CanoeKayak Canada selects Michael Tayler for nomination to the Canadian Olympic Team
Charlotte, North Carolina – After four demanding runs down the canoe slalom course in Charlotte, Michael Tayler has proven himself as the man to represent Canada in men’s K1 canoe slalom event at the London 2012 Olympic Games. CanoeKayak Canada will now recommend Michael Tayler for nomination to the Canadian Olympic Team.
 
“I’m absolutely shocked. I’m just over the moon,” said Tayler after his race. “I knew I had a chance going in, but that last run … I just said I want to go out and have a good run for me and I did exactly that. It was a great run and it was enough to do it.”
 
It all came down to the final run tonight. The selection was based on the competitors’ best 3 out of 4 rankings, with the fastest time on the fourth run counting as a tie breaker. After the third run five athletes were in a position to take the spot by winning the final run.
 
Tayler of Ottawa pulled through with a victory on the last run, squeezing out John Hastings of Aurora, ON, by a narrow 0.1 of a second. It was a surprise to many, including his parents, who Tayler called in excitement right after clenching the spot. At just 20 years of age, Tayler turned heads yesterday by ranking as the top Canadian in the opening round.
 
“It was a really competitive field and it came right down to the wire,” says James Cartwright, CanoeKayak Canada’s Slalom High Performance Coordinator. “Congratulations to Michael – it’s really exciting for him. A lot of guys wanted that spot and each of them put out an amazing effort.”  
 
Paul Manning-Hunter of Edmonton finished third and David Ford of Edmonton finished forth as he made an attempt for his sixth Olympic Games. Ford qualified the quota spot for Canada with a win at the Pan American Championships last month in Brazil.
 
Tayler will attend an international training camp on the Olympic course in Hertfordshire, England from April 23 - May 5.
 
The national team trials took place over two days and the course gates were changed between Thursday and today. The trials were also used to select Senior A and B teams for World Cups in Europe in June.
 
The following athletes have been named to the teams:
 
Senior A
 
Men’s K1
Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON)
John Hastings (Aurora, ON)
Paul Manning-Hunter (Edmonton, AB)
 
Women’s K1
Sarah Boudens (Pembroke, ON)
Jessica Groeneveld (Innisfail, AB)
Thea Froehlich (Ottawa, ON)
 
Men’s C1
Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)
 
Men’s C2
Adam Cutts / Jamie Cutts (Ottawa, ON)
Daniel Purcell (Red Deer, AB) / Thomas Purcell (Innisfail, AB)
 
Women’s C1
Haley Daniels (Calgary, AB)
Alexandra McGee (Montréal, QC)
 
Senior B
 
Men’s K1
David Ford (Edmonton, AB)
Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB)
Christopher Mctaggart (Canmore, AB)
 
Women’s K1
Jazmyne Denhollander (Chilliwack, BC)
Florence Maheu (Valleyfield, QC)
 
U23
 
Men’s K1
Michael Tayler (Ottawa, ON)
Ben Hayward (Edmonton, AB)
Maxime Leboeuf (Valleyfield, QC)
 
Women’s K1
Thea Froehlich (Ottawa, ON)
Florence Maheu (Valleyfield, QC)
Jazmyne Denhollander (Chilliwack, BC)
 
Men’s C1
Cameron Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)
Liam Smedley (Dunrobin, ON)
 
Women’s C1
Haley Daniels (Calgary, AB)
Alexandra McGee (Montréal, QC)
 
The Senior A team will compete at World Cups 2 and 3, while the Senior B team will compete at World Cup 1. Selection for the two World Cups taking place in August will be base on the first three World Cups.
 
The trials were run in conjunction with American team trials, but rankings were calculated separately.
 
Results
Final Rankings
 
Race Schedule
 World Cup 1, June 8-10, Cardiff, Great Britain
World Cup 2, June 15-17, Pau, France
World Cup 3, June 22-24 , La Seu D'Urgell, Spain
Olympic Games, July 29 - August 2, Hertfordshire, England
World Cup 4, August 24-26 , Prague, Czech Republic
World Cup 5, August 31 - September 2, Bratislava, Slovakia
 
For more information, contact:
Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
613.314.1352
imiller@canoekayak.ca

Deadline for Development Initiative Program - May 1 - Athlete Support
There was a change this year in the DIP program for athletes by ASRPWF. The Government has decided to provide only 1 DIP grant of $1,500 in an athlete's career. Athletes used to get $1,000 per year for up to 3 years, but that has been cut down to a one time grant.

This is unfortunate for athletes who have not used the program before to its potential. The good news is that athletes who have already received 1, 2 or 3 DIP grants in the past can apply for the 1 time $1,500 grant even if they maxed it out before.

Each athlete that applies for a DIP grant will require a letter of support from the AWA. We are happy to supply such a letter for qualified candidates. Last year the AWA set some policy guidelines for DIP grants.

1. athletes must be members in good standing with the AWA
   
2. athletes must use the grant to support travel out of Canada to an international competition
   
3. athletes must be 15 years of age or older
   
4. athletes must be in the Training to Compete stage (Pursuit of Excellence) of the CKC-Whitewater LTAD program
   
5. athletes must have a letter of support from the provincial or national coach
   

The next deadline for applications is May 1. Application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from this website.
http://www.asrpwf.ca/grant-funding-programs/development-initiatives-program.aspx

Send a copy of your proposal to the AWA for us to process your request for support by April 27th

AB Cup Results
Download Results (xls format)

Canadian National Junior Team Trials - May 26/27 - Kananaskis, AB
http://albertaslalom.blogspot.ca/2012/03/2012-canadian-national-junior-team.html
Save the date! - May 26/27, 2012
Judges and other Volunteers needed - Be a part of sending our athletes to the Junior World Championships - Contact Lynn - ljkayaker@shaw.ca

Registration live March 19th
Event website
http://www.albertawhitewater.ca/asck/jrntt2012/index.htm

Call for Volunteers
This spring the Alberta Slalom Canoe Kayak Association is hosting the Canadian Junior National Slalom Team Trials May 26-27 at Canoe Meadows on the Kananaskis River. This event will be the testing ground for the selection of the Canadian team that will attend the Junior World Championships in Wasau, Wisconsin this year. To make this event a reality and to host Canada’s elite paddlers in true Alberta style, we need to have some support from our paddling community and parents. Specifically we are looking for individuals to help with the following tasks over the 2 days.

• Gate Judges
  
• Timers
  
• Recorders
  
• Rescue Boaters
  
• Facility Construction and Maintenance
  
• Refreshment and Lunch providers
  
• Doping Control Centre observers
  
• Registration table and Results posting
  
• Campground manager
  
• Boat Marshalls
  
• Equipment managers

If you or anyone you know can volunteer for a day or the weekend to assist us put on a great event for these up and coming athletes, please contact:
Chuck Lee, Executive Director, 403-628-2336 admin@albertawhitewater.ca

Sundre’s Fourth Annual Canoe Polo / Slalom Tournament
March 17-18, Sundre Aquaplex Swimming Pool
Download as a msword file.

Summer Kayak Instructors/Coaches
The Alberta Whitewater Association, Alberta Slalom Canoe Kayak and our kayak clubs are inviting applications for qualified and experienced paddlers to teach and coach kayaking in Alberta this summer. We are hiring 12 staff this year to work in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Jasper, Canmore/Banff, Sundre, Innisfail, Calgary and Pincher Creek. Start dates vary from May 1 - June 30 and run through to September 3.

Instructors/Coaches will possess certifications in NCCP River Instructor 2, First Aid and CPR, Swiftwater Rescue and Drivers License. Some upgrading will be provided during orientation week. Local travel and provincial travel is required. Instructors/Coaches will have a roadworthy vehicle capable of pulling a small boat trailer, mileage will be compensated. Experience in slalom racing, working with youth, developing and promoting programs, and logistical management are an asset.

Rate of pay - $13.00 - $16.50/hour depending on experience. Flexible schedule working around program needs including evenings and weekends is required. Average work week of 40 hrs/week over the summer.

Download job description in ms word format. Submit your resume including your certifications, teaching and coaching experience, trip logbook and a covering letter to:
Chuck Lee, Executive Director, AWA, admin@albertawhitewater.ca 403-628-2336

ASCK Annual General Meeting – October 15th
There was a good turnout of people from the slalom racing community at the ASCK Annual General Meeting on October 15th followed by a potluck dinner in the Bow Waters Canoe Clubhouse in Calgary. We talked about the activities from last year, the successes of the High Performance racing team from Alberta, the out-of-province trips to Australia, North Carolina, Chilliwack, Wisconsin, Colorado, and finally Chilliwack for Nationals. There was a good discussion of how to get more kids involved. We talked about the plans for 2012 and how the Olympics in London would affect our programs here next summer. Finally we also talked about how the changes in the National funding program may affect Alberta’s slalom if the Regional Development Centre concept is abandoned for a centralized National Team program in Ottawa.

Election of Officers
Lynn Jobe moved up from her position as Vice President to become the new ASCK President and Karen Hirl moved over to fill the Vice President position. New to the Board this year is Nathan Muir from the Sundre Paddling Club who volunteered as a Director at Large. And continuing on for another term is Connor Curson as Secretary, Dan Groeneveld as Treasurer and Greg Hunter as Director at Large. Adrian Cole decided not to run again for Athlete Representative and we are looking for one of our +18 athletes to fill this position. Joanne Cole stepped down after 4 years on the Board, the last 2 years as President. Joanne’s contributions in steering the organization through this growth period were invaluable. Her strong leadership and getting things done approach was of great value to the organization as ASCK solidified Calgary’s role as a National Whitewater Training Centre.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank Joanne Cole and Adrian Cole for their time and dedication as volunteers on the ASCK Board.

A special thank you to Waterwerks for donating one of their meeting room days at the BWCC facility to ASCK for the meeting and dinner. It was a fabulous place to get together and work through our day, overlooking the WID canal where so many people have been taught to paddle.

Chuck Lee
403-628-2336
Box 162, Lundbreck, AB, T0K 1H0

CanoeKayak Canada Webinar
If you missed yesterday’s club webinar, it is available online at http://canoekayak.ca/content/webinar. Special thanks to Andrew Russell for presenting. We were pleased to have a turnout of 20 people, so thanks to all those who attended.

This series of webinars is intended to help clubs to enhance their profiles in their communities. We hope these webinars will be beneficial when it comes to planning your club’s marketing activities for the season. Please give us your feedback and preferred timing for club webinars by completing a 5 to 10 minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KFLXYQR

The next club webinar is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 with Peter Niedre and John Edwards presenting on CanoeKids. This will be confirmed by email and posted on CKC’s website at http://canoekayak.ca/content/webinar.

Thank you,
Ian

Ian Miller
Communications and Marketing Officer | Agent de communications et de marketing