The PeakUK slalom team commandos took a trip over the Severn Bridge last weekend to race the inaugural slalom event to be held at the new Cardiff International White Water Centre, located in the hip, up and coming Cardiff Bay area.



The new whitewater course at Cardiff is unique to the UK as it’s the first high quality pumped venue. The designers at the site have to be praised for the fantastic job there; being able to squeeze such a great amount into a very small footprint is incredible, honestly it has to be seen to be believed.

To paddle on the course there’s a very European feel to it, the water pushes pretty hard from left to right throughout and quite surging eddies makes you believe your on the mainland Europe. This along with the great weather experienced all weekend almost felt like we actually had left the country!

Gareth and I were given the honor to set the race course for the weekend, which we’d later find out to be a) harder and more stressful than first imagined and b) a nightmare when one attempts to paddle one's own course well...

So the scene was set; the country's top slalom racers were all in attendance and ready, beautiful weather conditions and a brand new slalom course. (This is also by the way the definition of 'Perfection' in the slalom paddler’s dictionary)



The slalom squad had mixed fortunes in terms of results; the newbies to the team were a mixed bag. Lizzie Neave came away with a very impressive win, Lizzie was the only K1W to come away with two cleans runs. Greg Pitt struggled with penalties but had a strong pace to his race and finished 7th, the same can be said for Gareth and I, we were disappointed to head home in 8th position.







PeakUK slalom legends Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott fell victim to the demons of penalties also but came away with a 2nd place finish. Fiona Pennie had a busy weekend, competing in both K1 and C1. Fi finished 2nd in her kayak making for a PeakUK loaded podium, which is always nice to see! Fi then went on to post a very respectable second C1 run time, which would have placed her well in K1W, C1M and K1M standings!! Racing was as always predictably tight in the kayak mens category and our representative Huw P Swetnam didn’t disappoint; coming back from a off form first run to slot him himself on the podium in 3rd place.

So with 5 out of a possible 7 podium finishes, we can class the PeakUK slalom squads first racing visit to Cardiff Bay as a successful one. So yes we probably would pay the £5.50 to come again or at least come down the M50 instead...

Peace!


Words by Paul Ramsdale.
Full race results available at: http://www.canoeslalom.co.uk/results10/110710cardiffP.pdf
Pictures: Mike Roberts www.mjroberts.co.uk and Chris Worrall
More extensive photo album to follow.

(Posted on the 16th Jul 2010 by timb)

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