Slalom World Cup Circuit Continues in Spain

Peterson, Heyl Look to Build on Success

LA SEU DE URGELL, Spain – The next stop of the 2010 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup circuit is the Parc del Segre at La Seu de Urgell, June 25-27. The slalom course was a venue during the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, in which USA Canoe/Kayak Executive Director Joe Jacobi won the gold medal in the Men’s 2 person Canoe event. The course, which was designed to be very technical, was also the site of the 2009 International Canoe Federations (ICF) Slalom World Championships.

“It will be good to get to Seu and get in some solid training sessions in,” said Beijing Olympian and Men’s C-1 athlete Casey Eichfeld (Drums, Pa.) “I really like the course there and we can always count on the weather being nice.”

The Americans will compete in four of the five disciplines at the World Cup: Men’s and Women’s C-1 and Men’s and Women’s K-1. The U.S. did not submit any entrants in Men’s C-2. Women’s C-1 is currently a World Cup and World Championship event, but not yet a part of the Olympic program.

In Women’s C-1, Carolyn Peterson (Austin, Texas) hopes to follow up her top ten finish in Prague and improve upon her world No. 12 ICF ranking. Hailey Thompson (Stevens Point, Wis.) and Micki Reeves (Grand Junction, Colo.) will look to qualify for the finals in Spain after a tough start to the World Cup.

Athens Olympic Kayaker Brett Heyl (Norwich, Vt.) aims to break into the final ten after finishing 12th in World Cup No. 1. Two-time Olympian Scott Parsons (Silvania, Ohio), Jim Wade (Atlanta, Ga.) and Scott Mann (Woodstock, Vt.) complete the U.S. delegation in the event.

Kayakers Ashley Nee (Germantown, Md.) and Caroline Queen (Darnestown, Md.) posted solid results in their first World Cup since returning from major injuries. Nee shook off a shoulder injury from last season to finish in the top 40 in Prague. Queen and Michelle Kvanli (San Marcos, Texas) finished 44th and 55th, respectively.

Beijing Olympian and World No. 10 Benn Fraker (Peachtree, Ga.) finished 13th in Men’s C-1 semifinals last weekend. Fellow 2008 Olympian Eichfeld and 16-year-old Zach Lokken (Durango, Colo.) round out the American contingent.

La Seu de Urgell represents the second stop on the three-city, three-week World Cup tour leading up to the Junior and Senior World Championships. For complete results of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Spain, visit http://canoeslalomseu.parcolimpic.com.

“I'm very proud of how the team stayed focused [last] week and prepared for their races,” said William Irving, USA C/K National Teams Director. “The team is already refocusing on competing in Seu and I expect for us to only get better as we work towards Worlds in Tacen, Slovenia.” 

Irving said the challenging course favors the Spanish paddlers who are familiar with its intricacies. The key for Team USA will be to stay clean through the drops and keep speed through the up streams, he said.

USA Canoe/Kayak is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation. It governs the Olympic disciplines of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and sanctions Freestyle, Marathon, Outrigger, Wildwater, Kayak Polo, Dragon Boat and Canoe Sailing in the United States. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org.