::canadian national canoe and kayak championships::

My 14th Canadian Champs were one of Burloak's best ever, and I'm so incredibly proud of all my black-clad burloaker teammates.  We raced hard, raced happy, bounced back from any crummier races we had, encouraged eachother, laughed and cheered and sincerely had more fun than ever before.  War Canoes and C4's were a highlight, strong performances in Midget Canoe and Juvie girls were awesome to see, we had a 9 year old boy on the podium (Way to go Matt), a 47 year old Olympian on the podium (Larry, a few times!), and lots of strength in all age categories in between.  Our throwback-to-Oakville-Racing gear was an all round hit, I think Tessa has a future in fashion (or kayaking!!).  Senior Women's K4, AHEM!  Mark O coxed some awesome War Canoes, and paddled his canoe pretty well too.  Senior War Canoe was so hard I couldn't believe it.  Brady lead our K4 from the back, Mehak stroked like a veteran, Pellini showed us he's still the teamboat man, K2 rocked.  Way to go boys!

I think we need a trophy case in the bigroom at Burloak!

I'm so fortunate to be a member at such a stellar club.  Not just because we perform well, but because it's always fun.  It's a tough trek home straight from Worlds the day after, but as soon as I arrive and see our whole club putting all the hard creek work to task, I quickly realize that it's the only place in the world that I want to be that week.

Thanks to everyone from every club (especially Wascana) for making this CCA's an awesome one, thanks to CKC for puttin' on a good show, and most of all... Go Burloak Go!

See you on the creek.

::WORLDS 2010...::

The best part about our sport, from my seat at least, is the camaraderie.  Pictured above in the foregound is my great friend Anders Gustafsson moments after he became Weltmeister in the K1 500m, I finished 3rd about 0.5seconds back.  I'm smiling not because I snagged a medal, I'm smilling because after 12 years on the international kayak scene, Anders gets to say he is the best in the world, and I'm proud of him.  I didn't have my best races this past week (though the 500m final was really good) yet I walk away from the event satisfied in a sense beyond the scope of my own accomplishments and missteps.  I'm stoked for my friends internationale who raced so well, particularly the Men's Kayak team de France; Sebastien Jouve, Arnaud Hybois, Etienne Hubert and Philippe Colin... felicitations!  Max Hoff once again proved he's the man to chase in the 1000m, Tim Brabants showed he's still got guts galore, and Aleh Yurenia represented the 1990's well winning his first World Medal, adding Belarus to the countries to watch in K1.  Anders showed us all how to finish a 500, and Kenny Wallace taught the 5k field a thing or two on the long distance course... It's a privilege to just be on the water with guys like these.  Their kindness, grace and sportsmanship shone when I got off the water feeling like crap after failing to qualify for the 1000m final. It was remarkable how a few words of kindness, a few genuine handshakes and hugs, and a couple reminders that it happens to the best of us from guys who have been there and know what it's like helped me bounce back a bit.  We sit in these skinny boats all by ourselves in a selfish pursuit of glory and triumph, but we're all cut from the same cloth, united in our quest for perfect strokes, fast times and the chance to hear our National Anthems on the loudspeaker.  Congratulations all, and thanks for the inspiration!  See you on the water...

POZnan* a few days to go...

We amped up my hot-as-hell K1 today with some sticker love.  Sticker thanks goes to the Government of Canada cause they do a pretty rad job of keeping us going with things like Own the Podium and that lovely cheque that comes every 2 months... Nelo for making these awesome kayaks that go ripping fast... Roots (www.twitter.com/RootsCanada) for being the best Canadian Brand since 1973, taking the beaver to new heights in Canadian culture, or was that the nickel?... Mazda for the zoom zoom... Right to Play for helping kids living in the hardest to live places on earth to still be kids, have fun and learn life lessons with their incredible programming and amazing volunteers.  While I'm at it gotta shout out to my other sponsors Petrobakken and Rona and the Running Company and Oakley and Asics too, and especially the Burloak Canoe Club, and my parents Joe and Beata, and Luke my brother.  And the CKC (www.twitter.com/canoekayakcan) and my whole Canoe & Kayak Team you guys are awesome, even you Willows... even though you don't read my blog.

Why I am I thanking everyone?  Cause I have a lot to be thankful for!  It's a few days to go before my career 8th Senior World Championships, I love my job, I'm feeling great, and I wouldn't be here without all the love and support of everyone in bold above... so thanks for lettin' me do what I love to do so often.

I'll be out on the water...

  

... New Gatorade G Series ...

I'm one of the athletes testing out the new G Series from Gatrorade... check out the video below!

...tickin along in le temple-sur-lot...

A week till the World Champs... here's my new bateau!

"Pixies - Debaser"