Indoor Event - OKC

USA Canoe/Kayak Indoor Championship

KayakPro USA, the OKC Boathouse Foundation and the Chesapeake Boathouse present the U.S. Indoor Kayak Championship on February 20 in Oklahoma City. The US Indoor Kayak Championship will offer competition for both novice and experienced paddlers.

Registration fees will be nominal with the goal of encouraging the greatest number of paddlers possible to participate in this inaugural event. Kayak Pro has donated two kayak ergs as grand prizes for both the women's and men's competition.Whie in OKC, paddlers will have the opportunity to learn about the development of the sport of kayaking in Oklahoma City and view the world-class sprint course, new boathouse construction plans and planned race course improvements.

In early December, the citizens of Oklahoma City voted to fund $60 million in improvements to the Oklahoma River including the construction of a Whitewater Kayaking Center similar to the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. The Indoor Championship will be held at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City in conjunction with the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational gymnastics competition as well as corporate, masters and juniors erg racing. A community-wide health and wellness expo will also take place that day.

Those interested in competing should contact OKC High Performance Center coach Shaun Caven, scaven@okcbf.org, for registration and lodging information.

World Championships 2010

World Championships 2010 - Poznan - http://www.kayak2010.com/

Stroud House

Today we carefully removed some old boats and equipment from the Stroud Boathouse. The city move in over the next few days to clear the site ready for The Boathouse Foundation to return the building to former glory. The building will be used to support all sorts of programs at Overholser next summer.

Devon Boathouse Update

Devon Boathouse rowing tank foundation is in! Looking forward to seeing more next month when construction goes vertical! http://ow.ly/MHZo

USACK Update from Joe Jacobi

Joe Jacobi shares news of OKC office with USA Canoe/Kayak members: http://bit.ly/6pUGUb. Welcome to Oklahoma!

ICF Board Meeting

ICF Announce Changes to Sprint Racing Olympic ProgrammeIn direct response to the expectations of the IOC, the ICF has taken a giant leap forward by revising its Olympic programme for the Canoe Sprint discipline. These changes mark the first for the sport in 30 years and move canoeing into a new phase of not just equality but also a phase that shows canoeing as the exciting spectacle it really is. These will, in turn, create a more attractive TV experience for fans and spectators around the world.
The changes see more female athletes in the 2012 Games, as the Men’s 500M event is turned over to the Women’s events. This means there will be a total of four female events for Canoe Sprint at the Olympics.
The Men’s 500M events have been moved to 200M events and will become a new focus at the Olympic Games in London 2012. The IOC President, Jacque Rogge commented that the 200M would make the event ‘more spectacular’.
The ICF President, Mr Jose Perurena said that ‘These changes to the Olympic Programme represent an evolution for Canoeing as a sport. It has been the vision of the ICF Board to make suitable changes to keep our sport relevant and exciting for the youth and general public in the coming years. We look forward to seeing the new format being put in use in London 2012.’
The 1000M distances will remain for men as the traditional ‘blue ribbon’ events and 500 m for the women. There will be more women represented at the 2012 Games in canoeing and the 200 m kayaking for men will provide a more watchable, more entertaining format presenting some nail-biting finishes.
At the same time, the ICF requested additional quotas for Canoe Slalom. The IOC has recognised the value that Canoe Slalom brings to the Olympic Games, but have decided to maintain the existing quota for 2012.
The ICF has 330 places in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom with a total of 16 medals at the Olympic Games. For more information please contact ICF Secretary General, Simon Toulson simon.toulson@canoeicf.com.

UCO - Wellness Centre

University of Central Oklahoma, has given the Oklahoma City Elite Kayak Program access to its' Wellness Center. http://www.ucowellnesscenter.com/