Four Muskoka athletes are heading to the Czech Republic in July to represent Canada in the Junior and U23 Wildwater Canoeing World Championships.
Daniel Parry of Port Sydney, Mason Beaumont of Bracebridge, Owen McKay of Huntsville, and Allie Peace of Baysville will be participating in the Talent Identification Programme in Czechia from July 1 to July 9, 2023, and will be competing in Roudnice nad Labem against other athletes from across the world in a downriver paddling competition. There will be sprint as well as classic races where the paddlers must navigate through the whitewater, as fast as possible.
The classic race will take place on July 5th. It is of longer duration (approximately 4 km) and will finish on an artificial course, through whitewater. Each athlete starts at 1-minute intervals and is timed from start to finish. The sprint race will take place on July 7th and 8th. It is a much shorter race and will last approximately 1.5 minutes on the artificial course.
In October 2022, Parry, Beaumont, McKay, and Peace participated in a selection race on the Black River in Washago. Since they were selected, they now have the opportunity to paddle at this international race. This will be Peace’s first time paddling in Europe. She says, “It is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to it. It will be really interesting to meet so many new people.”
Parry, Beaumont, and McKay have been to Europe a number of times to race, but this will be their first Wildwater World Championships. Beaumont says, “I’m excited to see what I can do in this type of boat. I have been paddling it on the river in Muskoka, but this race will be really different.” The three boys will also have the chance to race in the team event which will be held on July 8th. They will start together and the time stops when all three cross the finish line. The goal is to go fast and stay fairly close together. McKay says “Racing as a team will be fun.” Beaumont and Parry will be in Europe from June 9th where they will be racing in the European Junior Slalom Cup races every weekend. Parry and McKay will also be representing Canada and competing at the Junior and U23 Slalom World Championships in Poland, in August. Parry will be competing in the kayak as well as the canoe disciplines at both of the World Championship events. When asked which he prefers he says: “It depends on the day!”.
Source : southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca