standing waves Western Trials
When the prospects for the single Canadian event dried up, Scott Feindel sprang into action and was the driving force behind the Western event. On game day, Patch Bennett, Stuart Mounsey and a scrolling list of volunteers took over so Feindel could focus on paddling. In men’s pro, Feindel and Darrell Wiebe consistently placed one and two in the elimination rounds. For the final round, like in the movies, the two of them decided to take it outside, waiving the normal format rules and settling it like men, counting only their variety scores. The crowd went nuts. Wiebe finally clinched the title hitting nearly every hard variety hole move in the book.
The recently upgraded Kananaskis River is an obvious choice for the west- ern team trials and someday no doubt a Canadian freestyle nationals or worlds host site. Upgraded in the summer of 2003 with three new features, the Kan offers incredible variety with almost guaranteed water levels. Event organizers shared a late-season water release already set up for existing provincial slalom and downriver events. The event combined two of the new spots, co-organizer Patch Bennett explained, “One of them is more of a wave feature, Santa Claus [shown here], and Point Break is more of a hole. This allowed us to find the best all-around paddlers in each class. Point Break was picked as the location for finals, as it was felt to most closely resemble the Penrith pre-worlds site.”
Jordie McKenzie looking for a Space Godzilla in the retentive Point Break hole. This hole cartwheels left better than right, offers all the hole moves—great air loops, blunts and back stabs are possible on the right shoulder. McKenzie has represented Canada in the past and has recently done a lot of work with the Alberta junior team, known as TAK (Team Alberta Kayak). McKenzie has suc- ceeded as freestyle Jedi master, so well in fact that his former junior team trainee Kirk Hawthorn took fourth place in his first season in men’s pro. “No more training do you require, already know you that what you need.” “So I am a Jedi?”
“Not yet. One thing remains. You must confront Vader. Then, and only then, a Jedi will you be.”
McKenzie placed two spots back in a respectable sixth. Organizer Scott Feindel takes 2nd.
Jordie Jedi Master: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
But honey, I want to go to pre- worlds.
Although only five of 49 registered paddlers were women—Hana Gunn being the only junior—the women’s pro class was a very close fight for the one team posi- tion awarded in the West. Only a few points separated the top three ladies’ spots. Laura Nash from Roslin, Ontario, now studying Earth and Ocean Science at the University of Victoria, chose the western event and prevailed ahead of Jennifer Allen. Dee Anderson (shown here), relatively new to competitive freestyle, placed third and was offered an alternate spot at the pre-worlds but her fiancé talked her out of it. What a meanie!
all photos this page by Ryan Creary 10
www.rapidmag.com
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