Athletes are ranked from their best 3 races and the top 3 from each class will be included in the 2010 NZ Canoe Slalom Team. The seniors will race later this year at the World Cups (Czech Republic, Spain, Germany) and the World Championships (Slovenia) and the Juniors will get to race the Junior World Championships held in France.

A large New Zealand field attended the race with top internationals coming from Australia, Ireland, Canada and Slovenia. The top Internationals didn't disappoint with top Australian Will Forsythe and previous world cup champion Kate Lawrence winning the K1 categories on both days. (Will F is out here on a training trip with me, where we have been able to share ideas and get some solid training volume in, in  preparation for later this year at the world cups. Its awesome to have Will and the other internationals coming out to New Zealand to push us and they lift everyone at the competition. I had 2 pretty solid runs over both days with a few places where Will took time out of me.  However Im happy with my runs considering Im not race fit as my training is focused around races later this year).

Aaron Osborne and Luuka Jones lead out the New Zealand K1 field with Mike Dawson top of C1 category. The C2 of Ben Gibb and Bryden Church produced 2 quality runs edging ahead of rivals Andrew Robinson and Bryden Nicholas by 2 seconds. Callum Gibb  and Jane Nicholas continued their top form the Australian Nationals winning the junior categories on both days, with Haven Bellamy top junior C1. Results can be found at slalomnz.org.nz

While this is only the halfway point in the New Zealand Team Trials its starting to heat up with some paddlers really putting on the pressure for those all important spots on the team. Athletes will get one last chance to prove they are worthy at the NZ Open held this weekend in Shannon (Palmerston North).