The Tour Begins!

Junior Development Tour 2006

The Junior Development tour begins this Saturday with US Cup #1 near North Bend, WA just outside of Seattle. The tour is designed to support and encourage paddlers who aspire to reach a higher level of skill, competition, and commitment to whitewater slalom kayaking.

Ian Williams, Michael Tayler, Thea Froelich, and Alison Gifford are representing Ontario on this tour. They will join Quebec juniors Francois St. Aubin, Jean-Patrick Blanchette, and Thomas Weber with Australian coach Dita Pahl. Kathleen Tayler will also be joining the tour upon return from Europe. After the US Cup #1 in North Bend, the tour moves to Chilliwack BC July 22-23 for US Cup #2 and the Junior Olympics race. After departing Chilliwack, the paddlers will continue to the Kananaskis River near Canmore, Alberta for the final US Cup races and the North American Junior Slalom Championship.

We hope to provide parents and friends with updates, results, and training information over the next three weeks.Today we will meet at the Vancouver Airport and drive south to Seattle for a barbecue and then head to North Bend to set up camp and begin training tomorrow.

Signing off in Surrey, BC.

Jim Tayler