Race Results WC no. 2

The last couple of days in L'Arg, France the 2nd World Cup took place on a long and quite flat course in the mountains about 15 minutes from Briançon.

On race day I was feeling prepared, with the training going pretty well (except for being absolutely knackered in FLR's) and I was feeling ready to race. The course for the race was quite basic, but was very easy to loose time if you got offline or stopped your boat in the staggers or upstreams. First runs for me, were average, but clean and no major mistakes. I made a lot of little mistakes which ended up costing me a lot of time in the end doing a 105.7 + 0.

I knew I was quite a way down off the leader, as I could of easily made up 3 - 4 seconds on my first run with basic mistakes. I went really well on the top of the course for second runs until around gate 9 and then I begun to make small - medium size mistakes going 0.5 seconds faster in a time of 105.2 + 0. I wasn't overly fussed with the placing or time but wanted to do consistent runs with no major errors, which i achieved, so was a good race where I learnt quite a few things about preparations for my races and runs.

After two days of driving, we arrived in a small town 15 - 20 minutes out of Leipzig, which will host the 3rd World Cup in 3 -4 days time. The course is artificial and I've heard is pretty good, not knowing for my self until tomorrow morning when we have training.

There is a fairly large New Zealand contingency here for the 3rd WC, with 2 K1M, 3 K1W, 2 C1M. It might not sound like a lot but is a decent number for NZ!

Weather in Leipzig here isn't quite what was expected, with rain and a chilly 10 - 14 degrees, which I think is probably quite similar to the weather in New Zealand right now..Website for the race is www.slalomworldcup.com 

Will try put a video of my race up asap.

Auf Wiedersehen!

World Cup #2 only days away

We've been here in L'Arg for halve a week or so preparing for the world cup which will start this Friday. The course is starting to fill up with international paddlers that have travelled from Tacen (world cup 1). A couple of countries have their B team or Under 23 team (still very fast!). A huge protest in Italy over a public train line going in meant the road was closed/blocked for 3 - 4 hours meaning people couldn't get here from Tacen in time for their sessions. Caused a pretty busy 6 o'clock session.

Training here was going good until I picked up a cold the other day and am feeling pretty shattered at the end of a course or even worse a full run, so will focus on getting well in time for the race. Am feeling better today so should be fine by Friday. The other New Zealanders arrived yesterday (Luuka, Louise and Shaun T), not many as a couple are off to Bratislava and a couple are still in NZ preparing for London and Bratislava in September.

The website for the race can be found here
I'm not sure if the live video for the race will be the same as at Tacen, but if so check out the link here.


NZ junior team/development team are over in America and Canada at the moment, to check out their blog here is the link, NZ Junior Team Blog

I picked up my new BV with the regulations for safety etc put in place by ICF, and my Waiariki short sleeved cag.

the new canoe

A day or two ago I picked up my new Kapsl 2 XL C. Is a bit bigger than my old boat but is good for me! Works well on the deceptively fast water here in L'Argientere. Alot easier to control than my last. Pictures of the boat below. Will get some pictures of the course today.

Arrived in Europe

Bonjour la Nouvelle-Zelande! Europe 2011 kicked off with a 10 hour, 13 hour flight, a tram ride, train ride, shuttle bus and then finally a rental car with a 3 hour drive to L'Argientere which will host the 2nd World Cup. We arrived in Paris via Singapore and had a few issues in Lyon once we got off our super fast train (300km/h) as our car didn't have roof racks yet, but was sweet and sorted it in the morning. For once I actually enjoyed a 3 hour drive, through the mountains with snow on the mountain tops with Ski villages all over the show.

I went for a paddle yesterday afternoon once we arrived. The course is glacier feed which means it's freezing, but with the sun here it's pretty nice. Quite a rocky river in places but some pretty awesome features and tricky eddies will make a good race next weekend. I better go paddling now in my new Kapsl 2 XL C. Pictures coming soon, au revoir!

Mighty Mangahou

On Thursday, the Waiariki kayak squad headed down to Mangahou just out of Shannon for a four day training camp. The idea was to get some solid training on a different course before heading off overseas in the next month. We are lucky enough to have the Jull's house to stay thanks to Louise and her parents.

Mangahou put on it's normal weather with rain and clouds. The river was flowing and there was plently of gates. There was a few issues on the second day when we left our boats at the course over night...Mike Louise and Luuka's were chained to a tree. We came back the next morning to find them no where. Ben and I paddled down the river into Shannon but no sign which was a good thing that they weren't thrown in the river!

That night after they'd checked to see if they were insured, the police rung to say they'd been handed in. That was after they'd rung 3 news and put it in several news papers! Training from then on was alright. I wasn't paddling my best which led to frustration..

Holding it together with a race simulation on the last day before heading home to Okere Falls with Luuka and Mike. Thanks go out to the Julls for their hospitality, Jane Borren and Sam Thompson for all there help at the camp. Now it's time for a 4 week training block and then heading off to Europe!

Here's a video of my time at Manga,

http://vimeo.com/23745314


On another note, Cole O'connor Stratton, Regan August, Laurence Brown, Carl Whitehead, Andre Sperling and myself have started a group named 'Flow Addicts'. You can find us on facebook by clicking HERE. The idea is to promote ourselves on the net and hopefully becoming more popular and well known over time. Check it out.

Callum

Cumec sports awards

Hey everyone, I've been nominated by an anonymous for the cumec sports awards in 2011. Please help me out and vote for me as best Junior paddler of the year (only if you think I'm worthy of the win!) Thanks for your help CLICK HERE TO VOTE Mangahou update coming soon, peace.

Back to Okere Falls

After my week off after National Champs, I'm back to Okere Falls. Training is now a lot of aerobic and endurance, preparing for my races in Europe this season. Back to polytechnic on Monday has meant I've missed a few trainings with assignments due. The rivers been at open gates which is around 1000 - 1200 cubic feet per sec, due to the amount of rain at the moment. Is good to train on the course at different levels because in some places, it is completely different.

Hopefully next week I am heading to Mangahou, Palmerston North, for a training camp with the Waiariki squad organized by Jane Borren and Luuka.

Here's a video by Andre Sperling of his run down the Abyss, on the Mangakarengorengo up the Kaimai's