 |
Itaipu Whitewater Slalom NewsHere's where you will find the Itaipu Whitewater Slalom News published by myself and the National Slalom Team's members participating in the Pan American tournament held in the Iguassu Falls area.
Whitewater Slalom News, Foz do Iguacu, February 28th
At 7:10 pm today and with a 2 hour flight delay The Canadian Whitewater Slalom Team landed safely in Foz do Iguacu! The pictures show some tired but happy faces of the girls and boys after a long journey all the way from Canada to the famous Iguassu Falls.
The Canadian team is staying at the Salvattin Hotel, conveniently located only 4km away from the course where they are going to participate in the Pan American whitewater tournament to be held from March 16th to March 18th and a preparation for the World Championship to happen right here in September that qualifies for the next Olympics.
The members of the Canadian Team arriving today are: David Ford, Sven Pinkert, Saskia van Mourik, Toby Roessingh, Craig Allen, John Hastinns, Pierre Levesque, Cam Smedley, Sarah Boudens, Sara Potvin, Julian Potvin and Michael Staniszewski. The first step for all athletes arriving to this tournament is to obtain their credentials with the Confederacion Brasileira de Canotagem, this is the only way to have authorized access to the Itaipu Dam restricted area where the competition will be held. Though the present tournament is called Pan American non-American national teams from around the world are also participating making it a "de-facto" early world whitewater slalom championship. Foz do Iguacu, March 1st. The first three members of the U.S. Slalom National Team, Casey Eichfeld, Scott Parsons and Keech LeClair have arrived today at 5:20 pm. The rest of the group will be arriving next Saturday. The U.S. team is accommodating in the Lider Palace Hotel. British, Swiss and Russian athletes have also arrived on the same flight. Due to lack of enough cargo space in the airplanes the teams are having problems to get their canoes and equipment on time to start their trainning.
Whitewater Slalom News, Foz do Iguacu, March 3rd. Most of the U.S. Slalom National Team has arrived today at 5:20 pm. It's been raining almost daily these days and today was no exception. When the clouds finally clear out it's going to be really hot weather in the Iguassu Falls area. Most teams are still waiting for their boats to arrive to start the real training at the Itaipu course.
Once access credentials are granted to the participants and the boats are on the spot the action will start. We can't wait until then!
Here are Angela Lokken (the US Team Leader) and Cathy Hearn as they arrived to Foz International Airport.
Whitewater Slalom News, Foz do Iguacu, March 8th. Today I was granted my access credential to the Itaipu course and finally made it to watch the paddlers training. Here are some pictures of the American and Russian teams working hard for the competition starting on March 16th.
There's not only a great paddling course here, it's also a beautiful place to be.
Paddlers are waiting for their turn to run the 400m "U" shaped course. It was cloudy but still very hot and humid at the course. Paddlers can spin themselves into the water to cool off!
Paddling the canoe down the course is what fun is all about isn't it?
Personally, I like Kayaks better than Canoe's!
Some US Team members are thinking their race strategies. It's all careful preparation for the real thing starting on March 16th.
Whitewater Slalom News, Foz do Iguacu, March 11th On this sunny but hot Sunday afternoon we had the chance to watch two great teams.
Here's a Canadian kayaker on the works.
And a Slovenian team member practicing on a particularly difficult part of the course.
We also had the chance to watch a C2 crew. It's amassing how they work together with perfect synchronicity!
We also had a chance to picture ourselves standing on front of the giant Itaipu Dam. It was a great afternoon with my sons Santiago (left) and Pablo (right) at the Itaipu whitewater slalom course.
If you are participating in this tournament and want to publish your own news and photos please move from Itaipu Whitewater Slalom News to our Iguassu Falls Slalom News page.
|
