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Team Peak UK does Lee Valley The Peak UK team are lucky enough to travel to fantastic venues across the World. The Slalom World Championships have been held in locations, which literally take athletes across the face of the globe to warmer climates such as Australia and Brazil. Equally well travelled the Peak UK supported GB rafting teams have enjoyed successful trips to Korea, Ecuador and Bosnia! So why was everybody so excited about a journey down to London, England which isn’t known for its huge white water? The answer.... Lee Valley White Water Centre!
Photo © Fiona Pennie
Photo © Fiona Pennie
Photo © Fiona Pennie
Lee Valley will host the canoe slalom event for the 2012 London Olympic Games and subsequently leave behind a whitewater canoeing and rafting legacy that I don’t think anyone can quite comprehend at this time. Amazingly too, despite various budget cuts and initial hiccups, the Lee Valley project is the first purpose built brand new venue to be completed! It was this momentous event that drew the team like a magnet down to the countries capital in order to experience a brand new set of rapids first hand. However, this was not all, instead of only being observed by their coaches, the athletes had extra pressure to perform in front of HRH Princess Anne and Lord Sebastian Coe who attended to open the venue. The 9th December was set to be a truly memorable day for all who were lucky enough to be in attendance.
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
The water, a brilliant crystal blue, is drawn from a large lake which can be used for warming up, flat water technique and introductory water sports is pumped 5.5m to the start pool. The 300m course tends to be negotiated rather quickly and thanks to the conveyor belt it's equally quick to get back to the start.
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Even more exciting is that members of the Peak UK team will have access to this fantastic venue on a daily basis from January. Team paddlers Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott after taking to the water for the first time said,
"The new lee valley course has raised the bar for artificial international whitewater courses, it builds on and incorporates the best aspects of many recent courses. The new block system and general good sense of the facility makes it the new world leader in my opinion. It is an amazing training facility for GB and I am looking forward to moving down there to push on my canoeing. The legacy of the games for GB canoe slalom should increase strength and depth across the board thanks to this amazing course. It should also be of huge benefit to canoeing in general due to its proximity to such a large population."
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Before our potential Olympians can crack on with their training there was the small matter of the Royal Opening where HRH Princess Anne escorted by Lord Coe started the inaugural race. Rafts, canoes and kayaks lined up in the collection pool ready to race. Despite the event being relatively fun the competitive nature of the sports men and women on the starting line could not be held back as all ripped out of the blocks to try and get the best water for a clean run down the course.
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
Photo © Olympic Delivery Authority
The 2010 World Championship Gold medal Women’s rafting team, after spending the morning getting to grips with the course, had the following to say,
"A cracking centre for all white water sports, slalom, freestyle, rafting and entry level whitewater - truly a world class venue. The underfloor heating in the changing rooms really topped the whole experience off!"
All that was left at the end of the day was for the sun to set for what was a historic day for whitewater sport in the UK.
Photo © Fiona Pennie
Photo © Fiona Pennie
Words by Gareth Wilson, Photos as credited. (Posted on the 18th Dec 2010 by timb) |
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