National Whitewater paddling championships kick off in Harvie Passage
About 100 paddlers are in town this week competing in the Canadian National Whitewater Championships.
The events kicked off Wednesday in Harvie Passage with a pair of extreme slalom events, which require paddlers to make tight turns around gates while navigating the current.
Included was a standup paddle board event run as a demonstration, showcasing the popular and rapidly evolving sport.
Senior men's national team member Trevor Boyd said he's happy to be back paddling in his home waters. Boyd returned to Canada from slalom competition circuit in Europe earlier this week and heads back overseas next week to finish out his season.
He said the waters of Harvie Passage are great for the development of the sport.
"I just love Harvie Passage. It's accessible for newer paddlers and it's right here in the city," says Boyd.
But he said despite a strong paddling culture, a lack of advanced facilities hurts Canada's results on the competition circuit.
"You can really see the difference between here and Europe," Boyd said. "Here we have a really strong recreational community, but we don't have as strong a slalom community."
"In Europe they really focus on the slalom competition and their communities are a lot larger."
Despite a wealth of natural waterways, Canada doesn't have any of the purpose-built slalom courses found throughout Europe.
Competition runs over the weekend at Canoe Meadows in Kananaskis Country and the non-paddling public is free to attend. A complete schedule can be found at the Alberta Whitewater Association website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.