Race Day 1

In 42 degrees the Junior World Champs kicked off today. The competition in the women's K1 was intense with a course designed by Jean Michel Prono and Matilde Pichery. General consensus was that it was a good course but 15 of the 62 K1W had a 50 second penalty in run 1 ,and most on gate 15, a tight line through a hole that was unforgiving if you misjudged it.
The NZ girls all got through run one without incurring major penalties and were 30th,31st and 40th, however many of the girls who incurred 50's had it sorted in run two.  Of the New Zealand girls ,first up Alana Wood paddled well and was pleased with her result which reflected her improvement in her Europe trip.  Kelly Travers had a solid run with no major errors. Jane Nicholas nailed the top section but had some trouble in the hole and lost her line, rolling in gate 19.This left her in 30th and the prospect of a better result in run two, giving her the chance of a semi final.
Going into second runs the girls had to pull out something special to make top 30 and secure a place in the semis on Sunday.
Alana improved her result and she was happy, Kelly couldn't quite make the time required and Jane dropped too low in the double ups 11 and 12 ,wasting precious time, something that she could ill afford. With many who 50'd in run one, having cleaner runs in their second run the kiwi girls were pushed down the rankings.Only the top 30 go through to semis in the women so the girls now have teams on Saturday and for Kelly and Jane C1W on Friday.
The final  placings - Jane Nicholas 40th, Kelly Travers 45th and Alana Wood 54th.
Tommorrow is C1W ( 20 - all go through), C1M ( 30 go though) and K1M ( 40 go through)and the NZ team is hoping for cooler temps, although the same is forecast.