2003 World
Freestyle Kayak Championships - Report 22, May 25
Competition Day 1
The stands were full, the music was loud, and their was
plenty of electricity in the air as the first boats, got the green light,
the clock started, and the crowds cheering. Today the OC1, Junior Women,
and the C1 classes competed in their preliminary rounds.
Five OC1 paddlers, five Junior Women, and ten C1 paddlers advanced to the
next rounds. The hole, which has been super retentive since I arrived here
a month ago, is was not so retentive when adrenaline charged athletes entered
with hopes of doing big and multiple moves. The theme of the day seemed
to be jitters getting in the way of many who had much better practice sessions
than their competition rides. That was not the case for those who made the
next round, of course. Luke Hopkins had an awesome first ride to win the
opening round, with Brock Flowers of Australia, Barry Keenan, and Bill McNight
right on their heels. Dan Burke had a dissapointing performance, considering
he was one of the best in practice. All in all a great mix of countries
advancing.
OC1
In the OC1 class David Bell showed up the competion with Clean cartwheels
and linked ends to crush everybody in the first round. A little kid made
a big debut with 15 year old Seth Chappelle getting 5th and moving on to
the next round, he celebrated his second ride when he came out of the hole
with lots of enthusiasm.
K1 Women Junior
Katerina Migdauova shocked the spectators with aggressive controlled rides
that were awesome. Cleans, Splits, and nearly a Tricky woo on each ride.
Lianne Wagtho from the Netherlands had a first ride that was equally impressive
with lots of great vertical ends, but blew out entirely on her second ride.
Ali Wade and Hanna Farrar both made the top 5 for the US each with their
own style. Ali had one awesome ride and a short one, while Hanna had two
consistent rides. Either way they move on! Michelle Clifford from Canada
was training really well but the jitters got her and she flushed downstream
before showing us here stuff, the same happened with Brooke Bevan who was
quite simply the bravest of the junior women in the early training here.
Tonight is the opening ceremonies and tomorrow is Junior men, K1 women,
and squirt. Men start on Wednesday and finish on Thursday, I am the last
to go, oh boy!
