2008 National Championships/USA Team Trials start today!

Photos

Today is a big day in the world of Freestyle Kayaking for American paddlers. It is the National Championships! The Arkansas River in Salida, Colorado is running at 2,500 cfs, a high level. The Carnival is in town for the event, bringing turkey legs, rides that spin you until you puke, and other fun stuff. New Belgium Brewery is here and hopes to break last year’s record of 72 kegs of beer consumed in three days. Paddlers of all ages are here to compete in their classes. Junior age paddlers are here in record numbers, coming from all over the country. The feature is at a unique level where there are both hole and wave moves. Normally this is the ultimate hole for combo moves and big air. Now it is too flushy for many combos, but delivers big air, as well as Donkey Flips, Pan Ams, Back Pan Ams, Clean Blunts, Blunts, roundhouses, etc. etc. on top of Phonix Monkey, Tricky Woo, Huge Loops, Back Loops, McNasty (blunt/mcnasty combos too), and cartwheel moves. Scores could easily get into the high 100’s, and a 200 point ride is possible.

The stage is set for the competition to start, which will not only crown the USA National Champions for 2008 but fill out the USA Team roster for the 2008 World Cup this summer in Europe.

So far, already qualified for the USA Team at last year’s Nationals were these athletes and the amount of spots left to be determined:

Men’s Kayak: (3 spots left to be determined here)
1. Stephen Wright
2. Eric Jackson
Women’s Kayak (2 spots left to be determined here)
1. Emily Jackson
Junior Men’s Kayak (2 spots left to be determined here)
1. Dane Jackson
2. Michael Palmer
Junior Women (1 spot left to be determined here)

C1 (1 spot left to be determined here)

Today are the preliminary rounds which will cut the field in ½. Tomorrow will be the semi-finals and finals which will cut the field to the top 5 and then crown the medalists. In the C1, and Junior women’s classes there are only one spot to be earned making it a make or break day!

The World Cup that people are competing to qualify for is going to be the biggest yet. Held in Prague, Czech; Augsburg, Germany; and Thun, Switzerland this year’s world cup will likely see competitors from over 40 countries. It is exciting for the Americans, as the Europeans are improving rapidly, and competing on their home turf will be a true test of our skills. Emily, Dane, and I have already qualified at last year’s nationals so we are already preparing our travel.

Today will be an exciting day! Will all of the top boaters make the first cut? Who is on their way to national champion?

Look for an update tomorrow before the finals competition!

🙂