GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA – It’s been a long Canadian winter and 107 sprint CanoeKayak athletes are finally warming up for their first showdown of the season. The initial set of Canadian Sprint CanoeKayak Team Trials will take place on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia from April 25 to 27.
The athletes have largely escaped the enduring winter weather by training in Florida and other warm-weather locations for the past several weeks. With training volumes of up to 200 kilometres of paddling per week along with rigorous strength and precise technical training, the athletes are now coming into prime race shape.
Canada’s fastest paddlers will compete at the trials which will determine selections to the World Cup tour team and results will also impact Sport Canada carding selection. Several races will also be the first round of assessments for the World Championships team.
WHO: Senior Sprint CanoeKayak athletes
WHAT: Canadian Sprint CanoeKayak Team Trials
WHEN: Friday, April 25 (8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. EST)
Saturday, April 26 (8:30 a.m. – 4:49 p.m. EST)
Sunday, April 27 (8:30 a.m. – 1:10 p.m. EST)
WHERE: Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club
3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA
CanoeKayak Canada held trials at the same location in Georgia in 2012 as a major part of selections for its nominations to the Canadian Olympic Team. The course was the CanoeKayak venue for the 1996 Olympic Games where Caroline Brunet won a silver medal. It’s also the course where Adam van Koeverden won his first World Championships medal in 2003.
This is the first of three sets of sprint team selection trials to be held this year. Junior and Under 23 Team trials will take place in Dartmouth, NS on May 31 and June 1. A final set of trials will take place in Montréal from June 27 to 29 as the last assessment for CanoeKayak Canada’s World Championships team heading to Moscow in August.
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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Media Contact:
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352