Four WAIS athletes have arrived in Europe to join with their national team mates ahead of the first World Cup of the flat water canoeing season.
2008 Beijing Games bronze medallist Lisa Russ along with fellow scholarship holders Reece Baker, Alana Nicholls and Jesse Phillips will represent Australia in Recice, Czech Republic from 8-10 May.
National High Performance Director Richard Fox, says World Cup 1 will provide a good gauge on current form.
“World Cup one is going to be a good indicator of form for our crews as we continue our preparations for the World Championships later this year,” Fox said. “It will provide a good hit out for our crews before we make use of the AIS training facility in Varese for the first time.”
For Lisa Russ, it will be her first international competition since winning bronze last year as a member of the women’s K4 500m squad. With Chantelle Meek having retired following Beijing, the team has taken on a new look with Alana Nicholls and Queenslander Andrea Wood joining the boat.
Russ and Nicholls will also combine to compete in the K2 500m, with Nicholls to also compete in the K1 500m.
Reece Baker will compete as a member of the Australian K4 1000m squad alongside the South Australian pairing of Chad Alston and Chris Alagich and fellow Western Australian Matthew Urquhart.
Making his representative debut at senior level, Jesse Phillips will race in the K1 1000m as one of two competitors from Australia, with 2008 Beijing hero, Ken Wallace also to feature prominent.
The 2009 World Championships will be held in Dartmouth, Canada (August 12-16).
