May has been yet another busy month for Paddle Australia, marking the return to international competition for many athletes, with plenty happening on the home front as well!
It has been fantastic to see our #OneTeam return to the world stage this month at first two Canoe Sprint World Cups of the season in Hungary and Poland. Congratulations to our Canoe Sprint and Para athletes, and support staff, who are bringing home an incredible three gold, five silver and three bronze medals from these first two events.
I’d like to wish our Australian Canoe Slalom team the best of luck as they get their season underway in Augsburg, Germany this coming weekend. It all gets underway on Thursday night, with heats and semis live on Planet Canoe’s Recast, and finals on Kayo Sports (CLICK HERE to find out more)
Back at home, we’re continuing the countdown to the 2023 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in our own backyard. We’re so thrilled to be hosting the event for the first time in Australia, and this month we were pleased to be able to open entries (CLICK HERE to find out more). If you are thinking of heading to WA for the Championships, get your entry in early to enter the draw to have your entry fee refunded!
This month we also celebrated National Volunteers Week. Volunteers are at the heart of Paddle Australia, and without them our sport and the many events we run would not be possible. It would be remiss of me to not, on behalf of everyone at Paddle Australia, thank our volunteers for the tireless effort, and hours, they put into making our sport and recreational paddling possible.
Volunteering is just one way people participate in sport. In this edition of Paddle Pulse, you can read about an important initiative that is underway, lead by the Australia Sports Commission (ASC) to develop a National Sports Participation Strategy. Whilst over the last 30 years, there has been some major changes in in Australian society, the way sport is offered and consumed has changed little. It is important we develop a National Sports Participation Strategy that ensures we have healthy communities united through an engagement in sport. Please have you say through the online survey.Â
In other exciting news, Olympic Champion Kenny Wallace OAM OLY was reappointed as the Deputy Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this month. It will be fantastic for our athletes, and the broader Australian team, to have someone of Kenny’s experience in Paris, and I’d like to wish him the very best of luck in his role.
Until next month, and as always, stay safe when exploring our beautiful waterways!
Phil Jones
Paddle Australia CEO
