Local kayakers hope for a chance at World's
Posted: Jun 30, 2010 11:54 AM
Missoula is a great place for sports of all types. And downtown will get to show off one of it's unique spots this week. Brennan's wave on the Clark Fork River will host the US Freestyle Kayaking Team Trials starting tomorrow.
The best riders in the country are already in town trying out the wave near Caras Park. The winner's this week will make the US national team for the world championships in 2011. This is the first time Missoula will host an event on this level, and local riders are very excited.
Shawn Byron, Missoula Kayaker/Coach, "It's a really big deal. It's really fun to have all the best kayaking athletes in the world here. Not just kayakers, but you have canoe, open canoe as well. And they're all competing for a spot on the team. It's really exciting. We've got ideal water levels right now. Everybody seems to be really enjoying the feature, and throwing up really big tricks actually."
Byron says one of the reason's Missoula got to host this event is Brennan's Wave is very similar to the one hosting the World Championships in Germany next year. The competition starts at 9:00 tomorrow morning and wraps up Friday afternoon.
On almost any day, you can find local kayakers making turns at Brennan's Wave on the Clark Fork in downtown Missoula. This week, the best athletes in the country will join them.
Missoula will host the US freestyle kayak team trials starting tomorrow. The winner's will make the US national team heading to Germany for the 2011 world championships. And the locals say Brennan's Wave is ready to make a splash at it's first big time event.
Jason Shreder, Missoula Kayaker, "This is really the first sanctioned event that we've ever had here. And so, it's not only going to raise some awareness about some projects we got going on, but also it gives us a chance to show the athletes from other states and around the United States just how great of a spot this is, and a community and a place to put on an event like this. It's a lot of fun for the whole family. People of all ages can do it, and it's a chance to see the best freestyle kayakers in the United States try and fight for a chance to get on the US team to go compete in Germany."
The event also serves as the final stop on the 2010 National Point Series tour. The first riders hit the wave at 9:00 tomorrow morning, and the champs are crowned on Friday afternoon.
