For live updates from the 2007 ICF Junior Pre-World Championships being held now in Roudnice nad Labem, CZE go to www.results.cz .

US K1Ws performed admirably in the one-day warm-up "Olympic Hopefuls" event, with Queen, Thomas, Lewkowicz and Nee all placing in the top 17 with two combined runs.

Austin Kieffer has had a successful Qualifier in the Pre-Worlds event, placing 7th and qualifying for the Semifinal. Other US K1s suffered 50-second penalties.

C2 team Powell and Eichfeld placed 4th in the Qualifier, also good enough to take them on to the Semifinal. Had they been clean, they would be sitting in 2nd place.

Sarah, Anna and Tierney win K1W Team Sprint bronze medal at ICF Junior Wildwater World Championships!
Most US individual World medalists first won medals in team events, either slalom or wildwater. Examples include the Lugbill brothers, Hearn siblings, Robison, and Garvis brothers. Often these early podium appearances are a taste of what's to come.
Here's hoping that this first medal will motivate Sarah, Anna and Tierney on to greater heights of excellence and more medals in the future.

For complete results go to
www.kanu-schwaben-augsburg.de
and scroll down the page.

July 8, 2007
Tacen, Slovenia

Scott Parsons followed his Qualifier win with a silver medal in Final competition at this weekend's World Cup here in Tacen, Slovenia. Exciting men's kayak action on a tricky course included a solid run and some quick reactions on Scott's part, as well as some very close calls for other competitors. Complete results can be found at www.wc-tacen.si, photos in the gallery.

US athlete Semifinal results:
C-1: Fraker 20th, Larimer 22nd, Dennis 28th
K1W: Vanha 26th, Nee 28th
K1: Parsons 2nd, Wade 28th.

July 7, 2007
Tacen, SLO

USACK Slalom athletes Parsons, Wade, Vanha, Nee, Dennis, Fraker and Larimer placed in the top 40 boats of their respective categories today in the Qualification leg of the Tacen World Cup.

All of these paddlers will compete in Semifinal competition tomorrow, with the top 10 performers in each category progressing onward to contest the Final round on Sunday afternoon.

Technical problems delayed the posting of results by the local organizers. Competitors in the K1W and C1 categories relied on team support personnel to provide all feedback between runs, as results were not posted until both Qualification runs had been completed.

Very heavy and seemingly ceaseless rain brought the Reka Sava from a low level to a very robust level for the last two days of practice before the Tacen World Cup.
For video of the course during high water, go to www.campbellwalsh.com and click on Big Water Tacen.

Course construction and demonstration runs were postponed in order to allow all nations an hour of training today on the higher water before Qualification racing starts Saturday at 10:30 am.

Weather is now sunny and beautiful, with great mountain views. USA athletes are looking forward to the race after Thursday's flatwater f

Go to the gallery and view the album titled "Canoe Technique" for technique focused photo features and sequences illuminating state-of-the-art slalom canoe technique.
Come back to see new additions!

July 4, 2007
Smedlik, SLO

Cold, wind, thunderstorms and torrential rains have done little to dampen the spirits of USA Slalom Team members as they prepare for this weekend's World Cup competition in Tacen, Slovenia.
Qualification runs will be held on Saturday, July 7 for all classes, followed on Sunday by Semifinal and Final competition for top placing athletes in every category.

See the gallery for training photos.
Go to www.wc-tacen.si for race schedule and additional information.

webcam: http://www.results.cz/livecam.php

29 June, 2007 Troja, CZE
Today's World Cup slalom competition was highlighted by spectacular action in Semifinal and Final races in the C1 and K1W classes.
American athletes Benn Fraker, Caroline Queen and Ashley Nee performed admirably in their respective classes, finishing 15th, 29th and 30th. Top 10 finishers in each class progressed to the Final. While Ashley and Caroline had penalties, and some time errors, their World Cup debut heralds a great future for US K1 women. Benn, at 18 already a veteran of World Cup racing, is ready to hit the podium, and was disappointed with the small errors which kept him out of the Final.

Moving on from today's qualification round at the Prague World Cup are USA Slalom athletes Fraker (C1, 20th), Nee (K1W, 31st), Queen (K1W, 34th), Heyl (K1, 5th), Parsons (K1, 15th), Wade (K1, 39th) and McCleskey/Crane (C2, 20th). C1 and K1W Semifinal competition will be held on Saturday, June 30, while K1 and C2 athletes will race their Semifinal on Sunday. The top 10 placing boats in each class will move on from the Semifinal to the afternoon Final. Medals and final standings will be determined by the cumulative Semifinal and Final score for each athlete.

For athlete blog and photos, go to http://ustour07.blogspot.com/