By Canoe-Kayak Canada
Foz do Iguacu, Brazil – David Ford of Edmonton, Alberta pulled through in dramatic fashion on the March 10-11 weekend, winning the whitewater canoe-kayak Pan-American Championships and securing an Olympic quota in the men’s K1 event in London.
Racing was very tight and the Brazilian competitors took full benefit of home course advantage. David Ford placed 1st just 0.13 seconds ahead of Pedro Da Silva of Brazil. Ricardo Martins Taques also of Brazil placed third. Paul Manning-Hunter of Edmonton finished 4th while John Hastings of Aurora, Ontario finished 5th.
In the women’s K1 event Ana Satila of Brazil claimed the women’s Olympic quota with the win, Jess Groeneveld of Innisfail, Alberta placed 2nd while Thea Froehlich of Ottawa, Ontario finished in third position. Sarah Boudens of Round Lake, Ontario raced hard and paddled extremely tight lines right to the bottom of the course however unfortunately incurred a 50-second penalty on the second last gate finishing in 8th position.
The Canadian competitors in the C1 and C2 events were up against a strong American team who persevered throughout the competition and claimed the C2 and C1 Olympic quota. Tom and Dan Purcell of Innisfail, Alberta placed third behind two American crews. Jamie and Adam Cutts of Ottawa, Ontario laid down a blistering fast run right up until the bottom section of the course last gate but took too aggressive of a line towards the finish which resulted in a major time loss. Without this mistake the Cutts were on pace to win the race and claim the Olympic C2 quota for Canada.
Fellow Ottawa River Runner Cameron Smedley of Ottawa, Ontario raced hard and fast in C1 but placed third also behind two American competitors. Julian Potvin-Bernal also placed 5th in the C1 event.
Ana Satila of Brazil finished 1st in the women’s C1 event while Haley Daniels of Calgary placed 2nd and Maria Sol Cassini of Argentina placed 3rd in the non-Olympic women’s C1 event.
At the end of the competition, Canada was named the winner of the overall Nation’s Cup for the Pan Am Championships.