Broadcast note: ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 will be broadcast on Sportsnet One on Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. EST. See broadcast schedule for details. Sportsnet is the official Broadcast partner of CanoeKayak Canada.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Ben Hayward of Edmonton has recorded a personal best 7th place result at ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Hayward placed 7th today in Men’s K1 in after laying down a fast and clean run in the semifinal. This is Hayward’s second top-10 result in as many weeks and demonstrates that the Canadian men’s Kayak program is gaining momentum. Hayward was happy to race in the final but is still aiming higher towards the podium later this season. Teammates Michael Tayler of Ottawa and Cameron Smedley of Dunrobin have also demonstrated that the boat speed is on pace with the world’s fastest competitors. Tayler laid down a very fast first run in the qualification phase of the event but was assessed a 50 second penalty for ducking under an upstream gate on the exit.
National Team Head coach, Michal Staniszewski was satisfied with the overall achievements during the three week tour in Europe.
“I am happy with how the team performed considering World Cup 1, 2, and 3 were the first major international events for our athletes this year. The athletes were paddling fast and they proved on multiple runs that they are ready to compete for medals. The first phase of racing is over but I am eager to go back for the next set of World Cups in August. I am very encouraged by Ben Hayward’s outstanding performances and achieving a personal best here in Prague as well as making two top-10 results in World Cups 2 and 3.” Michal Staniszewski
A break in international competition will take place after this World Cup. World Cups 4 and 5 will take place in August and World Championships will be held in Maryland, USA in September.
Summary of Results
| Athlete | Event | Result |
| Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB) | Men’s K1 | 7th in Final (104.28)Advanced to Final |
| Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON) | Men’s C1 | 41st in heat (92.84) |
| Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON) | Men’s K1 | 54th in heats (85.73) |
| David Ford (Edmonton, AB) | Men’s K1 | 60th in heats (87.22) |
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization’s vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada’s heritage.
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For more information:
James Cartwright
Slalom High Performance Manager, CanoeKayak Canada
613.715.0727 | 613.260.1818 x 2205
jcartwright@canoekayak.ca