June 8, 2020 – OTTAWA, ON – Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announce the cancellation of the 2020 CKC Freestyle Team trials, which was scheduled to take place on August 23, 2020 at the Whitewater Preserve in Minden Hills, Ontario.
Similar to other recent event cancellations, the prioritizing of the health and well-being of our paddling community, and the necessary restrictions in place to address this global pandemic make it impractical and unsafe to stage the trials in 2020.
“We are disappointed to have to make this decision, however our top priority is to ensure that all athletes who want to compete can do so in a safe environment,” said event Chair, Lee Vincent. “We are actively working on updated plans for spring 2021 and will be reaching out to athletes over the coming months to welcome their feedback.”
CKC recognizes the significant disruptions and disappointment related to the ongoing event cancellations and public restrictions yet continues to support these measures and is proud to see our paddling community do its part as leaders in following all directives to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We know our freestyle paddlers will be finding ways to stay active and to refine their skills on their local rivers across Canada this summer,” said James Cartwright, CKC’s Senior High Performance Manager. “We are fortunate because we have some of the best freestyle features in the world so our athletes will be able to continue their preparation for the 2021 World Championships right here in Canada.”
CKC continues to urge the paddling community to respect the Government of Canada’s direction and regulations of all public health authorities and governments at every level.
CKC is also actively planning and working through all of the contingencies for modified in-person or virtual events which may be possible later this year.
CKC encourages you to reference our COVID-19 resource page for updates.
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About Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 24 Olympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships. Follow Canoe Kayak Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.