Complete results from the Beijing “Good Luck” Olympic Slalom Test event can be found at
http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/en/slalom/resultsform/index.html

August 18, 2007

American C2 team Scott McCleskey and Austin Crane narrowly missed qualifying for tomorrow’s Semifinal.

With 6 seconds in penalties on their first run, and a significant time error on their second, the team placed 11th overall. With only 1.93 seconds separating them from the 10th and qualifying spot, one error less would have spelled success for today.

Young athletes Ashley Nee and Caroline Queen were in the mix with the rest of the K1W class where spectacular moves, dramatic errors and incredible wipeouts thrilled the spectators. With too many penalties to progress on to Sunday’s Semifinal round, both Nee and Queen gained valuable experience and maintain their enthusiasm and motivation as they move forward toward September’s World Championships in Brazil.

Check out the new pictures from the Beijing “Good Luck” Olympic Slalom Test Event
http://www.cathyhearn.com/?q=gallery&g2_itemId=1295
The latest additions are at the end of the album.

August 17, 2007

The US Slalom team began today with three boats in the Semifinal. All three—Scott Parsons, Brett Heyl and Benn Fraker went through to the Final, and Parsons reached the podium.

Benn Fraker had his personal best result ever in top international competition, finishing 7th in the C1 Semifinal to move on to the eight-boat Final. In the Final he maintained his standing, finishing 7th overall. The event was won by German Nico Bettge.

In K1 action, Brett Heyl repeated his Qualifier result with a 3rd place standing after the Semifinal, while Parsons moved into the Final in 8th place. Parsons converted well with a well-controlled and speedy Final run which vaulted him into 3rd and the bronze medal position, while Heyl dropped to 8th place overall.

August 16, 2007
“Good Luck” Olympic Slalom Test Event
Beijing, China

Qualification races were held this afternoon in the Men’s Single Canoe (C1) and Men’s Kayak (K1) categories.

Americans Benn Fraker (C1), Brett Heyl (K1), and Scott Parsons (K1) qualified to move onto the Semifinal round of competition. Benn won the first Qualifier run, and finished in 10th position overall. Brett and Scott each had two solid Qualifier runs to finish 3rd and 4th respectively.

More details and results to follow.

Results for the Beijing “Good Luck” Olympic Slalom Test event can be found at
http://www.canoe2007.org.cn/en/slalom/resultsform/index.html

August 15, 2007.
Shunyi (Beijing) China

Athletes from around the world have finished their last training session on the new Beijing Olympic Slalom Course.

Demonstration runs for Qualification and Semifinal/Final competition will be held this afternoon.

Competition begins tomorrow with Qualification runs scheduled for the men’s single canoe (C1) and kayak (K1) classes.

C1 and K1 Semifinals will be held on Friday, followed immediately by the Final.

Women’s kayak (K1W) and men’s double canoe (C2) Qualifier competition will be held on Saturday, followed by their respective Semifinal and Final competitions on Sunday.

Monday, August 13, 2007
Shunyi (Beijing) China

As we move into the competition week of the 2007 Beijing Olympic Slalom Test Event, athletes and coaches agree that this new Chinese whitewater course is one of the best ever.

The water is complex, with many wave features and no break in the action. Learning the course is a challenge as many sections appear similar and it is difficult for athletes to get an overview perspective at the venue.

The US delegation is enjoying deluxe accommodations, with spacious air-conditioned rooms, good food and close proximity to the slalom venue. Athlete health is generally good, there have been some minor equipment repairs needed, and morale is high.

August 8, 2007

In exactly one year, on 08/08/08, the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony will be held.
Today the USA Whitewater Slalom Team had its first training session on the Olympic course.

After arriving yesterday in China, US paddlers today tested the waters of the Olympic Slalom venue. Located about 30 km northeast of Beijing center, in Shunyi, the new slalom course is complex and challenging. Though the whitewater appears somewhat smaller than that of the USNWC course in Charlotte, athletes report that the Chinese course is of equal difficulty.

Athletes are gradually adapting to the 12-hour time difference, having flown from Washington, DC to Beijing after competing in the USACK National Championships on Saturday, August 4. Accommodations are only a 15 minute walk or very short taxi ride from the course. Today we had the treat of seeing blue sky marked by a few clouds—a rarity in usually smoggy Beijing.

Ashley Nee, Caroline Queen and Rachel Thomas won the bronze medal at the 2007 Junior Slalom Pre-World Championships in Roudnice nad Labem, Czech Republic.
Hopefully this medal will be the beginning of extensive World Medals collections for each of these athletes!
for live and archived results from this event, go to www.results.cz