Deep Creek 2014
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships are coming to Deep Creek in 2014, and OSM has been working with USA Canoe Kayak to help make the event the best yet. As part of the US Delegation, Terry will be filling us in on the entire process of bringing such an important international event to Maryland.
PRESS RELEASE - 4/10/2012
Media Contact: Nicholas Olivier | 210-386-9013 | nick@usack.org
Slalom Athletes Paddle Toward Olympic Qualification
Charlotte to Host 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, April 12-14
Having qualified a full allotment of slalom boats for the London 2012 Olympic Games, U.S.A. canoe and kayak athletes will now take to the rapids this weekend in hopes of filling the five Olympic boat slots and fulfilling their dreams.
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom at the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) in Charlotte, N.C., April 12-14, marks the third of four selection events for accumulating points toward Olympic selection.
Two runs for each event will take place each day from 3 – 7 p.m. Out of a possible six runs, an athlete’s best four runs are used for ranking purposes.
The final day of Trials – Saturday – will be streamed live at UniversalSports.com.
Slalom events included in the Olympic program are men’s C-1 and C-2 and women and men’s K-1. The top three finishers from these events and the non-Olympic women’s C-1 will represent the National Team and continue on to compete at World Cup No. 1 in Cardiff, UK, June 8-12.
The USNWC hosted the 2008 Olympic Trials as well. The center also hosts the 2012 Canadian Olympic Trials on April 12-13.
Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.) and Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) qualified slots for men’s and women’s K-1, respectively, at the 2011 World Championships in September in Slovakia.
The U.S. canoe athletes earned their slots by placing first at the 2012 Pan American Championships in March in Brazil, which was the last chance to earn Olympic slots. Benn Fraker (Peachtree City, Ga.) earned the men’s C-1 slot, while Eric Hurd (Woodstock, Ga.) and Jeff Larimer (Marietta, Ga.) earned the C-2 slot.
The above-mentioned athletes have the early advantage in the team selection points system. The Team Trials take on added significance should the U.S. fail to place in the Top 20 in a given event at World Cup No. 1.
April 18 marks the official 100 Days Out date from the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games, July 27-August 12, 2012.
QUOTES
Scott Parsons, Men’s Kayak: “I am very excited about the upcoming Olympic trials in Charlotte. I have prepared well and am hoping for a strong performance that allows me to move on to the next round in Cardiff. The men’s kayak class is very strong so I am expecting some very close racing. It should be a lot of fun.”
Caroline Queen, Women’s Kayak: “The months between the 2011 Worlds and now have flown by. It’s unbelievable to me that I’ve been in Charlotte for about a month now, preparing for the Olympic Trials on the challenging USNWC competition channel. I’m working hard and taking each workout at a time, making sure to enjoy this experience and do my best as a more mature athlete than the last time around.”
Casey Eichfeld, Men’s Canoe: “Olympic Trials are closing in, and you can see that when you look at the course full of athletes that aren’t here often. It feels like 2008 wasn’t that long ago, but here we are, getting ready to race it out again. We all have that dream of going to the Olympics, being a part of such a prestigious sporting event, and you will see everyone racing with that goal in the front of their minds.”
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: “This is a very deep and talented field contending to the Olympic Team. Our program’s success in London is supported by an intensely competitive selection process that we can count on to deliver an outstanding Olympic Team.”
William Irving, USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director: “With all boats qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games, the athletes will have three hard fought days to show how hard they have been working this offseason to prepare themselves to be a top 3 U.S. boat. It’s going to be a high-energy atmosphere at USNWC and we are expecting some great support by our home fans in Charlotte who will be cheering on our future Olympians.”
Jeff Wise, USNWC Executive Director: “Having the U.S. Olympic Trials return to our facility is exciting because it continues to build the Olympic spirit and movement in the Charlotte region. Over the weekend, we’ll play host to the many elite athletes from both the United States and Canada. Alongside those athletes, you’ll see friends and families playing outside and enjoying a great event.”
STORYLINES
Is Third Time the Charm? Two-time Olympian Scott Parsons (Bethesda, Md.) qualified the Olympic slot for Team USA in men’s slalom K-1 with a 15th place finish at the 2011 Slalom World Championships. A potential third Olympics offer a chance to finally achieve his dream of winning an Olympic medal. He placed 6th at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Parsons will face tough competition from his teammates for the one men’s slalom K-1 slot. He finished as high as 8th place on the 2011 Slalom World Cup circuit. He must beat out 2004 Olympian Brett Heyl (Norwich, Vt.) and Scott Mann (Bethesda, Md.).
A True Student-Athlete: Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) is a sophomore at Davidson College in North Carolina, a short drive from the U.S. National Whitewater Center and site of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Slalom Team Trials. The 19-year-old is taking the spring 2012 semester off from school to focus on training for the Trials and, hopefully, her first Olympic Games. She plans to enroll in medical school after completing her undergraduate studies. She cross-trains as a member of the Davidson club field hockey team. Queen qualified the Olympic slot for Team USA in women’s slalom K-1 with 37th place finish at 2011 Slalom World Championships. The 2011 U.S. National Champion faces stiff competition from Ashley Nee (Darnestown, Md.).
Four Years Wiser: Benn Fraker (Peachtree City, Ga.) was a carefree 19-year-old slalom canoe athlete at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. “I was a boy then, and I aim to return in London a man,” Fraker said. His paddling as matured. He takes fewer risks and trusts his ability more. Fraker qualified the Olympic slot for Team USA in men’s slalom C-1 with a Gold medal at the 2012 Slalom Pan American Championships. The 2011 U.S. National Champion has been pushed by the emergence of teammate Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.), who finished second to Fraker at the Pan American Championships.
Like Fathers, Like Sons: The men’s Slalom C-2 tandem of Eric Hurd (Woodstock, Ga.) and Jeff Larimer (Marietta, Ga.) are both following in the wake of their paddling fathers, Mike Hurd and Mike Larimer. The elder Hurd and Larimer trained with each other on the Chattahoochee River just north of Atlanta. Mike Hurd was also a high school All-American basketball player. Mike Larimer narrowly missed out on competing at the 1992 Olympic Games, but he was able to coach Team USA at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. Surprisingly, their sons have only recently joined forces in doubles canoe. But the duo quickly established themselves as the best C-2 boat in North and South America with a Gold medal at the 2012 Pan American Championships.
About USA Canoe/Kayak
USA Canoe/Kayak is a non-profit membership organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, USA Canoe/Kayak is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and the official U.S. federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACanoe/Kayak include Marathon, Freestyle, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddleboard, Canoe Polo, Canoe Sailing, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web atwww.usack.org, on Twitter at@usacanoekayakand Like us on Facebook atfacebook.com/USACanoeKayak.
About the U.S. National Whitewater Center
The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit outdoor recreation and adventure sports facility. Alongside mountain biking and running trails, a climbing center, zip-lines, flatwater kayaking, high ropes courses and a canopy tour, the facility’s most unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and paddling enthusiasts of all abilities. The USNWC is just minutes away from Downtown Charlotte and is situated on over 400 acres of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. The USNWC is proud to be a U.S. Olympic Training Site that provides outdoor recreation to families, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, casual observers and Olympic-caliber athletes.
Impressions from the World Championships
The 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships are over, and it was such an incredible experience on so many levels. The “Wow” factor of watching athletes compete at the Super Bowl of Whitewater was compounded by the pressure of claiming a spot for their country in the 2012 London Olympics next year. This was summed up by a huge banner that was placed at water level, just before the athletes paddled to the start line, reading, “Your Ticket to London”. The US Team’s Carolyn Queen and Scott Parson’s both secured boats for the US in Women and Men’s kayak.
More From Bratislava
Guest Blog: Bob Campbell
Saturday, September 10
An exciting day of racing at the Cunovo Sports Center where the 2011 Canoe Slalom World Championships are continuing outside Bratislava, Slovakia. After a couple of days of inclement weather with intense winds, the sun has returned and shed strong light on the intensity of competion among these top athletes. Fierce racing yesterday whittled down the field to 20 and 30 boats, respectively, in the Men’s double canoe (C2) and the women’s kayak (K1W) events. Times were amazingly close, as more than just making it through to the semi-finals, paddlers were also vying for Olympic berths for their home countries.
Thoughts on Day 1 in Bratislava
Guest Blog: Joe Jacobi
For the first time ever, the Canoe Slalom World Championships are being held in Slovakia. Coming off three Olympic Gold Medals in Beijing (out of a possible four,) the home team is anxious to set the tone for the next year’s Olympic Games in London.
Over 400 athletes from 49 countries will take to the man-made rapids of the whitewater channel in Cunovo, a small village on the outskirts of Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava. Many of the competitors have spent many weeks here learning every square inch of the river in hope of a podium finish.
First Day of Competition
Wednesday, September 7
Today the course went hot with the c2 men’s and k1 women’s qualifications. The first round was in the books, but Mother Nature spoke and threw us a nasty curve of wind postponing competition for the remainder of the day around four o’clock in Bratislava. To my surprise, the competition for the day was wiped clean…no results counted, thus we must make up the day one competition once the weather cooperates, and that might not be until late tomorrow.
Getting Ready for Competition to Begin
Tuesday, September 6
After getting settled in to our hotel and learning our way around Bratislava, the Maryland delegation made it’s way to the course for a full day of white water exploration and logistics.
The course along the Danube River is fantastic. The course is linear in nature with two white water canals and one flat water course. The water flow is pretty dynamic and powerful with many challenging gates which should make for some pretty exciting runs throughout the week. While the athletes were taking to the course for their practice rounds, we explored the operations of the complex, unguided and with members of the Bratislava LOC.
Greetings from Bratislava!
Monday, September 5
The Maryland delegation departed yesterday evening for Bratislava, host site of the 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. Maryland will be hosting the event at ASCI in Garrett County in 2014.
Photo Gallery
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Articles & Press Releases
World Canoe, Kayak Races Coming to Garrett
Team USA Earns 2nd Olympic Slot
Parsons Qualifies 2nd Olympic Slot, with Quote
Parsons Qualifies 2nd Olympic Slot for Team USA
Eichfeld Advances, Olympic Slot Within Reach
One Olympic Slot Earned, Two More To Go
USA Canoe Kayak Athlete Bios
Day 1 Action Postponed by Wind
US Slalom Athletes Vie for Olympic Slots
Deep Creek 2014 Information Packet
Be sure to check out www.DeepCreek2014.com for all the latest updates on the Championships!
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