In just over a month, Canada will be sending 14 paddlers to Rome, Italy, to compete for Team Canada at the ICF Marathon Worlds Championships. Eight of these athletes are members of and paddle for the Balmy Beach Canoe Club. Each of these paddlers competed in May at the Bradford-West Gwillimburys Marsh Mash ICF world qualifiers for the chance to compete in Rome.
The BBCC paddlers representing Canada from September 21-23 include Tamlyn Bohm, K-1 and K-2 in Senior Women 25.8km; Lizzy Bates, K-1 and K-2, and Malvern grad Charlotte Potter, K-1, both in U23 Women 21.5km; Doug Ellery, C-1, and Birchmount Park grad Eric Ellery, K-1, both in U23 Men 25.8km; Caitlynne Allen, K-1, who graduated from Birchmount Park this year, and Hayley Plante, K-1, a current Malvern student, in the Junior Women 17.2km; and Nicholas Robson, K-1, in Junior Men 21.5km.
Last year Robson and Bohm competed at the Marathon Worlds in Singapore and had great results. Bohm placed sixth in Senior Women, while Robson placed 15th in Junior Men. Both paddlers will be fighting hard to improve their rankings this year in Rome.
Marathon Canoeing includes Kayaking and Canoeing. There are also races for singles (classified as K-1 and C-1), and doubles (K-2 and C-2).
These athletes usually train and race Olympic sprint distances of 200 m, 500 m and 1000m; however, they also do additional training throughout the year of distances of 20-30 km. Athletes typically train year-round for a World Championship event. Spring training starts on the water in late March through to the end of September, including two or three hours of paddling a day, six days a week, with three or four hours a week of running and strength training. During the winter months, athletes train two or three hours a day with various methods of cross training, like swimming, running, ergometer, strength training and cross country skiing.
The Marathon Worlds athletes in Canada are not sponsored or funded by either the Government of Canada or Canoe Kayak Canada, as the event is not currently part of the ‘Own the Podium’ program. To help facilitate the cost of this event, the eight paddlers are holding a fundraiser on Sept. 8, 2012 in Toronto at The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 345 (81 Peard Rd., near St. Clair and Victoria Park). The evening will run from 7 p.m. to close. Funds raised will cover the cost of coaching, training, team uniforms, entry fees, travel, accommodations and food for the week of competition.
Email bevplante@ca.inter.net or send a message on Facebook at Canadian Canoe/Kayak Marathon Team 2012 for tickets to the event or sponsorship opportunities. For more information or to view athlete bios and pictures, please view our website http://tinyurl.com/cf4b8ye.
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