of support can be sent to the Taroba Hotel reservas@hoteltaroba.com.br attention Alison Perrett New Zealand team manager.

Check out the article on Bryden and Andrew BOP Times 12 september 2007

http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3748257&thesection=localsport&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Useless information

2007-09-13T07:25:00.000+12:00

Statistics
Distance from Auckland to Foz d’Iguacu is approx 12,034km
· About 35 thousand people in Brazil are killed by guns each year, more than any other country in the world.
· Corruption is a way of life in Brazil and about 50 million citizens aren't sure where they'll get their next meal.
· Some tributaries of South America's interior Amazon basin are still unexplored.
· The Federal Republic of Brazil is enormous, covering 8,514,215 square kilometres of the South America land mass with a population of 175 million.
· Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world and huge areas remain unpopulated.
· About 30% of the world's surviving forest can be found in the Amazon basin of South America, which holds about one fifth of the world's fresh water.
· Brazil's balmy north-east has almost 3,000 kilometres of virtually uninterrupted white beaches from Sao Luis to Salvador.
· The country has three time zones plus daylight saving in different locations.
· Just over half the people are of European descent and most of the remainder are of mixed blood with strong African connections dating back to the slave trade. About 200,000 are native Indians, concentrated inland.
· In 2004 more than half the Brazilian population was aged under 21.

It's all true

2007-09-13T06:59:00.001+12:00

Today was slightly cooler and the temps are expected to stay this way for the next few days according to Andre Behs the organiser. Tania, Mike, Johann and James did full runs. Three video cameras were in action with Sue following the third's athletes Aaron ,Mark and the C2 crew and Alison and Kay the full runners. Mark also did a full run.It was great to see everyone positive, Aaron and Mark on their game again, everyone pushing it on the course and nailing some great moves.

Andre told me today our crocodile in the bottom pool is actually an alligator and its growing well as there are plenty of fish in the pool and is now about 1.50m long. It was only 1m in March at the last race . It hangs out near a grassy out crop just past the buoys on the warm-up/down pool. We will try and get a photo. The pool is full of fat fish about 30-40 cm long so I guess this keeps him happy and away from the kayakers. It must be Brazil.

Video review Kidda's room after lunch

Meal time with all the team

2007-09-12T12:23:00.000+12:00

C2 crew arrive

2007-09-12T12:10:00.000+12:00

Looking remarkably good after all their travels the C2 Crew of Andrew Robinson and Bryden Nicholas arrived late this afternoon to the hotel. They had had a dream exit through immigration Foz d'Iguazzu ( Argentina) and no queueing at either the Argentina or Brazilian borders with their car so made it with time to the course to disinfect their boat and have nation training this afternoon with the developing nations. A well deserved break after the hiccups on the flight over. Everyone has had a good meal and headed off for good nights sleep after a heavy training session today and in preparation for the last full run practice tomorrow.

Today it was great to see Aaron complete a full training session on the white water after having a couple of quieter training days, Mark is more off the whitewater than on at present but after a more promising flat water session he is hoping to be back on the whitewater. He is swimming daily to maintain fitness in the crocodile pool!!!.

Brazil - nothing is ever just the same

2007-09-12T07:14:00.000+12:00

There is a short walk 400 m from the carpark to the course drop off and today the local tourism 'Safari" vehicle turned up to transport us from the carpark to the course entrance. The last couple of days the bus always had the driver tinkering under the bonnet so guess with the aircon on full as temperatures climbed it has blown something!!! as today this was our mode of transport. Tourists pay a fortune for this open air travel .

Drinking water is now provided at the course and the nation training has heated up. Bryden and Andrew have arrived today and are hoping to have their boat disinfected so they can have a session this afternoon on the water.The Kiwis trained this morning so Kidda is hoping another nation may allow them to join in their slot.

Security remains tight and will increase with the competition getting closer.

Anyone wanting to watch the competition will have to go through the first security point and obtain passes at the control area. I understand they will then be bused from that point to the course. I know a couple of Kiwis travelling around are hoping to arrive to watch the competition and support the Kiwis

The K1 Men Shopping Spree

2007-09-11T13:00:00.000+12:00

Classy hats for the K1 men's team incognito-OPPS where is Johann ??

Early training

2007-09-11T03:04:00.001+12:00

Delayed in Buenos Aires-Airport Strike-No Go

2007-09-11T02:49:00.000+12:00

The last Kiwis flying in for the World Championships have reached Buenos Aires ( Argentina) and stayed overnight there before their planned flight out today. Unfortunately the airport staff are now out on strike so Bryden and Andrew NZL C2 crew and Sue and Ella ( Cook Islands) are on hold at the Newberry Airport until the strike ends. Hopefully they will arrive ASAP. I guess the only positive is they should be well over their jetlag by the time they arrive in Foz .I also think a couple of the Ausssies- Richard Fox and Rob Bell are also in the same position.

Team Images

2007-09-10T11:30:00.001+12:00

Images of Foz do Iguacu

2007-09-10T09:21:00.000+12:00

Competition Stats

2007-09-10T01:22:00.000+12:00

Countries participating=66

Individuals

K1M=102

K1W=65

C1M=66

C2M=39

Teams

K1M=24

K1W=13

C1M=16

C2M=7

Provisional Programme
19/9/2007
WED

9.30
Qualification C1M-K1M
20/9/2007
THU
09:30
Qualification C2M-K1W
21/9/2007
FRI
09:30
Team Races
17:00
Team Races Flower Ceremonies
22/9/2007
SAT
09:00
C1M-K1M Semifinals
C1M-K1M Finals
C1M-K1M Flower Ceremonies
23/9/2007
SUN
09:00
C2M-K1W Semifinals
C2M-K1W Finals
C2M-K1W Flower Ceremonies
18:00
Individual and Teams Awards
Closing Ceremony
Closing Entertainment show

Check out the full programme and information below

http://www.cbca.org.br/foz2007/english/

Team building

2007-09-09T13:04:00.001+12:00

Food time always a hit

Come on LIFT Train ride Cosy AccommodationThrill seekersTogetherness

At the course

2007-09-09T10:10:00.000+12:00

This morning the Kiwis joined forces with the AUT training with them in their morning slot. The course is deceivingly difficult with a lot happening at one time. Kidda is on the video review at present. Mark and Aaron had a day off the water with niggly injuries but went to the course and hopefully after a rest day they will be back on the water tomorrow. Not all the nations have arrived yet but each day brings a new wave of athletes to the course.

Kidda arrives in Foz-just checking or kidding

2007-09-07T18:10:00.000+12:00

Hey Kidda which flight did you book on????? Rio to Foz or Sao to Foz After a marathon journey with the obligatory South American 15 hour delay, Kidda has arrived in Foz. The team have a rest day Friday as the course is closed and head into the interior for a safari experience. Welcome to South America Kidda and the warm weather

Foz do Iguassu Course

2007-09-04T18:19:00.000+12:00

The course has its challenges ( including Mark says a baby croc at the bottom of the course- no sweat but where is its MUM!!!)

Home for the Kiwis

2007-09-03T16:11:00.001+12:00

the main street in Foz the Kiwis local spot for the next three weeks

The Senior team arrive and settle into Iguassu

2007-09-03T15:55:00.000+12:00

After a mission flight the team are now safely on Brazilian time which is 15 hours behind NZ. The training has been a little hit and miss to date as the team sort out the system in Foz. Brazil is strictly Roman Catholic and nothing operates on the Sunday or on religious feast days. Some members of the team have found a lake for flat water training and joined with other internationals for a couple of hard sessions. Monday should bring about two whitewater training sessions each day until the next regional and religious holidays at the end of this week .
Security is tight with the dam providing 20% Brazil and 90% Paraguay's power so it is not unusual to see equivalent of US marines ( Brazilian style) hanging out of helicopters with machine guns on random patrols. All access is heavily screened and each day there is security control no chance of a casual sight see or wander anywhere. With extreme poverty and corruption security and access out of specified areas is limited for safety reasons. Bandits are common in the area. Tonight ( Sunday) the team are experiencing a local restaurant close to their hotel for a change from hotel food. Wireless is working well!

Everyone is well and becoming more accustomed to the Foz way of life.

Seniors arrive in Brazil

2007-09-01T14:51:00.000+12:00

The single airstrip is carved out from dense tropical bush in the middle of a national park. There is no town or civilisation in sight. Immigration was very lax a, the biggest queue to get the vevhicles out of Argentina dn into Brazil.The local drug runners have small single craft airstrips also carved out of the forest area which is notorious for the drug tradeThe airport terminal

The first group of Kiwis competing in Foz have arrived after an epic 30 hour journey from Auckland to Foz. Here they are travelling from the Foz ( Argentina) to Foz ( Brazil) and their hotel accommodation which is more like classy dorms each with either a shared or single room.

All the best everyone for your training.

Seniors arrive In Buenos Aires-travelling times

2007-08-31T13:13:00.000+12:00

Buenos Aires airport 1am after the delayed flight

Loadingthe vehicles for transport to the hotel for two hours kip-back at the airport four hours laterBack at the Newberry Airport and absolute joy- no cancelled flight and boats being loaded to Foz Yeah boats on and flight on
Travel local carrier

Go the Kiwis and fly the flag high

2007-08-27T17:24:00.000+12:00

The New Zealand Flag is the symbol of the realm government and people of New Zealand. Its royal blue background is reminiscent of the blue sea and clear sky surrounding us. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasis this country's location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Flag gives recognition to our historical foundations and the fact that New Zealand was once a British colony and dominion. The New Zealand Flag may be flown on any day of the year.

Brazil Itaipu Canal and its significance to Brazil

2007-08-27T17:14:00.000+12:00

Itaipu Canal
The Itaipu Canal is one section of the fish migration complex named Piracema Park, designed for the transposition of Itaipu Dam. In Brazilian Indian “Tupi-Guarani” language Itaipu means “the singing stone” and Piracema is the upper river fish migration.
The fish migration was planned to be used for recreation sports and competitions as well. The Slalom and Rafting competitions of World Nature Games in 1997 were designated to the Piracema Park. Unfortunatelly the fish migration complex was concluded only in December 2002, with a parallel channel to the Itaipu Canal while its river bed was concreted, but kept dry. In January 2006 the course obstacles were built in place, with an official water release in February. Finally in May, 2006 the first slalom competition took place in the Itaipu Canal. It was the selection of the Brazilian Slalom Team for the 2006 Slalom Worlds. In September a correction of the slope of the final section of the course was made in order to lower it and make the course smoother at the end.
The canal is approximately 400 meters long, 12 meters wide, total drop of 8,20 meters, from which a minimum 250 meters section will be defined as the competition course.
The Itaipu Canal and the surrounding Piracema Park, its beauty and the natural environment, with its woods and animals, is a unique canoeing complex course in the world. The Inlet Canal, the Upper and the Lower Lake may be used for warm-up and cool-down areas. The Upper Lake is also suitable for different canoeing activities as flatwater, canoe-polo and recreation, while Itaipu and Inlet Canals can also be used for rafting, wildwater and free style.

2007 World Championships Brazil

2007-08-27T17:04:00.000+12:00

The first contingent of the Kiwi team head for Brazil on Thursday 30th August with team manager Alison Perrett. James Dawson, Mark Yungnickel, Mike Dawson, Johann Roozenburg,Aaron Osborne and Tania Perrett start training a couple of days after arriving in Brazil. Kidda ( Andy Raspin) from the UK has been employed by the team to offer coaching support while in Brazil.

The C2 crew of Bryden Nicholas and Andrew Robinson arrive Sept 10th.

Kay Dawson NZ's IJSL ICF judge for the event will offer support to Alison prior to the 17th September when the ITO's are officially required for the World Champs.

Training Kiwi Style

2007-08-26T18:20:00.000+12:00

ICF Judges

2007-08-24T21:10:00.001+12:00

Above international (ITO) and national Chinese (NTO) judges and scribes officiating at the Good Luck Beijing Test event. Twenty-three ITO's out of a pool of 40+were selected for the event. Almost all the ITO's above are also officiating at the World championships in Brazil September

The ICF's goal is to have a core group of IJSL judges for both flatwater and slalom events. A number of judges are qualified in both classes and this is the way of the future. Events being mentioned are World Championships ( Junior, Senior and U23),Olympics,World Cups.

Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event- Check your gear!

2007-08-19T01:30:00.000+12:00

Kayak gear and designated areas
With the Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event event well underway it is probably a timely reminder to NZL paddlers competing at the Worlds to ensure all their gear is of the required standard. Don't assume it will pass check it before departure from NZL and replace if necessary. All the measuring gear will be electronic with print outs of weights and records kept by the boat controllers for matching weights before and after the racing for BV's and boats. Check your helmets as well.

An Italian K1 paddler was DSQ after his BV failed to reach the required standard after racing. It had only just passed at the initial scrutineering. Two K1W have also been given warning for warming down out of sight of the boat control after racing ie they passed a few metres out of the designated area. With Olympic qualification as the goal all officials are keeping strictly to the requirements in regards to gear, designated areas and security. There is no leniency.

All boats and gear will be tested before competition and immediately after racing at the Brazilian Olympic qualification in September.

Judging
Enquiries are allowed and then further discussion requires following formal protest rules within the allocated time frame. Video review is now permitted by the chief judge and jury for verifying calls. FYI The racing in Beijing has had a few water splash 2 second penalties removed and one 50 penalty removed. If the video proves ineffective due to an angle then the gate judges call hold true.

Check the penalty rulings ICF website no 29 if you have any doubt as to any of the rulings.

Video
Check the correct feed is available for downloading the professional video from the runs and have available DVDs to back it up off the computers after the racing finishes for the day. All racing is now videoed at TV quality.

2007 Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event

2007-08-19T01:25:00.000+12:00

C2M and K1W Qualifications

The Hochshorners took almost two seconds off their time to finish in 204.96, four seconds clear of the Luquet brothers from France.
Jana Dukatova emulated the Hochshorner brothers with an emphatic five second win in the women's heats. The Slovakian world champion mastered the Olympic course with two fast times and just one two second penalty on the second run to finish with a total of 203.56. Li Jingjing of China was second in 208.56 and Marcela Sadilova a distant third in 215.35 highlighting the challenges of the water for many of the competitors.
Tomorrow sees the final day of competition at the Good Luck Beijing Olympic test event and the semi finals and finals of the C2 men and K1 women's classes.
Event website and results
http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/en/slalom/

Olympic Champ Tony Estanguet Breaks paddle

2007-08-18T02:54:00.000+12:00

"I came here for the title but the accident really depressed me," said Olympic C-1 champion Tony Estanguet of France who broke his paddle in today’s semifinal race at the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open. Commenting on the unexpected blow, Tony said: "Actually the No.13 and 14 gates are rather difficult while I chose a route which required me to use my paddle to control my body. It's the first time I ran up against such a situation and my movements led to the accident.""It usually takes me one month to get familiar with a new course, but this time I only had a short time to adapt myself to the course," recalled Tony, a hot favorite for the men's C-1 title after yesterday's heats. "I was pretty excited before the tournament and hoped to do a good job here, but now I have to readjust myself, as one has to get himself well prepared before he can achieve anything." "Anyway, I hope it's the last time I encounter such kind of situation," the double Olympic champion said.

C1 Nico Bettge wins gold

2007-08-18T02:51:00.000+12:00

In the men's C-1 final held this afternoon, Nico Bettge of Germany came out on top to win the first gold of the current "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open. After the final race, the German paddler seemed very excited about his victory. "I'm very, very happy," he said, his voice shocked with excessive emotion. "The gold medal means a lot to me."
With the best two-run totals in both the semifinals and finals Nico Bettge displayed his strength and won the title with indisputable superiority. Commenting on the course, he described it as the "best in the world." He said, "Everything here is great, and I'm very happy to win the gold medal here."
The newly-built racing course at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park has posed great challenges to the participating paddlers. In the men's K-1 heats on the opening day, Nico Bettge's teammate, Alexander Grimm, who currently ranks first in the world rankings, was unexpectedly eliminated from the semifinals. In today's semifinals, Tony Estanguet, double Olympic champion of France, had to pull out of the race due to a broken paddle. "I know the course is too difficult, especially at the turnings," said Nico Bettge. "I heard Tony's paddle was broken, and it was really bad news."
Asked what he expected from the Beijing Olympic Games, the Germany paddler said, "I have to qualify for the Games first, which should not be easy as we have too many top paddlers in our country. However, I believe I will get a chance to compete in Beijing next year."

Finals Beijing K1M and C1M

2007-08-18T02:05:00.000+12:00

Australian Canoeing
Richard Fox, Friday, 17 August 2007
Anthony Brown qualified for the final and finished ninth at the Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event.
Anthony Brown’s result today at the Shunyi Olympic rowing and canoeing centre was the first top ten performance by an Australian in the K1 class at a major competition in two years and a promising sign a month out from the world championships and the Olympic Qualification event.
Brown was fourth of the fifteen qualifiers to start in the semi final posting a clean run score of 99.05 seconds. When the last man down the course, Erik Pfanmoller of Germany, missed gate five on the first attempt the door to the final opened for the Australian and Brown held on to the precious tenth position and a finals berth.
The French dominated the semi final with world champion, Julien Billaut, and newcomer, Pierre Bourliaud in the top two positions with scores of 93.01 and 93.33 seconds respectively.
In the final, Anthony Brown improved his run through the difficult middle section and cleaned the course but struggled towards the end finishing with a total time of 199.29 seconds.
Scott Parsons of the USA moved from eighth to third with a trademark second run charge finishing with 189.72 seconds. Fabien Dorfler of Germany also climbed through the ranks from fifth to second with a total of 188.92.
Both men were finally pipped by Billaut who just held on to his lead to win in 188.02 seconds.
Brown was pleased with his effort but acknowledged he had made mistakes “I was too straight on the second big drop and did not get the kick I needed to push me into the upstream gate. On the second run I got caught in the stopper coming out of the last upstream and that cost me time. Otherwise, I am pretty pleased with the runs and the trip here has been reallyworthwhile”, he added.
In the men’s C1 competition, Nico Bettge of Germany triumphed over Michal Martikan of Slovakia. Bettge posted two clean runs to win in 199.47 seconds, the Slovakian’s four second penalty count costing him the win as he finished with a total of 200.07. Jan Benzien of Germany was third, 2.21 seconds back.
The competition ran smoothly and efficiently with the Chinese race organisers getting the thumbs up from the teams. While most competitors admitted there was room for improvement in their own performances on the challenging water, there was consensus that the Beijing Olympic course was exciting and fun to race on.
Tomorrow, the men’s C2 and women’s K1 classes take to the water with Mark Bellofiore, Lachlan Milne, Kate Lawrence and Louise Natoli representing Australia.

Beijing Test Event Publicity
In the finals of the men's K-1 event of the 2007 Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open held at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park this afternoon, Julien Billaut of France beat a strong field to win the gold with 188.02 seconds. After the race, Julien Billaut said that winning the gold medal from such a tough competition meant a great deal to him. "The race was very hard," he said. "I'm very excited about winning the gold. I'll go and comfort my teammate Tony Estanguet, who was just now upset in the canoeing semifinals."

The racing course at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park are regarded by all paddlers as highly difficult with its challenging rapids, waves, eddies and currents. As Julien Billaut put it, "Of course, the conditions of the course is the same to everyone. We came here for training one week ago, each session lasting two hours every day. I think what we have achieved today is definitely inseparable from the painstaking efforts we have made."

Beijing Test Event K1 Men Results Qualifications

2007-08-17T03:05:00.000+12:00

The Olympic Test event got underway today with the heats of the men's C1 and men's K1. Out of a field of 33 starters in the men's K1, 15 athletes qualified for the semi final. In the men's C1 event, 12 out of 23 starters progressed to the next stage, according to the Olympic program.
The 20 gate course, designed by the ICF technical committe members, Eric Giddens and Jean Michel Prono, challenged the field in the first event on the new Olympic course.

Today’s qualification heats with an impressive line up of competitors all with expections of making Olympic qualifications later this year in Brazil had a few upset with number one world ranked German paddler Alex Grimm and World Champ 2006 Cipressi (ITA) missing the semi cut. Pfannmoller held the lead with a total of 180.96 ahead of world champion, Julien Billaut of France and America's Brett Heyl.

Mike Dawson with two touches in run one knew he had to nail the course run two to be in contention for a semis spot. With this in mind he started fast unfortunately nicked gate one on the drop. His improved time run two was the 7th fastest and with a two second penalty he was just outside the cut finishing 23rd at the Good Luck Beijing Olympic test event. He was in world class company with Michael Kurt SUI, Helmut Oblinger (AUT), Warwick Draper (AUS) all also missing the cut.

In the C1 event, Michal Martikan showed his dominance finishing four seconds ahead of the field with a total of 188.61 seconds.

The Chinese organisers succeeded in producing a high quality event on the first day of competition. The technical organisation was faultless with a high level of service and attention to detail for the teams and athletes.

Check out the full results on http://imagesx.sports.cn/File/2007/08/16/1930077403.pdf

Mike now flies home to NZL for training and preparation before heading to Brazil for the World Champs and Olympic Qualification race later this month.

Good Luck Beijing course set

2007-08-16T02:09:00.000+12:00

Today the course for the qualifications,semis and finals was set by Jean-Michel Prono ICF. The course for qualifications is technical and demanding with a number of challenging moves. The water flows fast and any mistake will prove unforgiving for competitors in qualifications and semis. There are a number of different gate settings not seen in NZL with gates split between two wires. For judges this means ensuring the line of visibility is excellent as any optical illusions could prove disastrous for competitors. The judging sheets are also upgraded from NZL sheets and I will bring one home for the slalom committee to view.

The racing is working to Olympic race times and will be in the afternoon tomorrow 16/8/7.
mike is 11th off the ranks at 4.12pm Chinese time approx 8.12pm NZL time.

Check out his results on http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/en/slalom/resultsform/

Shunyi Olympic Rowing -Canoeing Park Beijing

2007-08-16T02:03:00.000+12:00

BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park has been completed and the surrounding areas have been upgraded to welcome the Good Luck Beijing Sports Event here, organizers said here on Wednesday.
The future aqua park passed the final acceptance of construction on July 18 to become the first completed one among the venues that are newly built, said Li Yousheng, the executive president of the Olympic rowing-canoeing event organizing committee in Shunyi.
The park, located to the east of Chaobai river, has a planned area of about 162.59 hectares and is the competition venue for Beijing Olympic rowing, canoe/kayak and marathon swimming as well as Paralympic rowing events.
This year, the park in northeast Beijing will see three sports events, namely World Rowing Junior Championships, Aug. 7-11, Good Luck Beijing 2007 Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open, Aug. 16-19, and Good Luck Beijing 2007 Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open, Aug. 23-26.
Li said there had already been 1,100 athletes and officials from over 50 countries and regions registered for the rowing junior world championships.
"That means the scale of the event is very big, even bigger than the Olympic rowing event, as there are about 600 athletes and officials expected for the Olympic rowing," he said.
"We will be responsible for their accommodation and offer free lodging for 50 athletes from 12 countries and regions as they lack financial support," he said.
The Shunyi district also gave the surrounding area of the venue a fresh look by upgrading roads.
Baima road, linking downtown area and Shunyi Olympic Park, has opened to traffic on June 30. It will take 39 minutes' drive from the Olympic village to the park.
Right and left bank feeder roads of Binhe road have been renovated and expanded. The renovation and expansion of the left and right bank roads along Chaobai River, Xinfan road and Shunan road are underway.

Beijing the only Kiwi competing

2007-08-15T10:30:00.001+12:00

As usual the one Kiwi competing is on his own in Beijing. The Kiwi flag is flying high!! The other teams have been very friendly but this is the Olympic qualification year so the tempo has picked up. The other teams have amazing support managers, assistant managers,doctors, physios,nutritionists and coaches between two to three paddlers. Mike is enjoying the course but realises it is demanding and will be even more so once this evening the course is set for competition. The competition is being run the same as the Olympics with all competition in the afternoon as required by the TV for European viewing. The whole canoe and rowing complex also encompasses rowing and flatwater.

2007 China

2007-08-15T10:04:00.000+12:00

I hope the blog publishes as in China blogspots can not be viewed along with any web pages or wikipedia etc which make negative comments about China so I won't know until I return to NZ

2007 Beijing Test Event

2007-08-15T09:50:00.001+12:00

The course is situated about a 60 minute drive from Beijing cental. In true Chinese fashion the course is complete with all the facilities superb. The course has a large arm up anddown area and a couple of side channels which will be used for training and coaching before the main course is ventured on by future up and coming athletes. The course in some ways has the Athens Olympic feel to it as it circles around. This view is from the finish bridge. It has been well designed for both competition, judging and training with excellent access to both sides of the course and viewing platforms. The system for moving the gates is more rfined and i will get a photo of it.In the distance you can see the spectator stands and flagpoles. The athletes accommodation is about a 10 minutes bus ride from the course. The athletes hotal didn't exist 18 months ago and the roads are all new with very little traffic on them. The course sems very rural as it is surrounded by orchards and dirt roads away fromt he main access areas. The temperatures are hot and humid about 30-37 degrees but no rain and the grass has been planted by hand blade by blade and each day there are people working by hand pulling weeds and checking the growth. the grass is cut by hand with scythes. There is high security and all everyone and their bags go through a scanner and xray just like airport security. Police are everywhere. The venue is qute spectacular.

ICF chief give the thumbs up to the course

2007-08-15T03:00:00.000+12:00

Ulrich Feldhoff, President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), said today at Beijing's Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park that this was the best canoe/kayak slalom course he had ever seen and was best for paddlers, the Olympic Games and China's economic development. The ICF President, from Germany, who are here for the "Good Luck Beijing" Canoe/Kayak Slalom Open, spoke highly of the course, saying that it was the best of the 28 courses he had ever seen. "It boasts the largest water drop and the highest technology, no one but the most excellent paddlers can win here. This is exactly what I've been expecting - a course best for both the Olympic Games and local economic development." As chairman of the arbitration commission of the Beijing Open, Feldhoff values fair play and quality of the racing. He said: "With swift current and large flow, the course uses four water pumps. If just two are used, the flow will be small and the current will be slow; three is most common; but four can create an effect of swift current and big wave. Thus, only the best paddlers can beat the rapids to emerge the winners." However, he explained it would not be dangerous at all and paddlers could safely compete in the course with their skills and experience. The ICF President also praised the environment around the spectators zone at the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park. "There are 2,500 seats here in the spectators zone, and the U-shaped area further inside is for the competition and movement of the paddlers. By the Olympic Games next year, more seats will be installed to allow as many as 10,000 spectators." Such seating capacity will be equal to those of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. In many parts of the world, canoe/kayak courses are for recreational purpose during non-competition periods, As Feldhoff put it, "In Sydney, people enjoy racings of slalom, flatwater, rafting and wildwater, and the courses have simply become a recreational center for those water sports lovers." He hoped that the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park would also become such an aquatic paradise after the Beijing Olympic Games.

2007 August Beijing Olympic Test Event

2007-08-08T13:32:00.000+12:00

Mike the only NZL'er now competing heads to China 10th August for the Olympic Test event. He will have a very limited time on the course as he was unable to change his flight to an earlier time. The planes were booked out. Thanks to Rachael at AirNZ for trying to help him. Most of the competitors have alrady arrived for pre -nation training on the course and a number of countries have already visited the site for training earlier this year. The site is looking fabulous. Check out some footage from Campbell Walsh. Kay Dawson has been invited by the ICF to judge at this Olympic Test event and she flies out on Sunday to Beijing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU_xk8Utz7o

Check out the details for Beijing

http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/

2007 Ceske Budejovice Sunday Racing

2007-08-06T13:34:00.000+12:00

Results from Sunday 5th August

K1W Results
Tania Perrett in K1W had a much improved peformance and with fewer costly time surges and touches was more pleased with her racing the previous day

1 HILGERTOVÁ Štepána 68 1 Dukla B./ 112.58 2 114.58 117.00 2 119.00=
233.58 2

2 LAWRENCE Jacqueline 82 Big River Canoe Club/ 121.30 2 123.30 121.49 6 127.49=250.79
3 GROSSMANNOVÁ Zdenka 65 1 Kralupy/ 124.94 0 124.94124.29 2 126.29 =251.23
6 PERETT Tania 86 NZL 136.20 4 140.20 139.50 4 143.50=283.70

Michael Dawson fell foul of the pushy water and with a costly resurge and two forced touches moved from 3rd position after run one to 10th overall. This took him out of medal contention into 4th position overall during the competition

K1M results
1 BUCHTEL Michal 86 1 Hubertus/ 104.50 2 106.50 103.83 2 105.83=212.33
2 RAAB Ondrej 73 MT Dukla B./ 105.69 0 105.69 108.66 0 108.66=
214.35

3 BERSINGER Thomas 85 EYRIEUX CK/ 109.07 0 109.07106.60 0 106.60 =215.67
10 DAWSON Michael 86 NZL 107.64 2 109.64109.15 2 111.15 =220.79

Check out the full resultshttp://www.wave2006.com/

Mike and Tania are now back in Augsburg for their last European training sessions. Thanks to the Bickell family( Augsburg) and all the other international competitors and their families who have given their hospitality and support the Kiwi athletes. Thanks to the Aussies who also take the Kiwis under their wings when able and offer coaching help. Mike now flies out on the 10th to China to compete in the Olympic test event and Tania flies home to NZ.

2007 Ceske Budjovice Wave Festival 4th August 07

2007-08-05T19:20:00.000+12:00

The Annual Ceske Budjovice Wave Festival in Czech Republic is a great fun event drawing the crowds and combining social participation with a high turnout of serious athletes racing. The event saw NZL athlete Mike Dawson in a competitive field of 93 take out the K1 Men event

1 DAWSON Michael 86 NZL 109.20 2 111.20 102.13 2 104.13
215.33
2 009010 KUBRICAN Pavel 83 1 USK Pha/A 7 109.52 0 109.52 106.42 0 106.42
215.94
3 BERSINGER Thomas 85 EYRIEUX CK/A 9 107.73 0 107.73108.54 0 108.54 216.27

Tania Perrett racing in a field of 39 K1W competitiors with World Champs Stepana Hilgertova takingout the womens title came 24th after two 50 penalties

1 012008 HILGERTOVÁ Štepána 68 1 Dukla B./ 10 119.66 0 119.66 113.95 0 113.95
233.61

2 012002 BLAŽKOVÁ Šárka 89 DS 1 Dukla B./ 9 119.12 2 121.12126.84 4 130.84 251.96

3 014020 GROSSMANNOVÁ Zdenka 65 1 Kralupy/ 8 129.19 2 131.19 256.43

24 PERETT Tania 86 NZL 135.97 54 189.97 140.66 54 194.66384.63

Check out the full results
http://www.wave2006.com/wpages/wave2007-results-slalom-1-0408.pdf

2007 Where are the team now?

2007-07-26T16:07:00.000+12:00

Just a quick catch up with the seniors racing in Europe.

James is back at Uni in Dunedin catching up, training in freezing conditions and rewriting the major dentistry assignment which disappeared along with his stolen computer
Aaron is back at UCOL in Palmy, training and enjoying the Palmy weather
Johann is back at work in Rotorua and training on the Kaituna
Mark is resting in Auckland mending his broken rib and trying to stay fit.
Luuka is training in Roudnice CZ and travels to England on Monday
Mike has had a break with friends in Sweden and now is back training in Slovakia before heading to Poland to do forerunners at the U23 Europeans.Mike heads off to China for the Olympic test event in early August
Tania is training and travelling with Mike and also will do forerunners in Poland
Andrew and Bryden are back in their boat training for Brazil. They will be spending their mid term break from Otago Uni at Penrith training.

Alison Perrett the manager for Brazil and the World Championships is working hard to make the trip work with min cost. Thanks to Alison for all her hard work behind the scenes.

Luuka, Hamish and Abby will not be competing in Brazil at the World Champs

2007 Tacen Feed Service

2007-07-18T11:27:00.000+12:00

Eurovision World Feed Service will offer to all EBU members free of charge 34 minutes of Highlights from the Slalom Racing World Cup held in Tacen (SLO) from 7 to 8 July 2007.
The footage and the signal will be available on Tuesday 17 July 2007 from 14:00 to 14:30.
Feel free to forward this and inform your TV contacts within EBU members in your country.

Please find more information in the attachment and this link:
http://www.eurovision.net/nms/Logs/ITM/HTML_WorldFeed/ITM337454.htm

2007 Olympic Test Event China August

2007-07-17T16:53:00.000+12:00

Check out the details

http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/

2007 European Tour Ends

2007-07-16T08:03:00.000+12:00

A couple of photos of the team members before they head their separate ways.

Above :Aaron Osborne, Mike Dawson, Tania Perrett, Mark Yungnickel, James Dawson, Johann Roozenburg

Absent:Luuka Jones

Dinner with the Juniors after racing had finished.

James is now flying back to NZL to continue his studies. Luuka stays on in Europe for a couple of days before heading back to GB to continue working and training , Mark and Tania are in Franfurt for a few days before heading back to NZL and Aaron is winging his way home now. Johann will head back shortly. Mike is taking a short break with friends in Sweden before heading back to Augsburg and more training.

2007 World Cup Three Final Results

2007-07-15T18:12:00.001+12:00

K1 Men Semi-finals and final results

Mike Dawson the only NZL'er in the semis put down a solid time but with touches took him from a top 20 place to 35th overall.

1 349 GRIMM, Alexander GER 91,67 0 91,67 3 91,00 0 91,00 1 182,67 +0,00
2 351 PFANNMÖLLER, Erik GER 92,41 0 92,41 6 91,50 0 91,50 2 183,91 +1,24
3 346 KURT, Michael SUI 90,75 0 90,75 1 93,53 0 93,53 5 184,28 +1,61
4 352 KAUZER, Peter SLO 90,19 2 92,19 4 92,66 0 92,66 4 184,85 +2,18
5 341 WALSH, Campbell GBR 91,68 2 93,68 7 92,09 0 92,09 3 185,77 +3,10
6 343 KRALJ, Dejan SLO 92,26 0 92,26 5 94,71 0 94,71 7 186,97 +4,30
7 283 PISVEJC, Ivan CZE 89,62 2 91,62 2 91,44 4 95,44 8 187,06 +4,39
8 344 OBLINGER, Helmut AUT 94,29 0 94,29 10 93,56 0 93,56 6 187,85 +5,18
9 339 PARSONS, Scott USA 92,28 2 94,28 9 92,88 4 96,88 9 191,16 +8,49
10 329 CIBAK, Peter SVK 93,72 0 93,72 8 96,10 4 100,10 10 193,82 +11,15
35 312 DAWSON, Michael NZL 96,22 6 102,22

Follow the link to Australian Canoeing for update

http://www.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=13095

Rob Bell (AUS) always a supporter of the Kiwis wins silver at Augsburg. Congrats Rob

http://www.canoe.org.au/?Page=13104

2007 Qualifications World Cup Three Augsburg Germany

2007-07-15T18:09:00.000+12:00

Mike Dawson was the only Kiwi to qualify into the semi- finals for Saturday. With a top ranked field of 87 competitors Mike qualified in 37th place. Johann (60th) put down a first clean but slower run and in his second run managed a faster time but a two second penalty took him out of contention for a berth in the semi-finals. Aaron pulled out of the racing after struggling with a stomach bug during the week. The event was won by Peter Kauzer of Slovenia in 206.86 seconds. Darius Popiela of Poland was second and Campbell Walsh of Great Britain finished third

C2 French newcomers, Troquenet and Voyemant, were the winners with two clean runs in 229.27. Hu and Shu of China were second with the Hochshorners of Slovakia in third.

Nico Bettge won the C1 event in 215.31 seconds ahead of Michal Martikan of Slovakia and fellow German, Jan Benzein. James Dawson (48th) was unable to make up an error and slower time on his first run and missed the top forty cut. With Mark Yungnickel out of the racing due to his broken rib Mike Dawson (54th) took advantage of a change in the ICF rules this year and became the first competitor ever to race in two classes at a World Cup. C1 men with a line up of 59th competitors had the top 40 advancing through to semis.

The Kiwi women struggled to find form on the narrow and technical course Tania Perrett (50th) and Luuka Jones (56th) out of a field of 58. The event was won by Jasmin Shornberg in a total of 225.30. Jennifer Bongart of Germany was third and Irena Pavelkova of the Czech Republic was third. The men's C2 and men's K1 will compete in semi finals tomorrow starting at 10:30 local time. The C1 men and women's K1 compete on Sunday.

Kiwi team another set back

2007-07-12T14:53:00.000+12:00

Everyone send some support messages to the Kiwis paddlers. The team are doing an awesome job and have had good results last weekend - the only team competing without funding and coaching support.

Over the last couple of days

Mark has cracked his rib as a result of the Tacen drop and won't be racing this weekend. Thanks to the overseas teams who have helped with physio and sending him in the right direction for X-rays and emotional support. Mark will head home to NZL ASAP missing the China race and will try to maintain fitness and preparation in readiness for Brazil. All the best for a speedy recovery

Aaron after being unwell in Slovenia has also pulled out of competing in China and after the third world cup
will head back to NZL

Some team members have had stomach problems again- a throw back to the flooding and polluted water on the Prague course - stick to the bottled water and take lots of care everyone

Mike is going to se if he can race C1 as well this weekend.

Keep up the support messages for our seniors

Tacen course in flood-Nation training before the World Cup

2007-07-11T17:49:00.000+12:00

The Tacen slalom course flooded early in the WC week, Campbell Walsh posted this footage. Rob Bell in the orange C1

http://www.campbellwalsh.com/viewVideo.php?ID=63

2007 BOP Times Article Whitewater and Slalom

2007-07-10T17:49:00.000+12:00

Extract BOP Times Jamie Troughton

Meanwhile, Tauranga's Mike Dawson posted another top result at the Tacen leg of the whitewater slalom World Cup circuit, finishing 21st in the Slovenian final at the weekend. It was a step up from his 29th in the Czech Republic a week earlier, although Dawson knows there is plenty of improvement left.
"I raced in the semi and was doing okay until the last upstream where I put some edge down and dropped low, almost going down the next drop and getting a 50sec penalty, but managed to make it to the gate," Dawson said.
'I came in 21st but it should have been better." Tauranga paddler Johann Roozenburg was 31st while Dawson's brother James made his first C2 final, finishing 39th.

Full story
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localsport/

World Cup Three, Augsburg, Germany

2007-07-10T08:18:00.000+12:00

The Kiwis are now settled in Augsburg for the third World Cup this weekend. Follow their progress on

World Cup 3Augsburg, Germany 14th - 15th July
http://www.kanu-schwaben-augsburg.de/

World Cup Two Tacen Wrap -Up

2007-07-09T15:42:00.000+12:00

Adapted from Australian Canoeing- Richard Fox

A challenging course had awaited teams this morning for the semi finals and finals. Under the new rules introduced in 2007 there are no restrictions to the number of course changes from the qualification course and the course designers from France and Japan made the most of the opportunity. For the top ten competitors the addition of semi final scores with the final run scores meant there was room for some suprise upsets on a course renowned for its unpredictability.

A key feature was the left hand upstream gate in the middle of the infamous "Tacen drop", a move which has rarely been used in major competitions and one which would determine the outcome for many in the race. Gate 7 was a an upstream gate set flush to the current and gate 9 a tricky downstream in surging water. Each would claim its victims. The final section of the Tacen course flows out into the River Sava and the double upstream gates 14 and 15 in the shallow wider section tested the fitness and discipline of all of the competitors.

The C2 race favourites, the Hochshorners from Slovakia, picked up a couple of touches on the semi final run and were pressured by the Slovenians, Visnar and Jarc and the British crew, Baillie and Stott. In the final, the Hochshorners cleaned up their act and improved their time to hold off the impressive British pair by 1.71 seconds overall finishing with a total of 204.22 seconds. The Slovenians dropped to 10th with a run of penalties resembling a cricket score, while German crew, Michel and Piersig moved from 10th postion to claim the bronze medal.

Mandy Planert of Germany set the pace leading the women's semi final by over four seconds from world champion Jana Dukotova of Slovakia. The Slovak had scraped through qualifying round yesterday and then showed her class with a fast second run to close the overall gap on Planert finishing 1.32 seconds behind the German's time of 199.56. Last week's winner, Stepanka Hilgertova of the Czech Republic, charged through the course to claim the bronze medal moving up from 9th place in the semi final

For the partisan crowd, the final event of the day, the men's K1, was the most awaited race and it brought its own share of surprises. The Slovenians dominated the semi final with the favourite, Peter Kauzer, in first and his team mates, Dejan Kralj and Jure Meglic tucked in respectably in 5th and 7th positions. The main challengers to the local order at this stage were German, Fabian Doerfler, Irishman Eoin Rheinisch, world champion, Stefano Cipressi of Italy with Campbell Walsh of Great Britain as a long shot.

All the K1 Men had improved performanaces with Mike Dawson 21st, Aaron Osborne 27th and Johann Roozeburg 30th. Mike Dawson in 21st position behind Brown (AUS) and ahead of Draper (AUS) in the top 15 places for Olympic countries. After the race the Brown (AUS) said "we need to work more on sustaining our intensity over the whole course, the top guys are going for it right to the end, managing the risk taking the whole way". This is also true of the Kiwis.

Scott Parsons of the USA was the last to qualify for the semi final and lay down the gauntlet on second runs by repeating his first run score to within a tenth of a second. His total of 183.76 was bettered only by the Slovenian, Meglic, who jumped from 7th to first. Doerfler consolidated his performance with a solid second run to finish third while first Walsh, then Cipressi and finally local hero, Kauzer, fell foul of the judges in their rush for glory picking up contested 50 second penalties for failing to get their whole head in a gate.

At the close of the competition, the emotions were mixed for the crowd and some teams who left frustrated. On balance, the outcome was in keeping with the expectations of drama and excitement at a World Cup in Tacen.

For the New Zealand team, there was evidence of improvement during the weekend which will need to be converted into more consistent semi final and entry into finals. Next week's World Cup in Augsburg, Germany, provides a further opportunity for the team to develop competitive performances ahead of the Olympic qualification and world championships in Brazil.

World Cup Two Tacen, Slovenia Final results

2007-07-09T14:02:00.000+12:00

Great excitement in the Kiwi camp as four competitors headed into the semi -finals. The course was technically demanding, unforgiving and costly in time errors if slightly off line. James was the first Kiwi to race semis and with his boat slightly off line incurred five costly 50 second penalties on this difficult course. The K1 M faired much better with top placed NZL'er Mike experiencing difficulties in the middle and bottom section of the course costing him 4 seconds to rectify his lines. Aaron had a touch but was steady down the course. Johann went clean with a slower time on the tricky water

C1 Men Final

1MARTIKAN Michal SVK 97.94 0 95.26 4 197.20
2STEVANOVIC Dejan SLO 99.57 0 99.01 0 198.58
3BETTGE Nico GER 99.13 0 98.55 2 199.68
39DAWSON James NZL112.99 254

K1Men Final
1MEGLIC Jure SLO 90.87 08 8.84 2 181.71
2PARSONS Scott USA 91.83 0 91.93 0 183.76
3DOEFLERT Fabian GER 88.52 0 95.5 0 184.03
21DAWSON Michael NZL94.84 0
27OSBORNE Aaron NZL97.31 2
30ROOZENBURG JohannNZL101.08 0

Check out the full results http://www.wc-tacen.si/

World Cup Two Tacen, Slovenia Qualifications

2007-07-08T20:07:00.000+12:00

World Cup Two Tacen -Qualifications

Tight racing on a demanding course in Tacen saw four out of seven Kiwis advancing to the semi-finals later tonight.

The K1W suffered costly mistakes and 50 penalties and touches to put them down the field and out of contention. Mark also had some issues with the course and his second world cup ended with the qualifications. All K1 M advance through to the semis with Mike Dawson 12th, Aaron Osborne 30th and Johann Roozenburg 37th position. James Dawson made it through in 40th position and he will be first off the blocks in C1 racing tonight.

The offical website for the Tacen World Cup is: http://www.wc-tacen.si/1/?pID=2

Time out Slovenian style

2007-07-08T20:05:00.000+12:00

Mike and Mark enjoying a break at the Slovenian Coast
The course in flood a couple of days before the World Cup

2007 Ljubljana Night Racing

2007-07-08T19:55:00.000+12:00

An exciting night race was held in the city centre with locals supporting the racing through the town. Cafes, bars and crowds watched on as music blared and the river was lit up. A great fun event. Mike, Mark,James and Luuka experienced the local night slalom while the rest of the team supported.

2007 World Cup Tacen, Slovenia

2007-07-05T11:22:00.000+12:00

Go the Kiwis and remember

“Attitude determines altitude “
(source unknown)

SATURDAY, July 7th
Qualifications 1st run: C-2, K-1m
11.30 - 13.00
Qualifications 2nd Run: C-2, K-1m
14.00 - 15.30
Qualifications 1st run: K-1w, C-1
15.30 - 17.00
Qualifications 2nd run: K-1w, C-1
17.30 - 18.30

SUNDAY, July 8th
10.30 - 12.30
Semi final C-2, K-1w, C-1, K-1m
12.30 - 14.00

14.00 - 15.30
FINAL: C-2, K-1w, C-1, K-1m
16.00
Awards and closing ceremony

Check out the results on

http://www.wc-tacen.si/3/?pID=78

World Cup Prague 2007 Final Results

2007-07-02T20:08:00.000+12:00

The first world cup is now done and dusted and although the Kiwis suffered another blow when the NZ'ers car was broken into while racing the qualifications it didn't deter Mike Dawson and he kept his focus to put down a solid run in the semi finals to finish 29th. Less than 10 seconds separated the top 30 places in K1M

Stanislav Jezek won the 2007 World Cup race in Prague-Troja in C1. He beat the 1996 Olympic champion Michal Martikan by 0,14 s. The third place belongs to Briton David Florence

The double Olympic champion Stepanka Hilgertova won the K1 race at the World Cup in Prague-Troja. The European Champion Violetta Peters-Oblinger took the second place and the third place belongs to Briton Fiona Pennie

Vavrinec Hradilek from Czech Republic surprisingly won the category of K1 men in the 2007 World Cup race in Prague-Troja. German Fabian Dörfler took the second place and third place belongs to another Czech representant Ivan Pisvejc. Michael Dawson NZL was 29th just behind Canadian David Ford 28th and ahead of AUS Warwick Draper 30th. Less than 10 seconds separated the top 30 places in K1M

The double Olympic champions Pavol and Peter Hochschorners won the C2 at the 2007 World Cup in Prague-Troja. Czechs Marek Jiras, Tomas Mader took the second place and Chinese Minghai Hu, Jurong Shu took the third place

Full Resultshttp://www.slalomtroja.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=167

2007 World Cup Prague Qualifications

2007-06-30T18:44:00.000+12:00

2007 World Cup Qualifications Prague

Mark in Action

Strong fields turned up for all classes for the first World Cup in Prague. The seniors raced the qualifications last night with Michael Dawson putting down two consistent and clean runs to be the only NZ’er to advance to the semi finals this Sunday. While the NZ’ers were racing qualifications their vehicle was broken into and James and Mike had their laptops, camera and the team gear was stolen. Hopefully their laptops will turn up as they have all their Uni work, photos, races and training programmes on them. With out managers and coaches to support and keep an eye on things while racing is on it is a difficult road. Mike now needs to keep his focus for the semi-finals on Sunday.

The course was technically demanding and challenging.

C1 Men- with 58 highly competitive competitors Mark picked up a few penalties and James an unfortunate 50. After only getting a replacement boat on Sunday James had four short training days to get familiar with his new kayak.
Mark Yungnickel 49th, James Dawson 54th

K1W- with 61 world class women racing the NZL women had too many touches to advance
Tania Perrett 51st
Luuka Jones 55th

K1M- with a top class field of 76 competitors, Johann had clean runs and Aaron with touches left only Mike advancing to the semi-finals
Mike Dawson 26th
Johann Roozenburg 43rd
Aaron Osborne 51st

Full results
http://www.slalomtroja.cz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=167

2007 C1 Boat Stolen

2007-06-18T20:41:00.000+12:00

James has just had his new C1 boat for a week in Europe and it as been stolen from the secure lock up in Augsburg. The Germans have indicated this has happened a number of times in recent times. With the Europeans Opens on it is proving difficult to find a boat to train and Galasport only return to their factory today. With the World cup races beginning in a week or so this is an issue.

His boat is a C1 Galasport loco and is carbon in colour

Anyone who hears any news please contact James.

2007 Senior Team Update Augsburg

2007-06-14T09:29:00.000+12:00

With only Luuka and Johann to arrive the tempo is picking up. The team are in Augsburg at the moment for some nore serious training and preparation for the World Cups. Kidda will be helping them with some coaching again this month

Mike and Aaron Clowning Around

2007-06-14T09:27:00.000+12:00

2007 Czech University Slalom

2007-06-08T08:59:00.000+12:00

After arriving in Prague the night before and heading to the boathouse Mike, Tania, Aaron and Mark managed to talk themselves into the CZ Uni Games startlist in Prague . Their results are classified as unofficial as it was open only to CZ uni students. The fields were small and a low key race l but some reputable paddlers l still lined up in the starting gates

The CZ results collator is going to send through results as NZ isn't mentioned in their official results.

Unofficially

Mike Dawson 5th
Aaron Osborne 9th
Mark 7th
Tania 8th

2007 Slovenian Open nationals Dawson finishes 5th

2007-06-04T19:26:00.000+12:00

Slovenian Open 2007
SCHENKER POKAL SLOVENIJE 2007
Tacen - Ljubljana

With 98 K1 men international competitors Michael Dawson put down an excellent run to end 5th in semi- finals and with a top 10 position headed into the finals of the Slovenian Open Nationals 2007 . With a star studded line up the pressure was on and he worked hard to maintain his composure and focus after a touch in the finals race keeping his position to finish in 5th place at the Slovenian Open Nationals. The best result of any Kiwi since the days when Donald Johnston competed.

Aaron Osborne K1 men 50th, Mark Yungnickel C1 men 30th out of a field of 52 and Tania Perrett K1 Women 28th out of 33 K1 women

Final Results

ttp://www.kajak-zveza.si/eng/show/m11/datoteke_odpri.asp?IDdat=298

1 84 COSTA Luca ITA 56.56 0 56.56 0.00
2 101 KAUZER Peter SLO 57.51 0 57.51 +0.95
3 99 KRALJ Dejan SLO 58.66 0 58.66 +2.10
4 93 PONTAROLLO Matheo ITA 57.96 2 59.96 +3.40
5 34 DAWSON Michael NZL 58.78 2 60.78 +4.22
6 75 LAZNIK Gregor SLO 58.94 2 60.94 +4.38
7 97 MEGLIC Jure SLO 60.94 2 62.94 +6.38
8 92 KODELJA Uroš SLO 57.29 6 63.29 +6.73
9 85 EWALD Jens GER 56.01 50 106.01 +49.45
10 91 KURT Michael SUI 56.37 52 108.37 +51.81

Mark Yungnickel C1 hard yards during training

2007-05-24T13:55:00.000+12:00

The senior team memebrs inEurope are now training in Prague.Living at the boatshed which is right at the course is handy. They have been cooking, drinking plenty of fluids as now the temps are in the 40 degrees a big change from wo weeks ago at 5-10 degrees and catching up on Uni work as well.

Check out their blogs to catch up with their stories

NZ seniors now head to Prague

2007-05-22T11:05:00.000+12:00

To our senior team self belief and as the Slovaks say Pod, Pod, Pod, means go, go, go

A full week of training and finetuning from the last two weeks of racing will help the seniors prepare for their next race in Tacen in two weeks. After going clean at most races over the NZL season the costly touches are something to work on physically and mentally and sort out.

Concentrate on the positives and the strengths of your racing over the last two races.

Remember that 'Creation" is the moment of performance when athletes put into practice everything they have worked on during their preparation:they have to achieve an optimum level of activation, be capable of visualising the task in hand, manage stress and negative thoughts and devoting their whole attention to their performance. ( Extract from IOC website)

Tania and Johann fly into Europe at the end of this month and James flies in after Uni exams in mid June. Luuka will be now on her way to England and meeting up with the team at two of the world cups races Augsburg and Prague.

Senior team members sitting Uni exams and writing assignments while overseas keep up the good work.

2007 Slovak Open and World Series Final Results

2007-05-21T08:17:00.000+12:00

SLOVAK OPEN 2007
Bratislava - Čunovo19.05.2007 - 20.05.2007

Oficiálne výsledky preteku

With a world class line up in the semi-finals Mike struggled with his lines being just slightly off during the first 13 gates in the semi- finals and with three touches dropped to 27th place overall. The NZL team now head to Prague Czech for training before their next race in Tacen, Slovenia. Keep up the messages of support- as the only team competing without a coach or manager they enjoy all the support. Contact them and wish them well via this blogspot
Final Results K1M

1 ŠAJBIDOR Ján SLO 101.58
2 WALSH Campbell GRB 104.06
3 POLACZYK Gregorz POL 104.21
4 HEYL Brett USA 104.27
5 KRALJ Dejan SLO 104.45
27 DAWSON Michael NZL114.82

Full Results

http://www.lomtec.com/mates/index.cfm?Area=ResultList

2007 Slovak Open and WS Qualification

2007-05-20T07:56:00.000+12:00

SLOVAK OPEN 2007 Bratislava - Čunovo19.05.2007 - 20.05.2007
Oficiálne výsledky preteku
A star studded line up for the World Series Race Two in Slovakia and the Slovak Open coupled with a demanding course provided tight finishes in all qualification races. With 84 competitiors lined up in K1m Mike Dawson advanced in 21st place to the semi-finals. A line up of 54 C1M saw Mark with a 50 at 48th and Aaron with a slower time run one finishing 44th missing out on the semi-final cut.

Mike is racing the semis Sunday evening NZL time

Qualification K1 muži 19.05.2007

1 CIBÁK Peter 194.67
2 BENEŠ Jindřich 194.90

3 POTOČNÝ Marcel 196.47
21 DAWSON Michael 208.71
44 OSBORNE Aaron 221.43

Qualification C1 muži 19.05.2007
1 MARTIKÁN Michal 200.65
2 FLORENCE David 203.67
3 MINČÍK Juraj 205.78
48 YUNGNICKEL Mark 306.33

Full Results on http://www.lomtec.com/mates/index.cfm?Area=ResultList

2007 World Series Race Two and Slovak Open

2007-05-15T08:43:00.000+12:00

Aaron, Mark and Mike are racing this weekend in Bratislava. The European summer weather has changed from below 10 degrees when they arrived early May to now a pleasant 30 degrees. The athletes are keeping well hydrated and out of the sun ( studying as they all have exams looming)when not training.
Check out the senior team results this weekend at the World Series Race Two Bratislava, Slovakia
www.canoeworldseries.com/slovakopen

2007 Slovakia Medzinárodného Tatranského slalomu

2007-05-14T07:57:00.000+12:00

2007 Slovakia Medzinárodného Tatranského slalomu Finals

Liptovský Mikuláš11.05.2007 - 13.05.2007
Neoficiálne výsledky preteku

Finále MTS K1 muži 13.05.2007

FINAL RESULTS

Mike Dawson the only NZL athlete in the semi finals put down a solid run but his one touch took him out of a place in the finals finishing a credible 16th position in his first European race of the season. All the Kiwis have some work to do on making clean runs. Thanks to mark and Aaron for videoing and supporting Mike in the semis

Check out all resultshttp://www.lomtec.com/mates/index.cfm?ActiveMenu=ResultList

Final Results
1 AGEENKO Mikhail206.44
2 HASTINGS John207.07
3 OBLINGER Helmut215.76
16 DAWSON Michael 107.70

Check out some live race footage on http://www.mikekayak.blogspot.com/

The senior team members ( Mark, Mike and Aaron) in Europe now head to Brataslava for the Slovak Opens and third world series race this weekend .

2007 Slovakia Medzinárodného Tatranského slalomu 12.-5.07

2007-05-13T08:43:00.000+12:00

2007 Slovakia Medzinárodného Tatranského slalomu 12.-5.07
Qualification Results
With 103 competitiors lining up in K1M and 69 compeitors in C1 M from 21 countries the race plans were ready. With only the top 40 competitiors advancing it was going to be tight. Mike Dawson put down consistent runs again still with too many touches to advance through to the semi-finals tomorrow in 23rd spot. Aaron Osborne missed out on the cut finishing 42nd as did Mark Yungnickel 53rd who unfortunately got a 50 second penalty which saw his chances to qualify end. Stefano Cipressi (2006 World Champ) also received a 50 along with many other world class paddlers. The course was tight and technically difficult with no room for errors.

Oficiálne výsledky preteku
http://www.lomtec.com/mates/index.cfm?ActiveMenu=ResultList

Kvalifikácia MTS K1 muži 12.05.2007
1 RAAB Ondřej 194.40
2 CIBÁK Peter195.02
3 OBLINGER Helmut196.78
23 DAWSON Michael211.19
42 OSBORNE Aaron225.03

Kvalifikácia MTS C1 muži 12.05.2007
1 MARTIKÁN Michal203.04
2 MINČÍK Juraj205.16
3 FLORENCE David214.37
53 YUNGNICKEL Mark312.32