Our grandson Kaelin Friedenson won the Gold Medial in the World Championship Junior Extreme Slalom Kayak Competition for the USA on July 11 in Slovenia. We want to share our pride and excitement with all of you. Bob has created a video showing most of the races in which Kaelin competed.
First, an explanation of this new sport, Extreme Kayaking:
1. Time Trials: Each contestant paddles the course which includes a mandated roll over in a designated part of the river as well as poles which they must go around reaching some paddling downstream and others paddling downstream. The fastest 32 contestants then compete in groups of 4. Kaelin placed 2nd in the trials. There were approximately 53 contestants to begin.
2. Eighths: There are 8 sets of 4 racers. Paddlers are seated based on their times (above). Each group of 4 contains a fast paddler, 2 middle paddlers, a slower paddler, in that order. The 1st and 2nd paddlers continue to race in the quarter finals.
3, Quarter finals: 4 sets of 4 racers seated based on Time Trials.
4. Semi finals: 2 sets of 4 racers seated based on Time Trials.
5. Finals: 1 set of 4 racers seated based on Time Trials
The video does not show the Time Trials. For the Eighths it shows only Kaelin’s race.
For the Quarters, Semi Finals, and Finals it shows all the races.
The Junior World Championships are held every year. While Extreme Kayaking is not an Olympic event in Japan, it will be an Olympic event in 3 years in France. We hope you enjoy.
Go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4p3Gu8PoDE
Alice and Bob