Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian canoe slalom team has kicked off the International Canoe Federation World Cup Series in Lee Valley, Great Britain, the site of the 2012 Olympic Canoe Slalom competition. The series will consist of five world cups all held in Europe, three of which will take place in June and the final two will take place in August.
The team kicked off day 1 of the event with promising performances in the men’s kayak and canoe events. Michael Tayler of Ottawa, Ontario stormed down the course producing a penalty free run and placing 10th overall in the men’s kayak event. Cameron Smedley of Dunrobin, Ottawa placed 27th in the men’s canoe event. Michael Tayler and Cameron Smedley will both compete in the semifinal and attempt to crack the top 10 to advance to the final to be held tomorrow, June 7th.
Quotes:
“Being back in London for the first time after the Olympics has been great. I felt like I had something to prove on this course after the Games and I’m happy to have put down a personal best in the qualifiers. I’m excited to race the semifinal tomorrow and think that the technical course will really play to my strengths.” Michael Tayler, Ottawa
“I was nervous going into the race because I recently switched boat designs and it’s the first major international race of the season. I was happy that I improved on my first run which allowed me to sneak through to the semifinals. I am aiming to break into the finals as I become more comfortable with my new boat” Cameron Smedley, Dunrobin
Next up, The Canadian Team will move to Ljubljana, Slovenia to prepare for the second World Cup held June 13-15.
Summary of Results (World Cup 1 – Lee Valley, Great Britain)
| Athlete | Event | Result |
| Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON) | Men’s K1 | Advanced to semifinal;10th in heats (97.01) |
| Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON) | Men’s C1 | Advanced to semifinal;27th in heats (106.27) |
| David Ford (Edmonton, AB) | Men’s K1 | 44th in heats (103.02) |
| Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB) | Men’s K1 | 52nd in heats (107.04) |
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.
Broadcast note: Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 will be televised on Sportsnet One on Saturday and Sunday (12:00 p.m. EST).
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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