PA Canoe Wildwater Newsletter – December 2022

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SELECTIONS
The 2023 National Wildwater Championships will also be the selection races for the 2023 senior and junior/u23 teams.

The championships will be held from 3 – 5 March 2023. The location has changed due to the significant water issues in Victoria. The championships will now be held at Penrith.

Sprints will be held on Saturday 4^th March on the Penrith White water Course

Classic will be held on Sunday 5^th March – location will be advised closer to the date.

Training on Penrith White water Stadium will be available as follows:

• Thursday 2^nd March
• Friday 3^rd March

You will need to contact the stadium to book into these sessions.

In addition, River Racing Australia has booked sessions for Penrith training on 4 and 5 February. Cost will depend on the number of paddlers.

If you wish to participate in these sessions details can be sought from Peter McIntyre – 0409 419 922

Entries for Nationals will be available through Paddle Australia website by 5 January.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
The ICF has formalised venue and dates for the 2023 World championships and cups as follows:

We have been asked what an indicative budget for the junior and u23 team maybe. The WWTC is liaising with European venues and hopes to have two training venue with accommodation before locating to Roudnice. On this basis an indicative estimated cost per athlete including food, accommodation, transport in Europe and fees $3,000 – $4,000.

This does not include for airfares and boats.

COACHES AND TEAM MANAGERS
Opportunities are still open to nominate to Paddle Australia via an Expressions of Interest for in the following roles:

• Junior and u23 Team Coaches
• Junior and u23 Team – Team Manager
• Senior Team – Team Manager

The Expressions of Interest will be called through the Paddle Australia website – the roles for Team Managers will be a general call to all disciplines with a specific tab for Wildwater!!

SELECTION
Selection Criteria is being finalised – it should be public on the Paddle Australia website at the end of 2022 or early 2023.

ELITE ATHLETE – NINA MUELLER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

When did you start paddling and how did you begin?
I started paddling regularly at AKC when I was nine years old. Mum saw a notice for a come and try day in a school newsletter and suggested it because I always enjoyed paddling on our plastic sit-on-top on our family holidays to Busselton. 

What national and international competitions have you competed in?
I’ve been very lucky to have competed at numerous slalom national championships, Schools Championships and Australian Open events over the years, as well as Wildwater nationals when they have aligned with my trips over east. I have also competed at both sprint and marathon nationals when held in WA (I can’t help myself!).

Internationally, I competed at the Junior/U23 Slalom World Championships in Krakow, Poland as well as competing at an ECA cup in Augsburg, Germany in 2016, and racing at the New Zealand Slalom National Championships in Kawerau in 2017.

Thanks Mum and Dad for helping fund many of these trips!

You paddle many different disciplines, what skills has each one taught you?

• Wildwater – How to find the quickest lines.
• Slalom – Definitely boat control and my ability to understand/read moving water.
• Sprint – There is always something to work on with your technique!
• Marathon – Resilience and perseverance. I find this discipline the toughest – both physically and mentally!
• Creek/Play boating – I can’t say I have much experience, but on the odd occasion that I sit in a plastic, it reminds me how hard boats can be to control!

How do you combine these skills to perform in Wildwater?
Combining these skills is not something I consciously think about so this is tricky to answer. I believe that each discipline compliments each other in different ways and through paddling more than one, your skills can only grow. You develop as a paddler through each experience/training session/race on the water whether you recognise it or not.

After winning both the Sprint and Classic at the 2022 Championships, do you plan to race at the 2023 Championships in Penrith?
Fingers crossed, if all stars align! 

WILDWATER CALENDAR 2023

Western Australia
Training Days:
January – Friday 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th
February 3^rd and Friday 5^th

Racing
May 21 – WWR1 Buoys Race
June 4 – WWR2 Drain Race
June 25 – WWR3 Upper Race
July 9 – WWR4 Walyunga Race
August 6 – WWR5 Sprint Championships
August 18 – 20 WWR6 Geegelup Cup

Victoria
Victoria is currently finalising its 2023 calendar
5 – 8 January – Wild water Development Camp at Eildon – contact Tony Misson